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B.A. Degree in Communication Studies

B.A. Degree in Communication Studies

Description
The Communication Studies represents a unique major with its roots in Aristotle's examination of the art of logic, argument, and persuasion. Over time, the communication discipline has evolved to examine human interaction and behavior using social scientific approaches to understand the world. As a result, Communication Studies also aims to bridge the gap between the study of psychology (i.e., the mind) and sociology (i.e., the context, the situation) by seeking to better understand human communication through social scientific practices. Today, researchers might take any number of approaches to examining human communication including a focus on message production, message processing, and message effects in a variety of contexts including interpersonal, group, intercultural, family, health, and social influence to name just a few. Communication is at the core of one's work, community, and personal relationships. We cultivate young professionals for successful careers in a variety of industries including: education, health care, technology, business, non-profits, helping professions, sales, and media organizations. To that end, students can utilize one or more of the following emphases to add a career focus to their Communication Studies major: 1) Career-Adaptive Communication; 2) Event Planning and Promotion; 3) Communication Training and Development; 4) Sales Communication; and 5) Sports Communication. Completion of 120 credits is required to graduate which includes the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core (42 credits).

Student Learning Outcomes

develop an ability to critically analyze a communication to discover its salient issues for purposes of developing an appropriate response.
develop an ability to identify and evidence respoonsive talking points that provide a critcal response for the public (s) involved in the communication situation.
develop an ability to effectively partition the response as a means of maximizing the impact of the messaging on those involved in the communication situation.
develop an ability to strategically select the media platform(s) to be emplyed as a communication vehicle(s) to engage the public(s) involved in the communication situation.
develop an abiltty to effectively employ the use of visual and verbal symbols, motion and sound as a means of adding an appropriate level of clarity and emphasis to one's messaging.
develop the skill set(s) needed to effectively deliver one's message to those involved in the communication situation.
develop an understanding and commitment to upholding the ethical standards of communication that is a part of the situation being addressed.

Inherent to the above stated objectives are demonstrating a foundational knowledge of communication research methods and the role of research in the creation of knowledge; recognizing, diagnosing, and responding to communication situations using appropriate communication theories and concepts; effectively presenting communication messages in a variety of contexts and situations; to analyzing communciation messages in a variety of cultures, contexts and situations; and to demonstrating the knowledge to successfull manage group environments and / or interpersonal relationships.

Core Requirements ( 30 credits )

COMM 110 Introduction to Communication Studies (3)
COMM 201 Interpersonal Communication (3) OR
COMM 202 Family Communication (3)
COMM 211 Group and Team Communication (3)
COMM 300 Intercultural Communication (3)
COMM 301 Business and Professional Communication (3)
COMM 310 Rhetorical Theory and Criticism (3) OR
COMM 410 Rhetoric of Popular Culture (3)
COMM 311 Principles of Persuasion (3)
COMM 315 Communication Theory (3)
COMM 319 Communication Research Methods (3)
COMM 496 Communication Studies Senior Seminar (3) *Must earn grade of C- or above.

Designated Writing Intensive Course for Major
COMM 301 Business and Professional Communication COMM 310 Rhetorical Theory and Criticism

Restricted Electives

Selected courses with a COMM or LEAD rubric, specified by choice of emphasis, can be used as a restricted elective. Where no specific course is designated, as is the case of emphasis one, the restricted category, de facto, becomes unrestricted, with the provision that course possess a COMM or LEAD rubric, exclusive of COMM 100.

Depending upon choice of emphasis, a combination of 21 credits of unrestricted and restricted electives are required for each of the emphases. Courses used for unrestricted and restricted electives in the emphases, must be drawn from courses carrying a COMM and/or LEAD rubric. Generally speaking, all emphases provide a choice of 9 credits of unrestricted electives, with a COMM or LEAD rubric, while also designating 12 credits of restricted electives, with a COMM or LEAD rubric. In all matters, COMM 100 is excluded as an applicable elective.

Electives ( 9 credits )

Nine credits of unrestricted electives are inherent in each of the emphases with provision that the course carry a COMM or LEAD rubric, exclusive of COMM 100.

Emphasis in Career-Adaptive Communication