Communication, BALAS

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Communication

What is Communication

Communication is fundamental to an enormous variety of human activities. The study of communication fosters a sophisticated understanding of communication in all aspects of public and private life, including the workplace, public policy, health care, cultural norms, personal interactions, and notions of racial, class, gender, and sexual identity. 

What You Get as a Communication Major

The study of communication is practical and flexible. Communication majors learn about communication in a variety of contexts and develop practical knowledge that prepares them for personal and professional success. Students develop communication skills that are highly valued by employers, such as the ability to work effectively in teams, critical thinking, and writing and presenting ideas.

Communication majors can choose to complete a general course of communication studies or specialize in one of the six areas of study:

Graduates pursue a wide variety of careers, including advertising, public relations, fund-raising and development, human resources, law, marketing, media, non-profit/advocacy, consulting, sales, and teaching.

Internship Opportunities

The department offers three types of internships to ensure students have opportunities to apply what they learn beyond the usual classroom setting:

  • Our career internship program helps students earn academic credit while gaining professional experience in real-world organizational settings.
  • The teaching internship program allows students a chance to learn about university-level teaching by assisting in a course they have taken previously.

Research internships allow select students to work with faculty or with advanced doctoral students through the mentoring through research and practice program. 

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Communication

Departmental distinction: Superior students are encouraged to consult the departmental honors adviser about requirements and opportunities for participation in the departmental honors program.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.

Minimum hours required major and supporting course work: At least 15 hours of the required 37 hours in Communication must be at the 300 level or above. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

University Requirements

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Composition I4-6
Advanced Composition3
Humanities & the Arts (6 hours)6
Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours)6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)6
fulfilled by CMN 102 any other course approved as Social & Behavioral Sciences
Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) 3
Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I)6-10
Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required)0-20

Major Requirements

Introduction to Public Speaking (choose one):3
CMN 101
Public Speaking
OR
CMN 112
Oral & Written Comm II 1
CMN 102Introduction to Communication4
Communication Courses: Students will select an option (A or B) and a specialization (if Option B is chosen) in consultation with an undergraduate advisor in Communication.30
OPTION A: Students who wish a general course of study will take at least one course from five of the following six areas and the remaining hours will be selected in consultation with an advisor.
OPTION B: Students who choose to concentrate within an area must take four courses from one of the six areas listed below and the remaining hours will be selected in consultation with an advisor. Students may complete more than one specialization by completing four courses in each area desired; however, individual courses may not be counted toward more than one specialization.
Communication & Culture Area
CMN 232
Intro to Intercultural Comm
CMN 250
Social Movement Communication
CMN 280
Comm Technology & Society
CMN 326
Mass Media and the Audience
CMN 357
Intro to Conversation Analysis
CMN 361
Storytelling as Oral Communication
CMN 375
Popular Media and Culture
CMN 429
Race and the Mass Media
CMN 432
Gender Communication
CMN 450
Topics in Public Communication
Communication & Health Area:
CMN 220
Communicating Public Policy
CMN 230
Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
CMN 260
Intro to Health Communication
CMN 321
Strategies of Persuasion
CMN 323
Argumentation
CMN 368
Sexual Communication
CMN 421
Influence and Persuasion
CMN 467
Communication & Health Equity
CMN 435
Building Interpersonal Skills
CMN 462
Health Communication in Relationships
CMN 464
Health Communication Campaigns
CMN 465
Social Marketing
Communication & Organizations Area:
CMN 211
Business and Professional Communication
CMN 212
Intro to Organizational Comm
CMN 213
Small Group Communication
CMN 215
Interviewing: The Art and Science of Effective Questioning
CMN 232
Intro to Intercultural Comm
CMN 280
Comm Technology & Society
CMN 312
Communicating for Innovation
CMN 323
Argumentation
CMN 410
Workplace Comm Technology
CMN 411
Organizational Comm Assessment
CMN 412
Adv Organizational Comm
CMN 464
Health Communication Campaigns
Interpersonal Communication Area:
CMN 213
Small Group Communication
CMN 230
Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
CMN 232
Intro to Intercultural Comm
CMN 260
Intro to Health Communication
CMN 321
Strategies of Persuasion
CMN 323
Argumentation
CMN 336
Communicating in Families
CMN 338
Relationships and Technologies
CMN 357
Intro to Conversation Analysis
CMN 368
Sexual Communication
CMN 421
Influence and Persuasion
CMN 432
Gender Communication
CMN 435
Building Interpersonal Skills
CMN 462
Health Communication in Relationships
Mediated Communication & Techonology Area:
CMN 277
Introduction to Mediated Communication
CMN 280
Comm Technology & Society
CMN 312
Communicating for Innovation
CMN 325
Politics and the Media
CMN 326
Mass Media and the Audience
CMN 338
Relationships and Technologies
CMN 340
Visual Politics
CMN 345
Visual Media Effects
CMN 375
Popular Media and Culture
CMN 410
Workplace Comm Technology
CMN 424
Campaigning to Win
CMN 429
Race and the Mass Media
Rhetoric & Public Discourse Area:
CMN 210
Public Communication in Everyday Life
CMN 220
Communicating Public Policy
CMN 250
Social Movement Communication
CMN 321
Strategies of Persuasion
CMN 323
Argumentation
CMN 325
Politics and the Media
CMN 326
Mass Media and the Audience
CMN 340
Visual Politics
CMN 345
Visual Media Effects
CMN 421
Influence and Persuasion
CMN 423
Rhetorical Criticism
CMN 424
Campaigning to Win
CMN 450
Topics in Public Communication
CMN 464
Health Communication Campaigns
Total Hours37
1

CMN 111 is a prerequisite for CMN 112.  Credit in CMN 111 will not count towards the minimum of 37 hours of Communication courses required for the major.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Communication

Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. For more information see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.

First Year
First SemesterHours
Free Elective course1
CMN 1024
General Education course3
Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
Composition I or General Education course4
 16
Total Hours 16
First Year
Second SemesterHours
CMN 101 or 1123
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
Language Other Than English (4th level)4
General Education course or Composition I3
 16
Total Hours 16
Second Year
First SemesterHours
CMN course3
CMN course3
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Second Year
Second SemesterHours
CMN course3
CMN course3
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Third Year
First SemesterHours
CMN 300- or 400-level course3
CMN 300- or 400-level course3
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Third Year
Second SemesterHours
CMN 300- or 400-level course3
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Fourth Year
First SemesterHours
CMN 300- or 400-level course3
CMN course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Fourth Year
Second SemesterHours
CMN 300- or 400-level course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course1
 13
Total Hours 13

Total Hours: 120

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Communication

  1. Students will demonstrate competence in oral and written communication, including public speaking, argumentation and reasoning, deliberation, and media analysis and critique.
  2. Students will have broad knowledge of communication research and theory and understand how to apply theoretical concepts in practical settings.
  3. Students will understand the political and social import of communication and develop competencies required to engage productively with discourses related to all aspects of public and private life.
  4. Students will understand the communicative implications of human diversity, including issues related to race, culture, class, religion, gender, sexual identity, and disability.
  5. Students will gain communication competencies that afford them rewarding opportunities, such as satisfying employment or post-graduate study.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Communication

Communication

Department Chair: John Caughlin
Department of Communication Website
3001 Lincoln Hall, 702 S. Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2683
communication@illinois.edu
Communication Advising: CMNAdvising@illinois.edu
Communication Faculty

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website
Liberal Arts & Sciences Admissions & Requirements