Communication, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major 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:
- Communication and Culture
- Communication and Health
- Communication and Organizations
- Interpersonal Communication
- Mediated Communication & Technology
- Rhetoric & Public Discourse
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 Major 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.
General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements including the campus general education language requirement.
Minimum 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 in the major must be taken on this campus.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Public Speaking (choose one): | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
OR | ||
| Oral & Written Comm II 1 | ||
| CMN 102 | Introduction to Communication | 4 |
| 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 | ||
| Intro to Intercultural Comm | ||
| Social Movement Communication | ||
CMN 275 | ||
| Comm Technology & Society | ||
CMN 320 | ||
| Mass Media and the Audience | ||
| Intro to Conversation Analysis | ||
| Storytelling as Oral Communication | ||
| Popular Media and Culture | ||
| Race and the Mass Media | ||
| Gender Communication | ||
| Topics in Public Communication | ||
| Communication & Health Area: | ||
| Communicating Public Policy | ||
| Intro to Interpersonal Comm | ||
| Intro to Health Communication | ||
| Strategies of Persuasion | ||
| Argumentation | ||
| Sexual Communication | ||
| Persuasion Theory & Research | ||
| Communication & Health Equity | ||
| Building Interpersonal Skills | ||
| Health Communication in Relationships | ||
| Organizational Health Comm | ||
| Health Communication Campaigns | ||
| Social Marketing | ||
| Communication & Organizations Area: | ||
| Business and Professional Communication | ||
| Intro to Organizational Comm | ||
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Interviewing: The Art and Science of Effective Questioning | ||
| Intro to Intercultural Comm | ||
| Comm Technology & Society | ||
| Communicating for Innovation | ||
| Argumentation | ||
CMN 370 | ||
CMN 377 | ||
| Workplace Comm Technology | ||
| Organizational Comm Assessment | ||
| Adv Organizational Comm | ||
| Adv Small Group Communication | ||
| Organizational Health Comm | ||
| Health Communication Campaigns | ||
CMN 476 | ||
| Interpersonal Communication Area: | ||
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Intro to Interpersonal Comm | ||
| Intro to Intercultural Comm | ||
| Intro to Health Communication | ||
| Strategies of Persuasion | ||
| Argumentation | ||
| Communicating in Families | ||
| Relationships and Technologies | ||
| Intro to Conversation Analysis | ||
| Sexual Communication | ||
| Adv Small Group Communication | ||
| Persuasion Theory & Research | ||
| Gender Communication | ||
| Building Interpersonal Skills | ||
| Comm in Personal Relationships | ||
| Health Communication in Relationships | ||
| Mediated Communication & Techonology Area: | ||
CMN 275 | ||
| Introduction to Mediated Communication | ||
| Comm Technology & Society | ||
| Communicating for Innovation | ||
| Politics and the Media | ||
| Mass Media and the Audience | ||
| Relationships and Technologies | ||
| Visual Politics | ||
| Visual Media Effects | ||
CMN 370 | ||
| Popular Media and Culture | ||
| Workplace Comm Technology | ||
| Campaigning to Win | ||
| Race and the Mass Media | ||
| Rhetoric & Public Discourse Area: | ||
| Public Comm in Everyday Life | ||
| Communicating Public Policy | ||
| Social Movement Communication | ||
| The Rhetorical Tradition | ||
CMN 320 | ||
| Strategies of Persuasion | ||
| Argumentation | ||
| Politics and the Media | ||
| Mass Media and the Audience | ||
| Visual Politics | ||
| Visual Media Effects | ||
CMN 370 | ||
CMN 415 | ||
CMN 416 | ||
| Contemporary Rhetorics | ||
| Persuasion Theory & Research | ||
| Rhetorical Criticism | ||
| Campaigning to Win | ||
| Topics in Public Communication | ||
| Health Communication Campaigns | ||
CMN 476 | ||
| Total Hours | 37 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major 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 third level of a language other than English. For more information see the corresponding section on the Degree General and Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Free elective course | 1 | CMN 101 or 112 | 3 |
| CMN 102 | 4 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Language Other than English (4th level) | 4 |
| Comp I or General Education course | 4 | General Education course or Comp I | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CMN course | 3 | CMN course | 3 |
| CMN course | 3 | CMN course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CMN 300- or 400-level course | 3 | CMN 300- or 400-level course | 3 |
| CMN 300- or 400-level course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CMN 300- or 400-level course | 3 | CMN 300- or 400-level course | 3 |
| CMN course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 1 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Communication
- Students will demonstrate competence in oral and written communication, including public speaking, argumentation and reasoning, deliberation, and media analysis and critique.
- Students will have broad knowledge of communication research and theory and understand how to apply theoretical concepts in practical settings.
- 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.
- Students will understand the communicative implications of human diversity, including issues related to race, culture, class, religion, gender, sexual identity, and disability.
- 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 Major in Communication
Communication
Communication Department website
Communication Faculty
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website
Liberal Arts & Sciences Admissions & Requirements