Students majoring in communication are required to earn 33 credits at the School of Communication and Information, including the prerequisite survey requirement of 04:189:101 Introduction to Communication and Information Processes (3) required before admission to the major. Requirements for the remaining credits include:
Interdisciplinary Requirement (3 credits):
Either
04:189:102 Introduction to Media Systems and Processes (3) or
04:189:103 Information Technology and Informatics (3)
Core Requirements (12 credits):
04:192:200 Communication Theory (3)
04:192:201 Communication in Relationships (3)
04:192:300 Communication Research (3)
At least one of
04:192:354 Mediated Communication (3) or
04:192:355 Interpersonal Communication (3) or
04:192:357 Organizational Communication (3) or
04:192:359 Persuasion (3)
Upper-Level Courses (15 credits):
Student elective upper-level courses may include all 300- and 400-level courses, and must include at least two 400 level courses. Courses 04:192:491,492 Independent Study in Communication (3) and 04:192:495 Applied Study in Communication (3) may not be used to fulfill this or the total credit requirement in the major. Students should check the communication website or undergraduate handbook to determine prerequisites for 300 and 400 level courses.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all communication courses in order for those courses to count toward the major.
Specialization
The Department of Communication offers four optional areas of specialization:
- Health and Wellness Communication
- Leadership in Organizations and Community
- Relationship and Family Communication
- Strategic Public Communication and Public Relations
Each specialization is offered as an 18-credit program that includes theory-based and practice-based courses taught by leading scholars and industry professionals. The specializations are designed to provide essential knowledge of communication methods and techniques and help
students build the necessary skills to start a career that is right for them. Specializations
are open to communication majors. Students can earn more than one specialization [as long as they satisfy all requirements]. Specialization
course credits will apply toward satisfying degree requirements in the major. A total of six courses (18 credits) are required for each specialization. There is no need to apply for or declare the
specialization. The specialization will be listed on your transcript by successfully completing with a C or better for all selected and required courses
from the approved list under each specialization. Students should request a verification of their specializations in the semester they graduate in order for the specialization to appear on the transcript.
No course substitutions are permitted unless the department has approved a new course/special topics course for a specialization. Students must follow the same rules for enrolling in a course as any student not in a specialization (e.g., all prerequisites apply).
Internship
The department encourages students to pursue internship experiences that complement their studies and potential career choices. Students must be accepted into the communication major in order to enroll in the internship. Students may apply up to 3 internship course credits toward their upper-division course electives in the major. Additional internship credits may be earned but do not apply to the communication major. Note that each four-year school in the university sets its own limits regarding the number of experiential credits a student may apply toward graduation. Further information about the internship is available at the communication program website.
