Requirements

1. A minimum of 30 credit hours, with grades of C- or higher, in courses labeled SPCH, COMM, JOUR, or TEL.
2. As part of the 30 credit hours, students must take SPCH-S 122, SPCH-S 424, and one of the following: SPCH-S 405, SPCH-S 427, or SPCH-S 450.
3. After completing 21 credit hours in the major, students must take SPCH-S 400 (the capstone course).
4. The general education requirements set forth by the College of Arts and Sciences requires students pursuing the B.A. degree to take two courses designated as intensive writing courses. Communication majors must take a minimum of one intensive writing course from courses offered by the Department of Communication (S427 & S450).
5. A minimum of 15 credit hours must be taken at the 300-400 level.
6. Communication majors are required to augment their academic program in communication with a minor (a minimum of 15 credit hours) in another discipline. The student selects the minor area in consultation with a faculty advisor.

Most of the courses fall into one of three informal emphasis areas.  A minimum of 12 credit hours in one area constitutes an emphasis in that area.  The emphasis areas are as follows:

Emphasis Areas for Communication Majors

Cultural & Relational Communication

• COMM-M 460 Culture and Mass Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 122 Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 313 Communication as Performance (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 322 Advanced Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 398 Independent Study in Speech Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 400 Senior Seminar in Speech (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 405 Human Communication Theory (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 414 Topics in Performance and Culture (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 424 Empirical Research Methods in Speech Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 427 Cross-Cultural Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 450 Gender and Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 480 Personal Narrative and Performance (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 490 Profession Practice Internship (3 cr.)

Business Communication and Public Relations

• JOUR-C 327 Writing for Publication (3 cr.)
• JOUR-J 200 Writing for Mass Media (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 223 Business and Professional Speaking (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 320 Advanced Public Speaking (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 336 Current Topics in Communication:  Introduction to Public Relations (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 398 Independent Study in Speech Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 400 Senior Seminar in Speech (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 424 Empirical Research Methods in Speech Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 427 Cross-Cultural Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 440 Organizational Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 450 Gender and Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 490 Profession Practice Internship (3 cr.)

New Media Studies and Mass Communication

• COMM-C 340 Practicum in Media Production (3 cr.)
• COMM-C 351 TV Production I (3 cr.)
• COMM-M 460 Cultural and Mass Communication (3 cr.)
• COMM-C 462 Media Theory and Criticism (3 cr.)
• JOUR-C 327 Writing for Publication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 398 Independent Study in Speech Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 400 Senior Seminar in Speech (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 424 Empirical Research Methods in Speech Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 427 Cross-Cultural Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 450 Gender and Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCH-S 490 Profession Practice Internship (3 cr.)
• TEL-C 200 Introduction to Mass Communication (3 cr.)
• TEL-R 204 Foundations of Telecommunications (3 cr.)
• TEL-R 308 Radio Production and Directing (3 cr.)

The Department of Communication is committed to making the communication major available to part- time and working students. Multiple courses are offered in the evening and during the summer to meet diverse scheduling needs. Communication majors must also complete the general education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences as well as general university requirements.

Internships

Internships are available for communication majors. SPCH-S 490 requirements include minimums of junior or senior standing, 21 credit hours of completed communication courses, a 3.0 grade point average in the major, an overall 2.5 grade point average (or higher), faculty supervision, and departmental approval. There are also practicum and independent study courses such as COMM-C 340 and SPCH-S398.