Pictured | Jami Bell | Communication Studies, Public Relations / Minors in Photojournalism and Photography | Niles, Michigan (hometown)
Military | Veteran, United States Air Force

Minor in Mass Communication

• Students must complete all requirements in the minor with a grade of C or higher.

Minor Requirements (21 cr.)

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

• JOUR-C 200 Introduction to Mass Communications
• JOUR-J 200 Reporting, Writing, and Editing I
• JOUR-J 410 Media as Social Institutions
• SPCH-S 205 Introduction to Speech Communication
• TEL-R 287 Process and Effects in Telecommunications
• TEL-R 404 Topical Seminar in Telecommunications

Select one of the following:

• SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking
• One communication elective

Minor in Speech Communication

• Students must complete all requirements in the minor with a grade of C or higher.

Minor Requirements (18 cr.)

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

• JOUR-C 200 Introduction to Mass Communications
• SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking
• SPCH-S 122 Interpersonal Communication
• SPCH-S 205 Introduction to Speech Communication    
• SPCH-S 321 Rhetoric and Modern Discourse
• One communication elective (300-level or above)

Minor in Interpersonal Communication

Students must complete all requirements in the minor with a grade of C or higher.

Minor Requirements (15 cr.)

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

• SPCH-S 122 Interpersonal Communication
• SPCH-S 205 Introduction to Speech Communication
• SPCH-S 322 Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Select two of the following:

• SPCH-S 229 Discussion and Group Methods
• SPCH-S 324 Persuasive Speaking
• SPCH-S 380 Nonverbal Communication
• SPCH-S 405 Human Communication Theory
• SPCH-S 427 Cross Cultural Communication
• SPCH-S 450 Gender and Communication

Minor in Media Culture and Society

The Minor in Media, Culture and Society is aimed at providing a program that focuses on one of the major areas in Communication Studies. Media, Culture and Society is often acknowledged as Media Studies, which is a theory-centered field with an emphasis on historical and cultural analyses of media representations, audience and media’s impact on the larger cultural and societal contexts. The area is often linked to the Critical Theory and Cultural Studies, applying the interdisciplinary theories and methods from Humanities as well as Social Sciences. While the current curriculum in the Mass Communication minor applies existing courses to cover this area of study, the new curriculum will provide more focus in examining the central issues and academic trends that are important for this subject. What students can benefit from this new program are the in-depth knowledge and skills for critical thinking as an active member of the media audience, media consumer and democratic society.

In addition, the program provides perspective reflecting expert knowledge, and will stimulate intellectual and professional knowledge to strengthen students when working in their chosen professional careers or when seeking an advanced degree at any professional or graduate program.

Minor Requirements (15 cr.)

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

• JOUR-C 200 Introduction to Mass Communications
• JOUR-J 410 Media as Social Institutions
• TEL-R 287 Processes and Effects of Mass Communication

Select two of the following:

• JOUR-J 300 Communications Law
• SPCH-S 335 Media and Health (final approval pending)
• SPCH-S 427 Cross Cultural Communication
• TEL-R 404 Topical Seminar in Telecommunications
• TEL-T 313 Comparative Media Systems

Minor in Communication Studies for Non-Communication Majors

The Minor in Communication Studies for Non-Majors is aimed at providing an outlet to those who are not familiar with the subject of Communication Studies, yet willing to develop better communication skills and expert knowledge, reflecting their personal and professional needs to improve their proficiency in communication. Recognizing that better communication skills can affect and enhance the quality of one’s life in various avenues, it is crucial that the Communication Studies department offers a minor program to influence our students’ ability to communicate beyond SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking.

The new minor program will also provide a perspective outside of one’s familiar academic environment, and stimulate intellectual and professional knowledge to strengthen students when working in their chosen professional career or when seeking an advanced degree at any professional or graduate programs.

Minor Requirements (15 cr.)

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

• JOUR-C 200 Introduction to Mass Communications
• JOUR-J 200 Reporting, Writing, and Editing I
• SPCH-S 205 Introduction to Speech Communication
• Any two courses from 300- or 400-level under JOUR, SPCH, and TEL taught by Communication Studies faculty

Photo credit | Teresa Sheppard