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Academic Catalog 2022/2023

Communication

Bachelor of Arts

The Communication major is an interdisciplinary program combining courses in Communication and Philosophy. The major is designed to take a broad-based, humanities-centered view of the symbolic ways humans create meaning. The program will focus on the development of skills as students learn to work with various communication tools to improve their own ability to interact effectively with others. Students will also increase their critical awareness as they study the structure, patterns, and effects of communication on both themselves and society. Communication majors go on to graduate and professional schools, work as teachers, writers, and social activists, or work in a variety of fields utilizing a liberal arts education including human resources, media, advertising, public relations, politics, and many other fields.

Students majoring in Communication must complete a minimum of 10 courses (40 credits) in the areas specified below. An average of C or higher must be earned in courses counted toward the major. Communication majors may count three courses used for the major toward a minor in Philosophy; however, credits may not be counted twice.

Integrative Studies Requirements

40 credits minimum

Major Requirements

40 credits

Students may declare the major after consultation with a faculty member and completion of the declaration of major form. At the time of declaration, the student must select either the Communication Studies Option or the Philosophy Option.

Foreign Language

4 credits

The minimal requirement for all students with a major in Communication is one course in a foreign language, normally French, Spanish, or German.

Introductory Courses

8 credits

IHCOMM 171 Public Speaking
IHPHIL 100 Logical Argumentation

Ethics

4 credits

IHPHIL 220 Ethics

Research Methods

4 credits

Select one research Methods course:

  • COMM 360 Strategic Digital Communication
  • COMM 472 Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
  • COMM 473 Rhetorical Criticism
  • PHIL 313 Philosophy and the Holocaust
  • PHIL 370 Philosophy of Language
  • PHIL 406 Existentialism and Film

Electives in the Major

16 credits

Communication Studies Option

Select four electives that meet the following criteria:

  • At least two courses must be from Group 1
  • At least one course must be from Group 2
  • A maximum of one course can be from Group 3
  • At least two courses must be at the 300 or 400 level, including at least one of the courses from Group 1.

Philosophy Option

Select four electives that meet the following criteria:

  • At least one course must be from Group 1
  • At least two courses must be from Group 2
  • A maximum of one course can be from Group 3
  • At least two courses must be at the 300 or 400 level, including at least one of the courses from Group 2.

Group 1:

  • COMM 230 Health Communication
  • COMM 240 Visual Communication
  • IHCOMM 250 Rhetoric Civil Rights Movement
  • COMM 275 Interpersonal Communication
  • COMM 278 Group Interaction
  • COMM 290 Special Topics
  • COMM 360 Strategic Digital Communication
  • COMM 372 Intercultural Communication
  • COMM 378 Persuasion
  • COMM 379 Internship
  • COMM 385 Digital Communication Law and Ethics
  • IHCOMM 450 The Rhetoric of Race
  • IHCOMM 460 Rhetoric Post-Civil Rights Era
  • COMM 472 Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
  • COMM 473 Rhetorical Criticism
  • COMM 490 Advanced Special Topics

Group 2:

  • PHIL 231 Comparative Religion
  • PHIL 280 Knowledge and Reality
  • PHIL 290 Special Topics
  • PHIL 306 Existentialism and Literature
  • PHIL 313 Philosophy and the Holocaust
  • PHIL 340 Politics of Multiculturalism
  • PHIL 350 Aesthetics
  • PHIL 360 Philosophy of Law
  • PHIL 370 Philosophy of Language
  • PHIL 380 Why Not Anarchy?
  • PHIL 406 Existentialism and Film
  • PHIL 490 Advanced Special Topics

Group 3:

  • IHCOMM 101 Careers and Professional Communication
  • IHJRN 101 Media and Society
  • JRN 130 Writing for the Media
  • JRN 155 Digital Journalism
  • IIHGS 181 Crisis and Conflict in Africa
  • MGT 301 Organizational Theory and Behavior
  • MGT 324 Human Resource management
  • MGT 333 Advertising and Promotion
  • IIMGT 305 Organizational Diversity
  • IIWGS 240 Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Pop Culture
  • WGS 303 Latina Feminist Theory
  • WGS 304 Feminist Media Theory
  • IIINFO 320 Participatory Cultures

Capstone

4 credits

COMM 479 Senior Project

Electives

Select courses to reach a total of 120 credits for the degree

Degree Requirements

120 credits
40 credits at the upper-level