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Bachelor of Arts: Communication Studies
The Department of Communication Studies offers a variety of program areas, including speech communication, print and electronic journalism, advertising, public relations, media theory and history, as well as radio, television, and film/video production. While each of these program areas have distinct outcomes in regard to professional competence, the faculty makes a strong effort to work collaboratively to assure that the measure of success in earning a degree in Communication Studies is defined in three departmental outcome goals which we seek to make one in the learning process:
  1. Oral and written communication competence.
  2. The development of critical thinking skills.
  3. The development of both social and professional skills.
We recognize that the development of "professional skills" involve both general and specific outcomes. General outcomes include producing students who display professional standards in regard to interpersonal, intercultural, and organizational communication skills, as well as professional work habits (punctuality, reliability, ethical discernment, teambuilding, etc.). Specific professional skills taught in the Department prepare students to succeed in the professional areas of business communication, health communication, advertising, public relations, film, broadcasting, and journalism.

The Department makes a conscious effort to assess our curricula, teaching, as well as learning processes, and student/faculty competence, on the basis of student learning outcomes. We take pride in our reputation as a "teaching" department.

These outcome goals must equally serve students who will be immediately entering the workplace following the attainment of their undergraduate degree, as well as those who will be entering graduate school programs in a wide variety of academic areas (law, business, speech communication, journalism, film, among others).

In every departmental course/lab, we consciously seek to employ specific learning process options that reinforce the three goals above. For example, in a film/media production class, student work is not only graded on professional standards of technical skill, but also on the ability of the student to give an oral presentation concerning their film/video production, as well as the ability to turn in written work that demonstrates an ability to apply a critical/theoretical/historical analysis of the production. The same approach is likewise applied to professional internships.

The department provides an multidisciplinary approach so students can satisfy their educational and occupational needs across multiple, firmly grounded degree tracks. Regardless of the emphasis, students are required to satisfactorily complete the department's core courses. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in their major field. A grade of "D" in a course within the major will not be accepted for credit in the program. With prior permission, three hours of elective credit from another department may be accepted as Communication Studies elective credit. At least 18 of 33 credit hours must be at the 300- or 400-level. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours within the department.


Required Core Courses: (6 Hours) Hours

COMM-ST 110 Fundamentals of Effective
  Speaking and Listening 3
COMM-ST 483 Seminar in Communication
  Studies 3


The program of study for the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies consists of 33 total credit hours. COMM-ST 110 and COMM-ST 483 are required for all three emphasis areas. COMM-ST 483 must be taken during a students final semester. Students are expected to work closely with a departmental adviser in designing an undergraduate program of study for their emphasis. Only three credit hours within the 33 hours for a major may be taken in one-hour courses. Students are required to take one writing intensive course within their emphasis area.

Note: Students must successfully complete the WEPT Exam before enrolling in any writing intensive courses. As noted in Pathway, the following classes do not count toward electives in Communication Studies: COMM-ST 421P, COMM-ST 422P, COMM-ST 423P, COMM-ST 424P.

In addition to the department's six hours of core courses (110, 483), COMM-ST 308 is also required for this emphasis. Three hours of Interpersonal and Three hours of Public communication courses are required. Twelve hours of Interpersonal and Public electives are also required. Six hours of departmental electives complete the emphasis for a total of 33 credit hours. Students are required to take one writing intensive course within their emphasis area.


Required Courses: (9 Hours) COMM-ST 110 Fundamentals of Effective Speaking & Listening COMM-ST 308 Introduction to the Study of Human Communication COMM-ST 483 Research Seminar in Communication Studies

Interpersonal Communication: (3 Hours) Hours
COMM-ST 343Group Dynamics 3
COMM-ST 344WI Communication in Organizational Settings 3
COMM-ST 377WI Interpersonal Communication3
COMM-ST 431 Colloquium in Interpersonal Dynamics3
COMM-ST 444WI Intercultural Communication3
Public Communication: (3 Hours)
COMM-ST 213 Argumentation and Critical Thought3
COMM-ST 312 Advanced Public Speaking3
COMM-ST 317Persuasion 3
COMM-ST 341WI Rhetorical Theory and Criticism3
COMM-ST 446 Principles of Advertising3

COMM-ST 447

Interactive and Social Media Advertising 3
COMM-ST 448 Principles of Public Relations3
COMM-ST 484 Communication Studies Activities1-4
Interpersonal and Public Electives: (12 hours)
COMM-ST 213 Argumentation and Critical Thought3
COMM-ST 312 Advanced Public Speaking3
COMM-ST 317Persuasion 3
COMM-ST 341WI Rhetorical Theory and Criticism3
COMM-ST 343 Group Dynamics3
COMM-ST 344WI Communication in Organizational Settings 3
COMM-ST 377WI Interpersonal Communication3
COMM-ST 400 Special Studies (Variable Topics) 1-3 Topic must be within the Interpersonal & Public Emphasis area.
COMM-ST 431 Colloquium in Interpersonal Dynamics3
COMM-ST 444WI Intercultural Communication3
COMM-ST 446 Principles of Advertising3
COMM-ST 447 Interactive and Social Media Advertising 3
COMM-ST 448 Principles of Public Relations3
COMM-ST 484 Communication Studies Activities1-4
COMM-ST 498 Special Problems in Communication Studies 1-6 Restricted to 3 cr. hrs with any one instructor.

In addition to the 6 credit hours of the department's core courses (110, 483), the Film and Media Arts emphasis requires COMM-ST 330 - Introduction to Film Studies (3 cr. hrs) COMM-ST 339 - Film Theory & Criticism (3 cr. hrs) and 21 hours of Film and Media Arts electives for a total of 33 credit hours. Students are required to take one writing intensive course within their emphasis area.

Required Courses: (6 Hours)

COMM-ST 330
Introduction to Film Studies
3
COMM-ST 339
Film Theory & Criticism
3

 


Film and Media Arts Electives: (21 Hours)

COMM-ST 250
Introduction to Film and Video Methods
3
COMM-ST 281
Animation
3
COMM-ST 308
Introduction to the Study of Human Communication
3
COMM-ST 320
Mass Media, Culture and Society
3
COMM-ST 341WI
Rhetorical Theory & Criticism
3
COMM-ST 351WI
Fundamentals of Writing for the Media
3
COMM-ST 354
Introduction to Screenwriting
3
COMM-ST 363
Radio Production I
3
COMM-ST 373
Intermediate Media Production
3
COMM-ST 376
History of the Film Industry
3
COMM-ST 379
African American Images in Film
3
COMM-ST 380
Contemporary Issues in the Mass Media
3
COMM-ST 384
Documentary Film
3
COMM-ST 385
Documentary Production
3
COMM-ST 391
The Worlds of Alfred Hitchcock
3
COMM-ST 392
Great Directors of Foreign Film
3
COMM-ST 393
History of the Hollywood Musical
3
COMM-ST 394
The World of "Film Noir"
3
COMM-ST 400
Special Studies
1-3 (Variable Topics)
Topics must be within the Film/Media Arts Emphasis)
COMM-ST 402CD
American Social Film; Silver Screen & the American Dream
3
COMM-ST 403CE
Radical Changes Since 1945
3
COMM-ST 406CDFilm Adaptation 3
COMM-ST 454
Advanced Screenwriting
3
COMM-ST 457
Producing and Distributing Media
3
COMM-ST 470
Directing
3
COMM-ST 471
Advanced Media Production
3
COMM-ST 473 Directing Actors & Scenes3
COMM-ST 478
Media Law
3
COMM-ST 484
Communication Studies Activities
3
COMM-ST 498
Special Problems in Communication Studies
1-6   (Restricted to 3 cr. hrs. with any one instructor)



In addition to the department's six credit hours of core courses (COMM-ST 110, COMM-ST 483), the Journalism and Mass Communication emphasis requires six hours: COMM-ST 220 and COMM-ST 303WI. An additional 21 hours of Journalism and Mass Communication electives are required, for a total of 33 hours. Students are required to take one writing intensive course within their emphasis area.

Required Courses: (6 Hours) Hours
COMM-ST 220 Modern Communications Media3
COMM-ST 303WI Introduction to Journalism3
Journalism and Mass Communication Electives: (21 Hours)
COMM-ST 260P
Introduction to Web Communications
3
COMM-ST 265
Media Photoimaging
3
COMM-ST 308 Introduction to the Study of Human Communication 3
COMM-ST 311 Radio & Television Performance 3
COMM-ST 314WIReporting 3

COMM-ST 320 

Mass Media, Culture and Society

 

3

COMM-ST 331WI

COMM-ST 338 

COMM-ST 341WI

Mass Media in America

Media Ethics               

Rhetorical Theory and Criticism

 

3

3

3

 

COMM-ST 351WI Fundamentals of Writing for the Media3
COMM-ST 361 Broadcast Management3
COMM-ST 363 Radio Production I3

COMM-ST 380

COMM-ST 383   

 Contemporary Issues in the Mass Media

Cross Cultural Journalism & Mass Media

 

3

COMM-ST 384 Documentary Film3

COMM-ST 388

COMM-ST 400

Media Ethics

Special Studies (Variable Topics)

3

1-3 Topic must be within the Journalism & Mass Communication Emphasis.

COMM-ST 402CD American Social Film: Silver Screen & American Dream 3
COMM-ST 432 Press, Politics and Public Policy3
COMM-ST 446 Principles of Advertising3
COMM-ST 447 Interactive and Social Media Advertising 3
COMM-ST 448 Principles of Public Relations3
COMM-ST 456 Electronic Journalism3
COMM-ST 462 Public Broadcasting3
COMM-ST 466 Electronic Journalism Performance3
COMM-ST 478 Media Law3
COMM-ST 484 Communication Studies Activities1-4
COMM-ST 498 Special Problems in Communication Studies 1-6 restricted to 3 cr. hr. with any one instructor.
 
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