Oct 30, 2025

2016-2017 Undergraduate Bulletin

2016-2017 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Communication, B.A.

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General Education Requirements (A&S)

In addition to major requirements, students must meet the General Education Requirements that correlate to their degree.

For B.A. and B.S. degrees, see General Education Requirements for the B.A. and B.S. Degrees (A&S) .
For Transfer students, see General Education Requirements for Transfer Students (A&S) .

Major GPA and Grade Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.25 in courses required to complete the major. All courses required for the major must be taken for a letter grade.

Requirements for the Major in Communication

Required credits: 36

Core Courses (9 credits)

Each major must complete the following courses:

CMM 110 - Communication in the Digital Age 3 credit(s)
CMM 311 - Research Methods in Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 411 - Communication Theory 3 credit(s)

Writing Requirement (3 credits)

Plus one writing course:

CMM 250W - Fundamentals of Journalism 3 credit(s)
OR
CMM 253W - Writing for the Media 3 credit(s)

Emphasis Courses (24 credits)

Students must select one emphasis:

Advertising and Public Relations
Communication Studies
Media and Journalism

Students who select either the Advertising and Public Relations emphasis or the Communication Studies emphasis must take two courses (6 credits) outside of their chosen emphasis. This requirement may be satisfied by taking two courses in one emphasis, or one course in each of the two emphases that are not the student’s own emphasis of study. (Note: Students in the Media and Journalism emphasis are not required to take two courses (6 credits) outside of their emphasis.)

*Emphasis courses are listed on the following page .

Requirements for the emphasis in Advertising and Public Relations:

Core courses in the emphasis

CMM 260 - Communication and Advertising 3 credit(s)
CMM 271 - Introduction to Public Relations 3 credit(s)
CMM 360 - Advertising Copywriting and Layout 3 credit(s)
MKT 310 - Introduction to Marketing 3 credit(s)

Communication Analysis

Plus one course from the following Communication Analysis offerings:

CMM 371 - Public Relations Cases 3 credit(s)
CMM 448 - Audience Analysis 3 credit(s)
MKT 340 - Consumer Behavior 3 credit(s)

Communication Campaign

Plus one course from the following Communication Campaign offerings:

CMM 460 - Advertising Communication Tactics 3 credit(s)
CMM 471 - Public Relations Campaigns 3 credit(s)

Note(s):

Completion of the two-semester CMM 462 - Advertising Competition (6 cr.) may be used to fulfill the communication campaign requirement.

Outside of Emphasis Courses

Choose two courses from the School of Communication’s other emphases. Consult the list of courses found here .

It is highly recommended that Advertising and Public Relations students satisfy this requirement by selecting from the following classes:

Communication Studies emphasis

One course from the Communication Studies emphasis, from a choice of the following:

CMM 222 - Small-Group Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 225W - Interpersonal Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 230 - Organizational Communication 3 credit(s)

Media and Journalism emphasis

One course from the Media and Journalism emphasis, from a choice of the following:

CMM 242 - Introduction to Radio and Audio 3 credit(s)
CMM 244 - Introduction to Television Production 3 credit(s)
CMM 281 - Introduction to Multimedia 3 credit(s)

Requirements for the emphasis in Communication Studies:

Required courses in the emphasis (12 credits)

CMM 212 - Persuasion 3 credit(s)
CMM 215 - Making Sense of Social Media 3 credit(s)
CMM 222 - Small-Group Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 447 - Capstone in Communication Studies 3 credit(s)

Elective Courses (6 credits)

Choose 2 courses from below by Either taking 1 course from “Human Relations” and 1 from “Strategic Communication” OR 2 courses from one of these categories.

Human Relations

CMM 225W - Interpersonal Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 251 - Nonverbal Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 325 - Family Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 335 - Ethnic and Intercultural Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 340 - Conflict and Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 364 - The Dark Side of Interpersonal Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 366 - Computer-Mediated Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 428 - Language and Communication 3 credit(s)

Strategic Communication

CMM 111 - Business and Professional Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 230 - Organizational Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 310 - Political Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 320W - Environmental Communication 3 credit(s)
CMM 343 - Communication in Contemporary Organizations 3 credit(s)
CMM 406 - Internship Program 3-6 credit(s)
CMM 430 - Communication Law in America 3 credit(s)

Outside of Emphasis Courses (6 credits)

Choose two courses from the School of Communication’s other emphases (recommended: CMM 271 - Introduction to Public Relations and CMM 281 - Introduction to Multimedia ). Consult the list of courses found here .

Neither CMM 250W nor CMM 253W may be used to satisfy this specific requirement.

Requirements for the emphasis in Media and Journalism:

CMM 240 - Introduction to Media 3 credit(s)

Media Technology Abilities

Plus one course focusing on Media Technology Abilities, from a choice of the following:

CMM 242 - Introduction to Radio and Audio 3 credit(s)
CMM 244 - Introduction to Television Production 3 credit(s)
CMM 281 - Introduction to Multimedia 3 credit(s)

Criticism and Analysis

Plus two courses focusing on Criticism and Analysis, from a choice of the following:

CMM 210 - Media Literacy 3 credit(s)
CMM 215 - Making Sense of Social Media 3 credit(s)
CMM 318 - Women and the Media 3 credit(s)
CMM 330 - Gender and Sex in Pop Culture 3 credit(s)
CMM 346 - Media Industries: Ethics, Politics, Economics 3 credit(s)
CMM 362 - History of American Journalism 3 credit(s)
CMM 415 - Issues in New Media Technology 3 credit(s)
CMM 425 - Popular Culture 3 credit(s)
CMM 430 - Communication Law in America 3 credit(s)
CMM 449 - Media and Society 3 credit(s)
CMM 450 - International Communication 3 credit(s)

Choose one of the following sub-groups

Media Studies subgroup:

Choose two of the following courses:
CMM 210 - Media Literacy 3 credit(s)
CMM 425 - Popular Culture 3 credit(s)
CMM 449 - Media and Society 3 credit(s)
Plus choose two additional electives from the “Criticism & Analysis” courses. **

Note: Courses taken to fulfill Media Studies subgroup DO NOT double count as “Criticism and Analysis” courses.

Additional Information

**An alternative to taking 2 electives within your chosen subgroup is to take 2 courses from any of the other subgroups.

Note: EC 101 is a prerequisite for CMM 346 .

Note: Special Topics and Special Problems courses in Media and Journalism can be used to satisfy requirements as approved by the advisor and Director of the School of Communication.