Communication (BS)
This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2021–Spring 2022 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Bachelor of Science in Communication
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Communication
Academic Plan Code(s): COMMBS
Program Information
This program can be completed in a traditional classroom format or entirely online.
The Department of Communication offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication.
A Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree are equally valued. Both offer the students who earn them the opportunity to continue their education at the master’s degree level if they are so inclined. But, the two tracks do tend to hone different strengths. The coursework required for a Bachelor of Arts degree generally allows students to sharpen their oral and written communication skills. The demands of a Bachelor of Science degree include sharpening basic Communication skills as well as developing analytical skills relevant to Communication in a more in-depth manner.
Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.
Degree Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | 31 | |
| College/School Requirements | 13-15 | |
| Program/Major Requirements 1,2 | 48 | |
| Supporting Courses | 27-29 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121 | |
Accelerated BS/MA (Master of Arts) in Communication
Communication majors who are considering pursuing a master’s degree (MA) in Communication can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master's degree. Students accepted into the Accelerated BS/MA take three graduate courses (9 credit hours) as an undergraduate that apply toward both the bachelor’s degree and the eventual master's degree.
Interested students must apply for admission to the program. Admission will be based on cumulative GPA (3.25 or better after earning 45 credit hours), completion of COMM 316 with a grade of B or higher, and two letters of recommendation from Communication faculty. Only students seeking a graduate assistantship will be required to take the GRE.
| 1 | Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework. |
| 2 | Includes 9-11 hours of electives |
Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.
Departmental Admission Requirements
Admission to the BS program in Communication requires:
- Completion of COMM 201 with a minimum grade of C;
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5; and
- A minimum grade point average of 2.0 on courses in the major.
The Application for Major form can be found on the Arts & Sciences Advising Center website.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements * | 31 | |
| The following courses are required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education Requirement: | ||
| Introduction to Communication - SB | ||
Some courses options for meeting other program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements. | ||
*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
College/School Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Sciences Requirements | ||
| GEN 100 | Student Success Center First Year Experience | 1 |
| or GEN 101 | Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | |
| Foreign Language 1 | 6-8 | |
| Electives in Humanities or Natural Sciences at the 300-level or above 2 | 6 | |
| WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above 3 | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 13-15 | |
Program/Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Communication | ||
| COMM 201 | Introduction to Communication - SB 4 | 3 |
| COMM 303 | Introduction to Communication Technologies | 3 |
| COMM 304 | Argument In Everyday Life | 3 |
| COMM 305 | Introduction to Mass Communication | 3 |
| COMM 315 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 316 | Research Methods | 3 |
| COMM 417 | Senior Communication Internship - CUE | 3 |
| COMM 302 | Advanced Speech Communication | 3 |
| or COMM 319 | Debate | |
| Select one of the following: 11 | 3 | |
| Newswriting - WR | ||
| Magazine and Feature Writing - WR | ||
| Strategic Communication Writing - WR | ||
| COMM elective at 200 level or above | 3 | |
| COMM electives at 300 level or above | 12 | |
| COMM electives at 400 level or above 5 | 6 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 48 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Courses | ||
| Statistics/Quantitative Methods 6 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 7 | ||
| Elementary Statistics - QR | ||
| Business Statistics | ||
| Quantitative Analysis - QR | ||
| Research Methods in Pan-African Studies - WR | ||
| Introduction to Statistics in Health and Human Performance | ||
| Contemporary Political Research | ||
| Statistics for Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Social Statistics | ||
| Social Science Elective in Human Behavior 6 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 8 | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology - D2, SB | ||
| Archaeology of Human History - SBH, D2 | ||
| Sex, Gender and Culture | ||
| Race, Culture, Identity | ||
| Crime and Justice in the United States - SB | ||
| Law Enforcement in the United States - SB | ||
| Corrections in the United States - SB | ||
| Race and Place | ||
| Black Culture and U.S. Democracy | ||
| History of Childhood in America - D1, WR, SBH | ||
| Women's Health Issues - SB, D1 | ||
| Introduction to Latin American Studies - D2, SB | ||
| Social Sciences Special Topics in Latino Studies | ||
| Introduction to Pan-African Studies - D1, SB | ||
| Social Sciences Special Topics in Pan-African Studies | ||
| Introduction to Psychology - SB | ||
| Introduction to Sociology - SB | ||
| Social Problems - D1, SB | ||
| Introduction to Social Psychology - SB | ||
| Race in the United States - SB, D1 | ||
| Urban Sociology | ||
| Sociology of Human Sexuality | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
| Women In American Culture - AH, D1 | ||
| Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies | ||
| Natural Sciences Elective in Human Behavior, Development, Environment, or Health 6 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 9 | ||
| Human Biological Variation | ||
| Biology: Current Issues and Applications - S | ||
| Unity of Life - S | ||
| Diversity of Life - S | ||
| Human Anatomy & Physiology I | ||
| Introduction to Chemistry - S | ||
| Chemistry for Health Professionals - S | ||
| General Chemistry I - S | ||
| The Global Environment - S | ||
| Introduction to Weather and Climate - S | ||
| Global Environmental Change | ||
| Climate Science | ||
| Human Anatomy & Physiology | ||
| Nutrition in Healthy Living | ||
| Human Nutrition | ||
| Elementary Astronomy - S | ||
| Elements of Physics - B | ||
| Physiological Psychology | ||
| Human Biology for Social Sciences | ||
| Social Science electives (other than Communication) 6 | 9 | |
| Minimum Electives 10 | 9-11 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 27-29 | |
Only 60 hours in the major department may be applied toward the Bachelor of Science degree. COMM 111, COMM 112, and COMM 115 are not counted in computing the 60 hours for a Communication major.
At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement) | ||
| Requirement fulfilled by completing one of the following: | ||
| Independent Research in Communication - CUE | ||
| Environmental Communication - CUE | ||
| Senior Communication Internship - CUE | ||
| Case Studies in Communication - CUE | ||
| Documentary Production - CUE | ||
| Health Communication - WR, CUE | ||
| Health Communication Campaign Planning - WR, CUE | ||
| Mass Media and Close Relationships - CUE | ||
| Strategic Communication Campaigns - CUE | ||
| Advanced Intercultural Communication - CUE, WR | ||
| Special Topics in Communication - CUE | ||
| Special Topics in Communication Service Learning - CUE | ||
| Senior Practicum - CUE | ||
| Senior Thesis - WR, CUE | ||
| Perspectives on Religion and Media - WR, CUE | ||
| Ethical Problems in Communication - WR, CUE | ||
| Rhetoric from Aristotle to #Twitter - CUE, WR | ||
| Special Topics in Communication Service Learning - CUE | ||
| 1 | Completion of the second semester of a single foreign language; hours will vary depending on the language taken |
| 2 | In addition to courses counted toward General Education |
| 3 | May be incorporated into other degree requirements. Candidates for the BS will complete three (3) WR courses, the two required by the College and one of the following: COMM 320, COMM 323, or COMM 344. |
| 4 | Fulfills General Education requirement |
| 5 | Excluding COMM 417. |
| 6 | In addition to courses counted toward General Education. |
| 7 | Or another statistics elective approved by an advisor |
| 8 | Or another Social Science elective approved by an advisor |
| 9 | Or another Natural Sciences elective approved by an advisor |
| 10 | Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses that also satisfy program requirements, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. |
| 11 | The course taken to satisfy this BS major requirement may not be used to satisfy the College WR requirement. Students in the BS degree program must complete three (3) WR courses. |
Flight Plan
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| GEN 100 or GEN 101 |
Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience |
1 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Diversity - AHD2 | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3-4 | |
| Foreign Language 1 | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 13-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
| COMM 111 |
Introduction to Public Speaking - OC |
3 |
| COMM 201 | Introduction to Communication - SB | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 2 | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 305 | Introduction to Mass Communication | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences - SB | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences Lab - SL | 1 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMM 302 or COMM 319 |
Advanced Speech Communication or Debate |
3 |
| COMM 304 | Argument In Everyday Life | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities US Diversity - AHD1 | 3 | |
| Statistics/Quantitative Methods Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Natural Science WR Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 303 | Introduction to Communication Technologies | 3 |
| COMM 315 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| Humanities or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective in Human Behavior | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMM 316 | Research Methods | 3 |
| Communication Elective (200 level or above) | 3 | |
| Communication Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Natural Science Elective in Human Behavior, Development, Environment, or Health | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Newswriting - WR | ||
| Magazine and Feature Writing - WR | ||
| Strategic Communication Writing - WR | ||
| Communication WR Elective (400 level or above) | 3 | |
| Communication Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Communication Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMM 417 | Senior Communication Internship - CUE | 3 |
| Communication Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Communication Elective (400 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective (if needed) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121-124 | |
Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan. What-if reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan. Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.
To create either report:
- Log into your ULink account.
- Click on the Academic Progress tile.
- Next, click on "View my Degree Audit" to run a Degree Audit report in the Undergraduate Advising area.
- To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
Click here to run a Degree Audit report, or create a What-if report.
Flight Planner
Based on your major, the Flight Planner tool may be available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan. The Flight Planner can be found in the ULink Student Center. Consult with your advisor for assistance with the Flight Planner.
