Communication Studies

CURRICULUM

Communication studies is an excellent companion field of study. It is often chosen as a second major or minor.

Program flexibility is a key advantage. Through course electives, internships and more, you can customize your education to focus on communication pertaining to a specific area of interest.

Experiential learning is a key. The communication studies major includes a required internship that helps you gain valuable networking contacts in addition to real-world experience. A required capstone course provides additional benefits. You'll learn the technology for creating a web-based portfolio that includes a resume, recommendation letters, samples of speaking presentations, communication-related papers, projects and documentation of experiential learning.

The communication studies major prepares students to: 

• • Demonstrate the acquisition of disciplinary knowledge 
• • Students will complete introductory and advanced courses in the major contexts of communication studies including interpersonal, group, organizational, intercultural, nonverbal, public speaking and persuasion.
• • Demonstrate an ability to directly apply disciplinary knowledge to lived experiences
• • Students are required to complete two academic credit hours of internship experience. 
  • Students are encouraged to engage in study-abroad opportunities, including Seminar in Germany, a program centered on intercultural communication offered in the spring semester of even years (2016, 2018, 2220, etc.)
• • Demonstrate competence in public/presentational speaking 
• • Students are required to complete courses at the 100- and 200-level focused on the development of presentation skill. 
  • Students are required to complete formal presentations at the conclusion of their internship experience and at the University’s annual Spring Ovation.
• • Demonstrate competence in written forms of communication
• • Courses in propaganda and persuasion, communication theory and communication research methods focus students on evidence-based, argumentative writing.
• • Demonstrate competence in the conduct, analysis and reporting of research
• • Students are introduced to social scientific methodology across the curriculum via assigned readings and analysis of regional and national communication journals.
  • Students are required to complete a research project during a two-semester research methods sequence course typically taken during the student’s senior year.