Communication Majors

There are two majors offered by the Department of Communication:

BA Communication

With a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, graduates pursue successful careers in business, law, education, nonprofit advocacy, ministry, public service, among others. The major provides instruction and practice in the skills of effective communication and collaborative problem-solving that employers are looking for—speaking, writing, reading, listening, utilizing media, and working in groups. Through engaged learning, students acquire tools to foster dialogue and craft messages for multiple situations and audiences.

The 36-hour major offers four tracks of study:

Corporate Communication -- coursework specializes in organizational and interpersonal communication, such as small group communication, conflict management, interviewing, and leadership
Rhetoric and Public Discourse -- coursework specializes in the practice and criticism of rhetoric throughout public culture and life, including policy-making and government, social media, and entertainment, among others
Generalist -- offers a well-rounded program of study across all areas of study including organizational, interpersonal, and rhetoric
Honors -- students fulfill advanced requirements for upper-level courses and complete an undergraduate thesis (for more information, contact Honors Director Dr. Jacob Ford)

Students select courses from the track of study in addition to the following required courses:

Fundamentals of Public Communication (CSS 1301), Speech for Business & Professional Students (CSS 1302), or Argumentation, Discussion, and Debate (CSS 1304)
Introduction to Communication (CSS 1305)
Introduction to Rhetorical Theory and Criticism (CSS 3302)
Communication Theory (CSS 3310)

BA Communication Specialist

BA Communication Specialist Planning Worksheet

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Specialist combines coursework offered by the Department of Communication and the Department of Film and Digital Media. This program of study blends the liberal arts education in communication studies with skills and training in digital media production. Graduates successfully pursue careers throughout various strategic communication and media-related fields.

The 36-hour major enables students to take CSS and FDM courses of their choosing in addition to the following required courses:

Fundamentals of Public Communication (CSS 1301), Speech for Business & Professional Students (CSS 1302), or Argumentation, Discussion, and Debate (CSS 1304)
Visual Literacy: Sight, Sound, and Motion (FDM 1304)
Production Methods I or II (FDM 2360, 3361)
Writing for Media Markets (FDM 3372), Screenwriting (FDM 3373), or Television Writing (FDM 3374)