Undergraduate Requirements

Undergraduate Program

The Communication Department studies the phenomenon of human communication in all its aspects. We support a liberal arts approach to communication through scholarship, creative production, and teaching in three concentrations: communication science, media studies, and rhetorical studies. Our goal for undergraduate majors and minors is to prepare them for the responsibilities of citizenship and for the many career paths in which knowledge of communication is a critical asset. 

Major and Minor Requirements

Declaration of Major or Minor

Most students declare a major in the spring of their sophomore year and should earn at least 40 hours prior to the following fall term.

• Students will be notified via email by the Department how and when to sign up for the major and advising The Department orientation meeting is required for new majors to become acquainted with the Department’s procedures and programs.
• Students declaring a major after the two week spring declaration and advising period should secure a declaration of major form by downloading it from the University’s web site or picking it up from the Registrar’s office. Complete and submit to the Department Administrative Coordinator.
• Students who plan to double major MUST indicate to the Registrar which major is the FIRST major.
• Communication minors are not required to attend the spring orientation, but attendance is recommended.

Communication Major

• 30 hours, at least 12 of which must be at the 300-level
• Students should begin their study of Communication with these required courses for the major:
  • COM 110 Public Speaking OR COM 102 Debate and Advocacy
  • COM 220 Empirical Research in Communication
  • COM 225 Historical/Critical Research in Communication

Overall minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all communication courses attempted is required for graduation.

Communication majors who want to declare a concentration must take a selection of courses from the area of their concentration. Concentrations include: Health, Environmental and Risk Communication; Integrated Communication Strategies; Media Studies; and Public Advocacy.  Concentration descriptions and courses can be found here. For students who declare their majors on or after the academic year 2022/2023 concentrations require 4 courses within the concentration. Those who declared prior to that must complete 5 courses within the concentration in order to comply with the bulletin when they declared.

Students may also opt to choose courses across the concentration as a general
communication major.
Students declaring a concentration must do so prior to the beginning of their final
semester.
Students may declare two concentrations within the department. The major course requirements remain in effect for those students, and they must take a minimum of eighteen hours at the 300-level. Students may not count courses used to meet the required five courses within a particular concentration to fulfill requirements for a second concentration.
A list of courses approved to fulfill the concentrations is maintained by the
Communication Department.

No student may take more than a total of six hours in COM 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, and 285 combined and only three hours may count toward a major in communication.

Communication Minor

• Requires eighteen hours, must complete a minimum of 6 hours, 300-level
  Includes:
  • COM 110 OR COM 102
  • COM 220 OR COM 225

Overall minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all communication courses
attempted is required for graduation.