Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies

Program Scope: Mission of the Department: We are committed to the study of human communication in various contexts from multiple and interconnected perspectives that contribute to a more humane world. Through communication humans form identities, connect with one another, examine values, enact cultures, and work collectively. The department examines how people express themselves verbally and nonverbally; how identities are created, performed, and changed; how people listen to others; and how symbols relate to human behavior. It acknowledges, appreciates, and integrates human diversity in its various forms. It studies human communication in culturally and socially diverse contexts. It does so by using a variety of methods and technologies to discover and share knowledge about communication and to analyze, interpret, and perform discourse. Areas of study include language and social interaction, group processes, organizational communication, interpersonal and intercultural communication, rhetoric and political communication, public speaking, performance studies, and research methodologies. Communication Studies students develop skills essential for leadership and career development, and for understanding and interpreting events. They learn to advocate and critically debate ideas in social and political settings, appreciate diverse communication styles, work productively in task-oriented groups, and engage in rewarding interpersonal relationships. Requirements for the Major Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies must complete a 42 unit program consisting of 32 units of breadth area requirements, a 2-unit capstone course, and 8 units of electives. There are eight breadth area requirements: Communication Diversity Group and Organizational Communication Interpersonal Communication Language and Social Interaction Performance Studies Public Communication Research Methodology Rhetoric and Political Communication. Students must successfully complete a GWAR (Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement) class within their first eight upper-division units in the major. Preferably the GWAR should be one of the breadth area courses that have been designated to meet the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). Presently, the GWAR courses in Communication Studies that simultaneously meet a breadth area requirement and GWAR include: COMM 321 GW, COMM 444 GW, COMM 448 GW, COMM 502 GW, COMM 504 GW, COMM 522 GW, COMM 534 GW, COMM 561 GW, COMM 562 GW. Once the GWAR is met, students may not take a second GWAR course in the major nor can they take a non-GWAR version of the course they used to meet this requirement. Failure to complete this requirement will result in an advising hold. After the first 8 units in the major have been completed, students are ineligible to continue until their GWAR requirement is complete. Students must enroll in COMM 670, Senior Seminar in Communication in their last semester.