Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements
I. Freshman Composition (FC): 6 hours
EN 101 (3), EN 102 (3), or by exam
or equivalent
II. Humanities (HU) and Fine Arts (FA): 12 hours
Fine Arts (FA) (3), Literature (L) (3)
HU (6), may count COM 100, COM 121 or COM 122,
COM 123, or COM 210*
III. Natural Science (N) and Mathematics (MA): 11 hours
Natural Science (8), Mathematics (3)
IV. History (HI) and Social and Behavioral Sciences (SB):
12 hours
History sequence (6)
SB (6), may count COM 101, COM 220*
V. Pre-major Requirements: 9-11 hours
COM 100 or COM 101* (3)
Foreign Language (FL) or Computer Science (C)** (6-8)
ADDITIONAL CORE REQUIREMENTS: Writing (W) 6 hours
Two (W) courses, may count COM 310, COM 341, COM 342, COM 413, COM 421, COM 450, COM 463*
COMMUNICATION STUDIES SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: 12 hours at the 300 or 400 level outside COM
* These COM courses are cross-listed into the major.
** (C) courses require prerequisite courses
that do not fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements.
Requirements: Major in Communication Studies
A minimum of 36 hours of courses in communication studies is
required for the major, with a minimum of 21 hours in the major
at the 300-400 level and a minimum of 33 total hours at the 300-400
level. No more than 45 hours in communication studies may be included
in the hours required for graduation.
The program for majors, to be planned in consultation with
a faculty adviser, is developed around five areas of required study:
A. Foundations for Communication Studies (minimum 3 hours)
Either COM 100 or COM 101
B. Communication Performance (minimum 3 hours)
One of the following: COM 104, COM 121 or 122, COM 123, COM 210, COM 225
C. Introduction to Communication Theory and Analysis (minimum 3 hours)
Either COM 300 or COM 310 Rhetorical Criticism
D. Capstone Seminar in Communication Studies (3 hours)
COM 499
E. Elective Courses in Communication Studies (minimum 15 hours)
Any undergraduate departmental course offering may
count as an elective for the major; however, depending on career goals, majors may select certain elective courses in order to emphasize their preference for one of four particular areas of study:
Rhetoric and Pre-Law
Recommended core courses: COM 100, COM 121 or 122 or COM 210, COM 310
Recommended electives: COM 323, COM 341, COM 342,
COM 348, COM 460, COM 462, COM 467, COM 469
Political Communication
Recommended core courses: COM 100 or COM 101, COM 121 or 122, COM 300
Recommended electives: COM 323, COM 341, COM 342, COM 348, COM 413,
COM 421, COM 425, COM 460, COM 462
Organizational and Interpersonal Communication
Recommended core courses: COM 101, COM 225 or COM 122 or COM 123, COM 300
Recommended electives: COM 220, COM 350, COM 352, COM 413, COM 450, COM 460, COM 463, COM 469
Communication and Culture
Recommended core courses: COM 100 or COM 101, COM 123 or COM 210 or COM 225, COM 310
Recommended electives: COM 340, COM 342, COM 413, COM 425, COM 463, COM 467, COM 469
Requirements: Minor in Communication Studies
The minor in Communication Studies requires 21 hours of coursework
in the department, including COM 100 or COM 101 and at least 6 hours at the 300 or 400
level. Students minoring in Communication Studies may choose electives from any of the four areas of emphasis: rhetoric
and pre-law, political communication, organizational and interpersonal communication, or communication and culture. A grade of "C" or higher is required in all communication studies courses counted toward the minor.
