B.A. in Communication Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Academic Foundations | ||
| First Year Experience requirement | 4 | |
| English Composition requirement 1 | 6-7 | |
| Mathematics requirement | 3-4 | |
| Interdisciplinary requirement | 3 | |
| Diverse Communities requirement | 3 | |
| Ethics requirement | 3 | |
| Distributed Disciplinary Foundations | ||
| Science requirement | 6-8 | |
| Behavioral & Social Science requirement | 6 | |
| Humanities requirement | 6 | |
| Arts requirement | 3 | |
| ADDITIONAL BACCALAUREATE REQUIREMENTS | ||
| University Requirements | ||
| Writing Emphasis requirement | 9 | |
| Speaking Emphasis requirement | 9 | |
| Degree Requirements | ||
| Language/Culture requirement 2 | 0-15 | |
Demonstrating language proficiency through the intermediate level (202) or demonstrating language proficiency through the elementary II (102) level of a language and further acquiring a cultural foundation. | ||
| Capstone requirement | 1-15 | |
| MAJOR REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Required Courses 3,4 | ||
| COM 206 | Argumentation | 3 |
| COM 209 | Principles & Practice of Public Speaking I 5 | 3 |
| COM 211 | Communication Literacy & Inquiry 6 | 3 |
| COM 213 | Public Communication | 3 |
| COM 214 | Relational Communication | 3 |
| COM 215 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| COM 309 | Principles & Practice of Public Speaking II | 3 |
| Two of the required lower-division courses COM 211 (or HON 313) and COM 209 (or HON 211) are prerequisites for all upper division communication study courses. In addition, COM 213 is a prerequisite for all courses in Public Communication; COM 214 is a prerequisite for all courses in Relational Communication, and COM 215 is a prerequisite for all courses in Professional Communication. | ||
| Upper-Division Courses | ||
| Students will work with their advisors to select five appropriate courses at the 300 and/or 400 level from the listing of department courses. Students can choose to take upper-division courses in one of the following three areas of specialization: Public Communication, Relational Communication, and Organizational Communication. COM 400 may not be used to satisfy the upper-division course requirements. Graduate courses taken through the Accelerated B.A. to M.A. program in Communication Studies (see below) satisfy upper-division course requirements. | 15 | |
| Applied Area | ||
| Elective courses selected in consultation with advisor to meet career objectives (can include a selected minor or credits toward Accelerated B.A. to M.A. in Communication Studies) | 21-24 | |
| Capstone Requirement | ||
| COM 490 | Capstone in Communication Studies 7 | 3 |
| Total Minimum Credits Required | 120 | |
- 1
To encourage B.A. in Communication Studies majors to develop communication competence that extends beyond oral communication, a grade of C or better is required in WRT 120 and the 200-level composition course.
- 2
A grade of C- or better is required in the 202-level course in another language. If a major employs the culture cluster option to fulfill their language requirement, a C- or better is required in the 102-level of the language course and in each of the culture cluster courses.
- 3
A grade of C or better must be earned in a COM or SPK course in order for it to meet a department requirement. Also, a 2.50 average or better must be earned in the aggregate of lower- and upper-division courses before graduation will be recommended.
- 4
Students who exhaust their course repeat options and have not earned a grade of C or better in all the prerequisite communication courses will be advised that they will not be able to complete the requirements for a B.A. in Communication Studies. The department chair will offer an exit interview and help them to identify available alternatives.
- 5
Honors College majors and minors may substitute HON 211.
- 6
Honors College majors and minors may substitute HON 313.
- 7
This course fulfills the Capstone requirement. Students will complete COM 490 after completing the core major requirements: COM 206, COM 209, COM 211, COM 213, COM 214, COM 215, and COM 309.
Accelerated B.A. in Communication Studies to M.A. in Communication Studies Program
Any Communication Studies major with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher, who has completed at least 84 credits, may substitute up to 12 credits of graduate coursework in Communication Studies to satisfy upper-division course requirements or the applied area electives for the B.A in Communication Studies. Those credits will also apply toward the M.A. program in Communication Studies.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select from the following: | 12 | |
| Communication And Leadership | ||
| Theoretic Perspectives On Human Communication | ||
| Communication Research Methods | ||
| Rhetoric And Leadership | ||
| Special Topics Seminar | ||
| Communication & Conflict Resolution | ||
| Culture, Media And Representation | ||
| Understanding Close Relationships | ||
| Political Communication | ||
| Advances In Nonverbal Communication | ||
| Communication Competence | ||
| Listening: Verbal & Nonverbal Perception | ||
| Public Relations Research And Writing | ||
| Conc Foundations Comm Train & Devel | ||
| Seminar On Speech Pedagogy | ||
To track their individual degree progress, students are advised to access their Degree Progress Report (DPR) via myWCU regularly. For more information, visit wcupa.edu/DegreeProgressReport.
The following is a sample suggested course sequence for this program; course offerings and availability are not guaranteed. Students should consult their academic advisor with any questions.
B.A. in Communication Studies
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Credits | |
| COM 209 | Principles & Practice of Public Speaking I | 3 |
| COM 211 | Communication Literacy & Inquiry | 3 |
| WRT 120 | Effective Writing I | 3 |
| FYE 100X | First Year Experience | 4 |
| Language 101 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| COM 206 | Argumentation | 3 |
| COM 213 |
Public Communication or Relational Communication or Organizational Communication |
3 |
| MAT 103 | Introduction to Mathematics (or higher) | 3 |
| WRT 2XX | 200-Level WRT Course | 3 |
| Language 102 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Semester Three | ||
| COM 309 | Principles & Practice of Public Speaking II | 3 |
| COM 213 |
Public Communication or Relational Communication or Organizational Communication |
3 |
| Language 201 or Language Culture Cluster | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive or Writing Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive and Ethics Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| COM 213 |
Public Communication or Relational Communication or Organizational Communication |
3 |
| Language 202 or Language Culture Cluster | 3 | |
| Writing Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Diverse Communities or Interdisciplinary Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Semester Five | ||
| COM XXX | COM Upper Elective | 3 |
| COM XXX | COM Upper Elective | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Language Culture Cluster |
||
or Diverse Communities Gen Ed |
||
or Interdisciplinary Gen Ed |
||
| Applied Area (Minor) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| COM XXX | COM Upper Elective and Writing Emphasis | 3 |
| COM XXX | COM Upper Elective | 3 |
| Applied Area (Minor) | 3 | |
| Applied Area (Minor) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Semester Seven | ||
| COM XXX | COM Upper Elective | 3 |
| Applied Area (Minor) | 3 | |
| Applied Area (Minor) or Elective | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive or Writing Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| COM 400 | Internship in Communication Studies (OR ELECTIVE) | 3-15 |
| COM 490 | Capstone in Communication Studies | 3 |
| Applied Area (Minor) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive or Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15-27 | |
| Total Credits | 121-133 | |
Accelerated B.A. in Communication Studies to the M.A. in Communication Studies
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Credits | |
| COM 209 | Principles & Practice of Public Speaking I | 3 |
| COM 211 | Communication Literacy & Inquiry | 3 |
| WRT 120 | Effective Writing I | 3 |
| FYE 100X | First Year Experience | 4 |
| Language 101 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| COM 206 | Argumentation | 3 |
| COM 213 |
Public Communication or Relational Communication or Organizational Communication |
3 |
| MAT 103 | Introduction to Mathematics | 3 |
| WRT 2XX | 200-Level WRT Course | 3 |
| Language 102 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Semester Three | ||
| COM 309 | Principles & Practice of Public Speaking II | 3 |
| COM 213 |
Public Communication or Relational Communication or Organizational Communication |
3 |
| Language 201 or Language Culture Cluster | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive or Writing Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive or Ethics Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| COM 213 |
Public Communication or Relational Communication or Organizational Communication |
3 |
| Language 202 or Language Culture Cluster | 3 | |
| Writing Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Diverse Communities or Interdisciplinary Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Semester Five | ||
| COM XXX | COM Upper Electrive | 3 |
| Applied Area (minor) | 3 | |
| Applied Area (minor) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive or Writing Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| COM XXX | COM Upper Elective and Writing Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 |
| Applied Area (minor) | 3 | |
| Applied Area (minor) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Semester Seven | ||
| COM XXX | COM Graduate Course | 3 |
| COM XXX | COM Graduate Course | 3 |
| Applied Area (minor) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Distributive | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| COM 400 | Internship in Communication Studies (OR ELECTIVE) | 3-15 |
| COM 490 | Capstone in Communication Studies | 3 |
| COM XXX | COM Graduate Course | 3 |
| COM XXX | COM Graduate Course | 3 |
| Applied Area (minor) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15-27 | |
| Total Credits | 121-133 | |
