Communication Studies Department

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The Department of Communication Studies offers an undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Both the major and minor in Communication Studies maximize a bank of communication skills and their theoretical bases, which are applicable to career goals and private lives.  These skills include, but are not limited to, effective listening, interpersonal dynamics, group dynamics, critical analysis, persuasion, conflict management and resolution, and message construction and delivery, both orally and in writing.  An emphasis on the ethical use and the cultural dimensions of communication, both of which are fundamental to effective human communicative strategies, are key to each course offered.  Careful consideration is given to both the theoretical understanding of communication and the application of practical skill sets.

Majors:  Must complete a total of 36 credits in the discipline.  A core of 21 credits is requried then the students select 15 credits of electives within the department.

Minors:  Musto complete a total of 18 credits in the discipline.  A core of 9 credits is required and then students select 9 credits of electives within the department.

Communication Studies Features

Personalized advisement help facilitate student choices, which ensure a timely approach to course selection and graduation goals.  The advisement, while important to academic progression, is also fundamental to student preparation for careers.

Internships are an optional part of the Communication Studies program.  They are tailored to the career plans of each student and provide access to those already working in those fields.  To qualify for an internship, students must meet specified criteria and apply through their advisor.

Communication Studies Career Opportunities

Communication Studies majors are prepared to enter virtually any field which requires communicative contact, in either spoken or written form.  Recent graduates work in all aspects of sales, marketing, advertising, radio/television broadcast, public relations, human resources, and higher education.  Many go on to continue their graduate studies.

Advisors encourage students to select and study in a minor area of concentration.  Some good fits include business management, communications/journalism, criminal justice, math, psychology, and political science.  The options are essentially limitless.  The selection of a minor advances career preparation in specific areas and reinforces student credentials for application to graduate study.

Programs

• Communication Studies, B.A.

• Communication Studies Minor
• Sport Studies Minor

• Sport Studies Certificate

Courses

• COST 100 - Introduction to Human Communication Credits: 3
• COST 125 - Survey of Communication Studies Credits: 3
• COST 190 - General Education Special Topics Credits: 3
• COST 191 - General Education Special Topics Credits: 3
• COST 200 - Human Communication Theory Credits: 3
• COST 210 - Public Speaking Credits: 3
• COST 220 - Nonverbal Communication Credits: 3
• COST 225 - Communication and Sport Credits: 3
• COST 230 - Small Group Communication Credits: 3
• COST 241 - Practicum in Experiential Learning Credits: 1
• COST 250 - Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3
• COST 260 - Computer-Mediated Communication Credits: 3
• COST 265 - Interviewing Credits: 3
• COST 270 - Intergroup/Intercultural Communication Credits: 3
• COST 275 - Special Topics in Communication Skill Credits: 3
• COST 310 - African-American Communication Credits: 3
• COST 315 - Asian-American Communication Credits: 3
• COST 325 - Voices of Black Anti-Racism and Resistance Credits: 3
• COST 330 - Special Topics in Cultural Perspectives Credits: 3
• COST 333 - Communicating Identity Credits: 3
• COST 335 - Popular Culture and Gender Construction Credits: 3
• COST 340 - Gender and Communication Credits: 3
• COST 342 - Health Communication Credits: 3
• COST 343 - Communication and Humor Credits: 3
• COST 344 - Family Communication Credits: 3
• COST 345 - Environmental Communication Credits: 3
• COST 350 - Theories of Organizational Communication Credits: 3
• COST 351 - Special Topics: Comm Contexts Credits: 3
• COST 352 - Argumentation & Debate Credits: 3
• COST 356 - Persuasion Credits: 3
• COST 360 - Research Methods in Communication Credits: 3
• COST 363 - Political Rhetoric Credits: 3
• COST 365 - Language and Meaning Credits: 3
• COST 370 - Rhetorical Criticism Credits: 3
• COST 372 - Communication for Training and Instruction Credits: 3
• COST 375 - Special Topics in Rhetoric and Symbolism Credits: 3
• COST 381 - Professional Communication and Multi-media Presentation Credits: 3
• COST 385 - Resolving Conflict through Communication Credits: 3
• COST 386 - Crisis Communication Credits: 3
• COST 387 - Selected Topics in Human Communication Studies Credits: 3
• COST 388 - Selected Topics in Human Communication Studies Credits: 3
• COST 389 - Selected Topics in Human Communication Studies Credits: 3
• COST 390 - Internship I Credits: 1-9
• COST 391 - Internship II Credits: 1-9
• COST 392 - Internship III Credits: 1-9
• COST 393 - Selected Topics in Speech Credits: 3
• COST 394 - Selected Topics in Human Communication Studies Credits: 3
• COST 399 - Independent Study in Human Communication Studies Credits: 3
• COST 400 - Senior Seminar Credits: 3
• COST 410 - Feminist Perspectives on Communication Theory and Research Methods Credits: 3
• COST 430 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3
• COST 491 - Selected Topics in Human Communication Studies Credits: 3
• COST 492 - Selected Topics in Human Communication Studies Credits: 3
• COST 493 - Selected Topics in Human Communication Studies Credits: 3
• COST 494 - Selected Topics in Human Communication Studies Credits: 3

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