UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR: B.A. in Communication CREDITS REQUIRED IN MAJOR: 36

A grade of "C" or higher is required in all courses for the major.

FOUNDATION/REQUIRED MAJOR COURSES

COURSE NUMBER / COURSE NAME / CREDITS / PREREQUISITES / OFFERED / Online
CMS 102 / Intro to Communication / 3 / none / Every Semester / Su 17, Fa 17, Sp18
CMS 103 / Intro to Media Studies / 3 / none / Every Semester / Fa 17
CMS 200 / Research Methods in Communication / 3 / CMS 102 and 103 / Every Semester / Fa 17

Communication Theory (9 credit hours)SELECT 3 CLASSES FROM THE FOLLOWING:

COURSE NUMBER / COURSE NAME / CREDITS / PREREQUISITES / OFFERED / Online
CMS 242 / Communication and Social Media / 3 / CMS 102 / Fa 17, Sp 18 / Su 17,
CMS 255 / Business and Professional Communication / 3 / none
CMS 265 / Intrapersonal Communication / 3 / CMS 102 and 103 / Su 17, Fa 17, Sp 18
CMS 272 / Persuasion / 3 / CMS 102 / Fa 17 / Su 17,
CMS 275 / Theories of Language / 3 / CMS 102 and 103
CMS 290 / Intercultural Communication / 3 / CMS 102 / Sp 18
CMS 298 / Topics in Communication I / 3 / none / Sp 18
CMS 330 / Theories of Interpersonal Communication / 3 / CMS 102
CMS 332 / Communication in the Family / 3 / CMS 102 / Sp 18
CMS 345 / Small Group Communication / 3 / CMS 102 / Fa 17
CMS 360 / Ethical Dilemmas in the Digital Age / 3 / Sophomore standing or instructor permission / Su 17
CMS 375 / Meaning and Communication / 3 / CMS 102
CMS 385 / Intergenerational Communication and the Internet / 3 / CMS 102 and 103
CMS 390 / Theories of Organizational Communication / 3 / CMS 102 and 103 / Sp 18
CMS 398 / Topics in Communication II / 3 / CMS 102, 103, and 200

Media Theory (6 credit hours)SELECT 2 CLASSES FROM THE FOLLOWING:

COURSE NUMBER / COURSE NAME / CREDITS / PREREQUISITES / OFFERED / Online
CMS 210 / Topics in Media Criticism I / 3 / CW / Fa 17
CMS 240 / Rhetoric, Media, and Culture / 3 / CMS 102 / Sp 18
CMS 284 / Cinema Studies / 3 / CW
CMS 286 / History of International Cinema to 1945 / 3 / CW / Sp 18
CMS 288 / History of International Cinema since 1945 / 3 / CW / Fa 17
CMS 294 / Visual Communication / 3 / CMS 102 and 103
CMS 303 / Media Effects / 3 / CMS 102, 103, and 200
CMS 310 / Topics in Media Criticism II / 3 / CW / Fa 17, Sp 18
CMS 323 / Understanding Technology / 3 / CMS 103 or instructor permission / Fa 17
CMS 350 / The Internet in Society / 3 / CMS 102 and 103 or instructor permission
CMS 355 / Consumer Culture / 3 / CMS 102 and 103
CMS 370 / Media and Social Change / 3 / CMS 102 and 103
CMS 374 / Media Criticism and Aesthetics / 3 / CMS 103 / Su 17
CMS 380 / Film Genres / 3 / CW
CMS 384 / Topics in Cinema Studies / 3 / CW
CMS 394 / Theories of Cinema / 3 / CMS 284
CMS 423 / The First Amendment / 3 / Junior/senior standing

Senior Experience (6 credit hours) -SELECT 2 CLASSES FROM THE FOLLOWING:

COURSE NUMBER / COURSE NAME / CREDITS / PREREQUISITES / OFFERED / Online
CMS 420 / Communication and Cognition / 3 / CMS 102, 103, and junior/senior standing
CMS 423 / First Amendment / 3 / Junior/senior standing / Sp 18
CMS 432 / Topics in Interpersonal Communication / 3 / CMS 102, CMS 103, CMS 200, and CMS 330
CMS 455 / Computer-Mediated Communication / 3 / CMS 102, CMS 103, and junior/senior standing
CMS 475 / Discursive Practices / 3 / CMS 102, CMS 103, and junior/senior standing
CMS 480 / Gender Communication / 3 / CMS 102, CMS 103, and junior/senior standing / Sp 18
CMS 484 / Advanced Topics in Cinema Studies / 3 / CMS 284 and junior/senior standing
CMS 485 / Sex-Related Differences in Communication / 3 / CMS 102, CMS 103, and junior/senior standing
CMS 486 / Women in Film / 3 / CMS 102, CMS 103, and junior/senior standing
CMS 490 / Theories of Mass Communication / 3 / CMS 102, CMS 103, and junior/senior standing
CMS 498 / Topics in Communication III / 3 / CMS 102, CMS 103, 200 and junior/senior standing / Sp 18

Capstone Senior Seminar (3 credits)

COURSE NUMBER / COURSE NAME / CREDITS / PREREQUISITES / OFFERED / Online
CMS 495 / Theories of Communication / 3 / CMS 102, 200 and junior/senior standing / Every Semester / Sp 18

MAJOR ELECTIVES: _6_ CREDITS

Communication majors may select any two courses offered by the Department as electives as long as they have met the prerequisites. The exceptions are internships and independent studies. These count toward the total number of credits needed for a bachelor of arts degree, but not as electives in the major.

MAJOR COURSES OVERLAPPING IN THE CORE:

CORE AREA / COURSE NUMBER / COURSE NAME / REQUIRED BY MAJOR?
SCA / CMS 102 / Introduction to Communication / yes
INT / CMS 286 / History of International Cinema to 1945 / No, but may be selected
EISRC / CMS 323 / Understanding Technology / No, but may be selected
EISRC / CMS 360 / Ethical Dilemmas in the Digital Age / No, but may be selected

Text from the 2017 – 2018 Catalog:
BA in Communication

The communication bachelor of arts degree program takes a broad view of communication including the examination of face-to-face contexts and mediated ones. The program examines communication theories and their practices including intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, organization, intercultural, gender and family, and mass media. Communication majors take two senior seminars. One seminar is chosen from a list of topics and the other is a capstone seminar designed to be a culmination of their undergraduate work and as a transition to graduate studies. This program embraces a liberal arts philosophy and emphasizes critical thinking rather than vocational training.

This degree program can also be taken in a fully online format. For more information, please visit Professional and Continuing Education at

A grade of "C" or higher is required in all courses for the major.

Core curriculum codes

EYE – Entry Year Experience

CW – College Writing

QR – Quantitative Reasoning

CE – Creative Expression

SCA – Socio-cultural Analysis

CI – Cultural Interpretation

SE – Science Exploration

EISRC – Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, & Citizenship

DIV – Diversity

INT – International

CAP - Capstone