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Communication Studies

Contact Information

(209) 667-3371
commstudies@csustan.edu

Demergasso-Bava Hall, DBH125

College of the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Requirements

  1. Complete University General Education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree. (51 units)
  2. Complete the following prerequisites to the major: (6-9 units)
    1. Complete one of the following courses in Area A1:                                          
    2. COMM 2000 - Public Speaking, 3 units, or                                                    
    3. COMM 2110 - Group Discussion Processes, 3 units
    4. Complete one of the following courses in Area D2a
      COMM 2011 - Introduction to Communication Studies, 3 units, or
      COMM 2200 - Introduction to Mass Media, 3 units
      c.  For those choosing the Public Communications and Media track, the following course is required:
      JOUR2150 - Writing for the Media, 3 units
      *Note: Students in the Public Communication and Media Track are encouraged to complete COMM 2200 - Introduction to Mass Media.
  3. The following are department recommendations for completing lower-division G.E. requirements:
    1. Complete Area A3 by taking:                                                                   
    2. COMM2300 Argumentation and Critical Thinking, 3 units
    3. Complete Area E by taking:
      CS 2000 - Effective Computing, 3 units, or
      CIS 2000 - Introduction to Computer Information Systems, 3 units
    4. Complete G. E. Area B3 by taking:
      MATH 1600 - Statistics, 4 units, or
      MATH 1610 - Statistics for Decision Making, 3 units
  4. Complete the major of not less than 34 upper-division units, as approved by the major adviser. Majors must take all courses counted toward the major for a letter grade if the letter grade option is available.
  5. Students must achieve a C- grade or better in all prerequisites to the major.
  6. Students must achieve a C- grade or better in all courses that count toward fulfilling the requirements for the major.
  7. Students must achieve an overall average of 2.0 GPA or better in the major.
  8. Completion of a minor is not required.
  9. Laboratory and Internship Courses

The following laboratory and internship courses may not be applied to the major:

  • COMM 4940 - Communication Internship, 2-4 units
  • JOUR 3012 - Journalism Laboratory, 3 units
  • JOUR 3112 - Radio Production Laboratory, 3 units
  • JOUR 4940 - Journalism Internship, 1-4 units

Laboratory and internship units, with a maximum of 9 total combined units, may count toward the 120 units required for graduation.

The Major

(33 units minimum)**

Students are reminded to check course descriptions carefully when selecting upper-division courses; enrollment may require completion of one or more prerequisites.

  1. Complete the following required upper-division CORE courses (12 units)
    COMM 3200 - Communication Theory (WP), 3 units
    COMM 3900 - Communication Research Methods, 4 units or
    COMM 3910 - Critical and Interpretive Research Methods in Communication, 3 units
    COMM 4160 - Intercultural Communication, 3 units
    COMM 4900 - Senior Capstone, 3 unit
  2. Complete two of the following upper-division BREADTH courses (6 units)
    Include at least 3 units from group a and 3 units from group b below.
    A. Complete 3 units OUTSIDE YOUR TRACK from the following courses:
    Relational and Organizational Communication Track students, select one:
    COMM 3140 - Persuasive Messages, 3 units or
    COMM 3550 - Media and Public Perception, 3 units
    Public Communication and Media Track students, select one:
    COMM 3100 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication 3 units or
    COMM 3110 - Organizational Communication 3 units
    B. Complete 3 units of upper-division COMM or JOUR Elective course taken outside of the Major track.
    See your advisor for approval of this course. Laboratory and Internship courses may not be applied in the major; however, these courses may count toward the 120 units required for graduation.
  3. Complete one of the following upper-division DEPTH TRACKS in Communication Studies: (15 units)
    A. Relational and Organizational Communication
    B. Public Communication and Media
    Depth Track in Communication Studies (15 units)
    A. Relational and Organizational Communication Track (15 units)
    1. Complete 3 units from the following courses:
      COMM 3100 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication, 3 units or
      COMM 3110 - Organizational Communication, 3 units
    2. Complete 4 courses from the following upper-division electives (12 units minimum)
      Courses may not cross-count with any other part of the Communication Studies major.
      COMM 3100 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication, 3 units
      COMM 3110 - Organizational Communication, 3 units
      COMM 3120 - Management Communication, 3 units
      COMM 3150 - Professional Speaking, 3 units
      COMM 3900 - Communication Research Methods, 4 units
      COMM 3910 - Critical and Interpretive Research Methods in Communication, 3 units
      COMM 4020 - Communication in the Classroom, 3 units
      COMM 4040 - Gender Communication, 3 units
      COMM 4050 - Relational Communication, 3 units
      COMM 4060 - Family Communication, 3 units
      COMM 4100 - Group Communication, 3 units
      COMM 4110 - Communication Training and Consulting, 3 units
      COMM 4115 - Communication for Leadership, 3 units
      COMM 4130 - Communication and Aging, 3 units
      COMM 4150 - Nonverbal Communication, 3 units
      COMM 4165 - Communication in Global Organizations, 3 units
      COMM 4170 - Professional Interviewing, 3 units
      COMM 4180 - Health Communication, 3 units
      COMM 4190 - Conflict and Communication, 3 units
      B. Public Communication and Media Track (15 units)
      1. Complete 3 units from the following courses:
        COMM 3140 - Persuasive Messages, 3 units or
        COMM 3550 - Media and Public Perception, 3 units
      2. Complete 4 courses from the following upper-division electives (12 units minimum)
        Courses may not cross-count with any other part of the Communication Studies major.
        COMM 3140 - Persuasive Messages, 3 units
        COMM 3150 - Professional Speaking, 3 units
        COMM 3215 - Public Relations, 3 units
        COMM 3550 - Media and Public Perception, 3 units
        COMM 3620 - Sport Communication, 3 units
        COMM 3900 - Communication Research Methods, 4 units
        COMM 3910 - Critical and Interpretive Research Methods in Communication, 3 units
        COMM 4140 - Rhetoric of Popular Culture, 3 units
        COMM 4200 - Mass Media Theory and Research, 3 units
        COMM 4215 - Public Relations Campaigns, 3 units
        COMM 4220 - Technology and Communication, 3 units
        COMM 4400 - Visual Communication, 3 units
        COMM 4500 - Political Communication, 3 units
        JOUR 3030 - Freedom of Speech and Press: Contemporary Issues, 3 units
        JOUR 3040 - History of Journalism, 3 units
        JOUR 3600 - Magazine Editing and Production, 3 units

**Courses may not cross-count for more than one requirement in the Major. No course substitutions.

Updated: July 07, 2023