Department of Communication Studies

Nancy Burroughs, Ph.D., Chair

Professors: Burroughs, Hilpert Jr., Jaasma, Sumser
Associate Professors: DeCaro, Harvey
Assistant Professors: Huang, M., Liu, Nainby, Tumolo
Lecturers: Jacquay

Office: Demergasso-Bava Hall — DBH 125
Phone: (209) 667-3371

Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies  with options to specialize in: Organizational Communication/Public Relations or Speech Communication
Liberal Studies degree concentration in Communication Studies 
Social Sciences degree concentration in Communication Studies 

Liberal Studies Concentration in Communication Studies

Please refer to the Liberal Studies  section of the catalog.

Social Sciences Concentration in Communication Studies

Please refer to the Social Sciences program  section of the catalog.

Teaching Credentials

An approved single subject matter preparation program is available to Communication Studies majors who wish to declare English as their subject matter teaching area, with applicable courses on advisement. Please refer to the Teacher Education section of the Graduate Catalog for a description of other requirements to be completed in obtaining a single subject credential.

Learning Objectives

Students are expected to achieve the following competencies:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the theories and research processes used by communication scholars.
• Apply the understanding of theories and research to the design and evaluation of original research proposals and projects.
• Practice and demonstrate competence in the ability to speak in a variety of communication contexts.
• Practice and demonstrate competence in the ability to work effectively in groups.
• Demonstrate their ability to write effectively in a variety of communication contexts.
• Demonstrate critical thinking by analyzing and evaluating communication products and processes using relevant communication frameworks.
• Apply an ethical framework to communication interactions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the variety of communication practices found in a multicultural and globalized society.

International Path to the Major

The Department of Communication Studies supports the concept of international education and encourages students to investigate opportunities for overseas study.

Year in Sweden:

Students may elect to complete their senior year at Uppsala University, Sweden in the International Media and Communication Studies program. Prerequisites include completion of all lower division requirements, completion of English composition with a “B” grade or better or advanced placement in English, and an overall GPA of 2.75. It is also strongly recommended that students complete a course in Modern European History.

Students desiring this year at Uppsala should select the Organizational Communication/Public Relations option in the major. The following courses must be completed at CSU Stanislaus:

• 9 units of upper-division General Education
• A minimum of 88 units of the 120 required to graduate (including community college units)
• COMM 3100 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication
   
• COMM 3140 - Persuasive Messages
   
• COMM 3900 - Communication Research Methods
   
• COMM 3200 - Communication Theory (WP)
    or
  COMM 4140 - Rhetorical Theory
   

The following courses at Uppsala will complete the core and fulfill the requirements in the Organizational Communication/Public Relations option in the major:

Fall Semester:

• Media Analysis at Uppsala, replacing COMM 4210 Public Relations
• Communication Theory at Uppsala, replacing COMM 3200 Communication Theory
  (note that the student must still complete a WP course at CSU Stanislaus)
• Regulating Media and Communication at Uppsala, replacing COMM 4160 Intercultural Communication

Spring Semester:

• Media Policy and Development and Uppsala, replacing COMM 4200 Mass Media Theory and Research
• Organizational Communication at Uppsala, replacing COMM 3110 Organizational Communication
• Communication and Negotiation at Uppsala, replacing COMM 4190 Conflict and Communication
• International Media and Communication at Uppsala, replacing COMM 4165 Communication in Global Organizations

Notes:

For students electing this course of study, their capstone project would consist of submission of a portfolio or reflective papers about their global experience undertaken in this year in Sweden.

Students may elect other international programs as available. See the Office of International Education for information and consult with your academic adviser in the Department.