Communication Studies B.A.*

View information for the Department of Communication Studies , including Learning Objectives for the department and its programs.

View the degree program Roadmaps , which provide recommended advising maps to complete the degree program. Please consult your academic advisor as you develop your academic plan.

Academic programs also currently offered at the Stanislaus State Stockton Campus are followed by an asterisk (*). For more information about the Stockton Campus, visit the Stanislaus State Stockton Campus page.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students are expected to achieve the following competencies:

Oral Communication: Present oral messages using appropriate modalities and technologies for the audience, purpose, and context to accomplish communication goals
Writing: Construct written messages using appropriate modalities for the audience, purpose, and context to accomplish communication goals
Critical Thinking: Demonstrate the ability to think critically through the analysis of mediated and non-mediated messages
Research: Demonstrate the ability to read, comprehend, apply, synthesize, and evaluate research in communication
Values: Demonstrate the ability to apply ethical frameworks in a variety of contexts in a multicultural and globalized society

Requirements

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

A student must comply with all University regulations and satisfy the following requirements:

Units and Residency (minimum of 120 units: 40 units of upper division coursework and 30 semester units at Stanislaus State. At least 24 of these 30 units must be earned in upper-division courses, at least 12 must be in the major, and at least 9 must be applicable to General Education-Breadth requirements)
Baccalaureate Degree Requirements (minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better)
General Education Program (minimum of 43 units)
Upper Division Writing Proficiency (minimum of 3 units)
- Writing Proficiency (WP) Course (may double count in the major)
United States Constitution and California State and Local Government (minimum of 3 units)
Sociocultural Inquiry Requirement (minimum of 3 units) (may double count with General Education requirements or in the major)
Skills for Student Success (minimum of 1 unit) and Lifelong Learning (minimum of 1 unit)

Subsequently, all students must submit an application for graduation and receive approval from the major advisor and department chair. For more information see the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements .

2. Complete the following prerequisites to the major:

(6-9 units)

a. Complete G. E. Area 1C by taking:

COMM 2000 - Public Speaking 3 unit(s)
or
COMM 2005 - Honors Communication Seminar 3 unit(s)
or
COMM 2110 - Group Discussion Processes 3 unit(s)

b. Complete G. E. Area 4B by taking:

COMM 2011 - Introduction to Communication Studies 3 unit(s)
or
COMM 2200 - Introduction to Mass Media 3 unit(s)

3. Department recommendation for completing lower-division G.E. requirements:

COMM 2300 - Argumentation and Critical Thinking 3 unit(s)

4. Complete the major with no fewer than 36 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.

The Major

(36 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 unit(s)
COMM 3900 - Applied and Social Scientific Research Methods in Communication 3 unit(s) or
COMM 3910 - Critical and Interpretive Research Methods in Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 3550 - Media and Public Perception 3 unit(s) or
COMM 4160 - Intercultural Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 4900 - Senior Capstone 3 unit(s) (Completion of 3900 or 3910 are pre-requisite to enrollment in 4900; students may co-enroll in 3200 & 4900, but 3200 may not be taken after 4900)

2. Complete 24 units of the upper-division contextual application ELECTIVE courses from the following categories:

Within each of the four upper-division contextual application elective categories, complete two courses each (6 units); 24 units in total across the elective categories.

a. Complete 6 units of upper-division electives from Public Communication & Advocacy

COMM 3112 - Radio & Podcast Production Laboratory 3 unit(s)
COMM 3140 - Persuasive Messages 3 unit(s)
COMM 3150 - Professional Speaking 3 unit(s)
COMM 3400 - Oral Interpretation of Children’s Literature 3 unit(s)
COMM 3600 - Public Intellectuals in the Digital Age 3 unit(s)
COMM 4165 - Communication in Global Organizations 3 unit(s)
COMM 4175 - Activism & Social Movements 3 unit(s)
COMM 4500 - Political Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 4450 - Rhetoric of Documentary 3 unit(s)

b. Complete 6 units of upper-division electives from Relational & Social Dynamics

COMM 3005 - Online Romantic Relationships 3 unit(s)
COMM 3100 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 4040 - Gender Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 4050 - Relational Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 4060 - Family Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 4100 - Group Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 4130 - Communication Across the Lifespan 3 unit(s)
COMM 4150 - Nonverbal Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 4190 - Conflict and Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 4210 - Social Media, Communication, and Society 3 unit(s)

c. Complete 6 units of upper-division electives from Media Studies & Communication Technology:

COMM 3112 - Radio & Podcast Production Laboratory 3 unit(s)
COMM 3210 - Computer-Mediated Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 3620 - Sport Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 4140 - Rhetoric of Popular Culture 3 unit(s)
COMM 4200 - Mass Media Theory and Research 3 unit(s)
COMM 4220 - Technology and Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 4400 - Visual Communication 3 unit(s)

d. Complete 6 units of upper-division electives from Strategic & Professional Communication

COMM 3110 - Organizational Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 3120 - Management Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 3215 - Public Relations 3 unit(s)
COMM 3500 - Digital Content Design and Analysis in Communication Industries 3 unit(s)
COMM 4020 - Communication in the Classroom 3 unit(s)
COMM 4110 - Communication Training and Consulting 3 unit(s)
COMM 4115 - Communication for Leadership 3 unit(s)
COMM 4170 - Professional Interviewing 3 unit(s)
COMM 4180 - Health Communication 3 unit(s)
COMM 4215 - Public Relations Campaigns 3 unit(s)

In consultation with your assigned advisor, students may substitute ONE upper-division COMM prefix course to count toward an elective from any one of the four contextual application categories.