Communication Studies, BA

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies (C60101BA) 

More on the Communication Studies major

The Communication Studies degree equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate the role of communication in society and effectively develop messages to address organizational and community challenges. Students study communication practices, concepts, and theories that can be used to help build and maintain relationships in personal and professional contexts. 

This major provides students with hands-on learning activities, internships, and co-curricular opportunities. Communication Studies graduates have strong communication, analytic, and critical thinking skills. They are prepared to craft meaningful messages and lead productive discussion and debate in the workplace and broader community. Our graduates enter careers in a variety of sectors, including business, government, non-profit, healthcare, and education. 

Program Contact
Heather L. Walter
Director & Professor, School of Communication
330-972-6486
hlwalter@uakron.edu

The following information has official approval of The School of Communication and The Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (Stellic) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.

Three year accelerated option: for first time students who have earned credits for at least the first year of courses. Credits can be earned through qualifying scores on appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) exams or through College Credit Plus Program (CCP) courses. Credits for qualifying AP scores or CCP courses are determined by the appropriate academic department. Departments may assign varied course credit, depending on the student’s score on an AP exam or grade in a CCP course. Students may also receive credit by examination or via placement tests, where appropriate.

Requirements

Summary

General Education Requirements36
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements12-24
Communication Core15
Communication Studies Core12
Communication Studies Electives12
Minor Requirement18
Additional Credits for Graduation *15-3
Total Hours120
*

Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation.

Recommended General Education Courses

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major.
Students are not required to enroll in the specific courses listed below. However, to facilitate successful degree completion, the academic department strongly encourages completion of the following recommendations.
Academic Foundations12
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours
Speaking: 3 credit hours
Writing: 6 credit hours
Breadth of Knowledge 22
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours
Diversity
Domestic Diversity
COMM 325
Intercultural Communication
Global Diversity
Integrated and Applied Learning2
Select one class from one of the following subcategories:
Complex Issues Facing Society
Capstone
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings.
Total Hours36

College of Arts & Sciences Requirements

Degree requirements in Arts & Sciences include either 1) the demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the second year of a foreign language, or 2) the completion of a certificate program outside of the Communication department
2 Year Language Proficiency 14
101 Beginning I
102 Beginning II
201 Intermediate I
202 Intermediate II
SLPA 222
Survey of Deaf Culture in America (American Sign Language option only)
-or-
Certificate program 112-24
1

Please see your advisor for a list of available certificate programs

Students must also complete a minimum of 40 credits (excluding workshops) consisting of either:
Upper-level (300/400) courses both in and outside of the student’s major;
or other courses outside the major department approved by the student’s major department chair (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment); these may not include workshops

Communication Core 1

COMM 101Introduction to Communication3
COMM 210Multiplatform Production3
COMM 245Argumentation3
COMM 384Communication Research3
Select one of the following:3
COMM 480
Communication Internship 2
-or-
COMM 485
Honors Project in Communication
-or-
COMM 499
Capstone in Communication
Total Hours15
1

Grade of C or better is required in Communication Core courses.

2

Students must have 90 credits to qualify.

Communication Studies Core

COMM 324Interpersonal Communication3
COMM 344Small Group Communication3
COMM 360Theories of Rhetoric3
COMM 435Organizational Communication3
Total Hours12

Communication Studies Electives

9 credits from the list below and an additional 3 credits from the list below or any COMM courses not included in the Communication Studies Core or the Communication Core.12
COMM 305Communication Theory
COMM 325Intercultural Communication
COMM 345Advanced Presentational Communication
COMM 352Persuasion
COMM 355Freedom of Speech
COMM 356Rhetorical Criticism
COMM 436Analyzing Organizational Communication
COMM 437Training Methods in Communication
COMM 438Health Communication
COMM 444Communication & Conflict
COMM 450Special Topics in Communication
COMM 457Rhetoric in Contemporary Culture
COMM 459Leadership and Communication
COMM 475Political Communication
The following courses DO NOT satisfy this requirement:
COMM 105
Introduction to Public Speaking
COMM 106
Effective Oral Communication
Total Hours12
1

Co-curricular activities (Forensics, WZIP, ZTV, Buchtelite) are limited to a total of three credits to be applied to the Communication Studies Electives.

Minor Requirement

Completion of a Minor or Second Major (not in Communication) or earned Associate Degree 18
Total Hours18
 
 
 

Recommended Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Fall SemesterHours
ENGL 111 English Composition I 3
COMM 101 Introduction to Communication 5 3
COMM 105
or COMM 106
 Introduction to Public Speaking 4,5
or Effective Oral Communication
 3
Beginning Language I or Certificate Course I 3 3-4
STAT 260
or STAT 250
 Basic Statistics 2
or Statistics for Everyday Life
 3-4
 Hours15-17
Spring Semester
ENGL 112 English Composition II 1 3
COMM 210 Multiplatform Production 5 3
Beginning Language II or Certificate Course II 3 3-4
Natural Science Requirement 3
Social Science Requirement 3
 Hours15-16
2nd Year
Fall Semester
COMM 245 Argumentation 5 3
COMM 325 Intercultural Communication 6 3
Natural Science with lab Requirement 4
Intermediate Language I or Certificate Course III 3
Social Science Requirement 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
COMM 324 Interpersonal Communication 3
COMM 360 Theories of Rhetoric 3
SLPA 222 Survey of Deaf Culture in America (Sign Language Students only) 3 2
Intermediate Language II or Certificate Course IV 3
Arts/Humanities Requirement 3
Global Diversity Requirement 3
 Hours17
3rd Year
Fall Semester
COMM 384 Communication Research 3
Communication Studies Elective 6 3
COMM 344 Small Group Communication 3
Minor Requirement 8 3
Arts/Humanities Requirement 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
Communication Studies Elective 6 3
Minor Requirement 8 3
Minor Requirement 8 3
Complex Issues Requirement 3
Arts/Humanities Requirement 3
 Hours15
4th Year
Fall Semester
COMM 435 Organizational Communication 3
Communication Studies Elective 6 3
Minor Requirement 8,9 3
Minor Requirement 8,9 3
Certificate Course V or Upper Level Elective 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
Communication Studies Elective 6 3
Select one of the following: 3
COMM 499
 Capstone in Communication  
COMM 485
 Honors Project in Communication  
COMM 480
 Communication Internship  
Minor Requirement 8,9 3
Certificate Course VI or Upper Level Elective 3
Certificate Course VII or Upper Level Elective 10 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours123-126
1

ENGL 222 Technical Report Writing is an option for the second semester writing requirement.

2

Any course that meets the General Education Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic requirement may be taken.

3

Students are required to complete four semesters of a modern language or sign language OR complete a certificate from the approved list (see below). Demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the second year of a modern language or sign language is required through coursework, AP, CLEP, or Oral Proficiency Interview. See your advisor for placement. Please note that all four semesters must be completed in the SAME language and it’s recommended you begin your first language course as soon as possible. Students can also complete one of the following certificates, instead of a language, to satisfy this requirement: Applied Political Communication [370019C], Artificial Intelligence [360010C], Conflict Transformation & Social Entrepreneurship [370016C], Parent and Family Education [H40203C], Entrepreneurship [630000C], Health Care Selling [660108C], International Business [680000C], Applied Politics [370005C], Asian Studies [340001C], Environmental Studies [337004C], Field Archaeology [324001C], Gerontology [300006C], Latin American Studies [300008C], Linguistic Studies [330008C], Middle Eastern Studies [340002C], Pan-African Studies [300002C], Research Methods for the Social Sciences [385000C], Teaching English as a Second Language [330003C], Women’s Studies [300110C], Manual Communication [H70007C], Museum and Archives Studies [140001C], and Addiction Services [226106C]. 

4

COMM 105 Introduction to Public Speaking and COMM 106 Effective Oral Communication are the required courses to meet the General Education Speaking requirement.

5

A grade of “C” or better is required in order to graduate.

6

The School of Communication recommends COMM 325 Intercultural Communication to meet both a Communication elective and the Domestic Diversity course requirement.

8

A student must complete one of the following: (1) A university approved minor from the Undergraduate Bulletin, (2) an earned Associate's or Bachelor's degree, or (3) a second major not in Communication.

9

Degree requirements in Arts & Sciences require a minimum of 40 credits of 300/400 level courses (excluding workshops). In order to meet this requirement, courses in the minor area of study should be at the upper level. In order to assist students in graduating on time, only students in a degree granting college may take upper level (300/400) Communication courses. General electives can be any course not already required. 

10

This course is not needed if a foreign language is taken instead of the a certificate program.