2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Dec 05, 2025

2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Communication Studies, BA (COMMSTUD-BA)

CIP Code: 090101

Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies is suitable for students who wish to enter a communication-related career or for individuals interested in personal development. The Communication Studies major is designed to develop broadly trained students in the liberal arts. Communication students gain an understanding of human communication through the acquisition of skills in speaking, writing, and critical thinking. Students are encouraged to develop their abilities as effective communicators and as informed critical receivers. The communication studies major affords students maximum freedom of choice in designing their programs of study and areas of specialization.

The communication major can expect to take both theoretical and practical courses and to study communication from both the traditional point of view and through experience. Consequently, students are advised to take advantage of the communication activities in the department, college, and university. These activities include cable television, WWSU-FM radio station, The Guardian (student newspaper), the Public Relations Club, cooperative education, and involvement in Dayton area professional organizations.

Program Admission Requirements

This academic program does not have admission requirements beyond regular admission to Wright State University. Any student is eligible to declare this academic program.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

Communicate effectively with both written and oral skills
Analyze from a social scientific perspective how humans create, transmit, receive and respond to messages. In particular intrapersonal and interpersonal communication is the emphasis of study for this degree
Demonstrate mathematical literacy.
Evaluate arguments and evidence critically.
Apply the methods of the social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts and humanities.
Demonstrate global and multicultural competencies.
Demonstrate understanding of contemporary social and ethical issues.
Participate in democratic society as informed and civically engaged citizens.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

Communicate effectively with both written and oral skills
Analyze from a social scientific perspective how humans create, transmit, receive and respond to messages. In particular intrapersonal and interpersonal communication is the emphasis of study for this degree
Demonstrate mathematical literacy.
Evaluate arguments and evidence critically.
Apply the methods of the social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts and humanities.
Demonstrate global and multicultural competencies.
Demonstrate understanding of contemporary social and ethical issues.
Participate in democratic society as informed and civically engaged citizens.

For More Information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 36 Credit Hours

As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 3 Credit Hours

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy three additional credit hours in the Additional Core Courses category.

LA 1020 - First-Year Seminar: College of Liberal Arts Credit Hour(s): 3

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100). 
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 3 Credit Hours

Students will select one Element B course from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements list. Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the course chosen.

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)

Choose an additional Arts and Humanities course (a different prefix from what is chosen above) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 7 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Additional Core Courses: 5 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 5 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

Required:

COM 1010 - Essentials of Public Address Credit Hour(s): 3
Additional coursework to reach the minimum of 36 credit hours required

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

· One Global Inquiry (GI) course

· Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses

· One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Major Requirements: 36 Credit Hours

COM 1030 - Writing for Communication and Media Studies Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 1040 - Introduction to Human Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 1520 - Introduction to Media Studies Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 2020 - Interpersonal Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 2410 - Small-Group Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 2460 - Organizational Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 3330 - Persuasion and Rhetorical Theory Credit Hour(s): 3 or (IW)
COM 3700 - Dispute Resolution Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
COM 4251 - Race, Gender and Health Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
COM 4320 - Race, Class and Gender in Communication Credit Hour(s): 3 or
COM 4570 - Intercultural Communication Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 4470 - Communication Relationships in Organizations Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 4430 - Interviewing Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 4710 - Topics in Communication Credit Hour(s): 3

III. College Requirements: 18-22 Credit Hours

Foreign Language: 12-16 Credit Hours

Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one foreign language:

American Sign Language (ASL)*, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Spanish, or other foreign language.

*Note: all language classes above are 3 credit hours each, except for the ASL classes which are 4 credit hours each.

Methods of Inquiry: 6 Credit Hours

PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3
Research Methods - One course from approved list Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. General Electives: 26-30 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

Students are encouraged to consider adding a minor, certificate, or microcredential.

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.

These guides are valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and are subject to change. These guides are a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.