Communication Studies, BA (COMMSTUD-BA)

Program Description

The Communication program offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. Communication students gain an understanding of human communication through the acquisition of skills in speaking, writing, and critical thinking.

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 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.

Communication Major Curricula

The Communication Studies major is designed to develop broadly trained students in the liberal arts. 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.

Admission Requirements:

Currently admitted to Wright State University

Program Learning Objectives:

Students enrolled in the Communication Studies 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 the Communication Studies 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: 38 Credit Hours

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

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

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.

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

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.

Required:

Element E - Natural Sciences: 7 Credit Hours

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.

COM 1010 - Essentials of Public Address Credit Hour(s): 3
Credits / Units: 3
LA 1020 - First-Year Seminar: College of Liberal Arts Credit Hour(s): 3

II. Departmental Requirements: 39 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
COM 3700 - Dispute Resolution Credit Hour(s): 3
COM 4251 - Race, Gender and Health Credit Hour(s): 3
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 language:

Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Chinese, American Sign Language or other.

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. Electives: 21-25 Credit Hours

Total: 120 Credit Hours

All department required courses and department research methods require minimum grade of C.

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

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.