Communication Major
The communication major is designed to enhance students’ skills in oral, written, and visual communication. The major offers emphases in business communication, contemporary media, and relational communication in preparation for communication careers in areas such as public relations, human resources, ministry, and business.
Program Outcomes:
Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication will be able to:
- plan and conduct hypothesis-testing original research projects
- modify oral, written, and visual messages appropriately for different channels of communication
- create professional presentations that indicate clear adaptation to the audience in terms of age, background, and expectations
- write professional-level messages designed for specific publication outlets and audiences
- understand and apply communication theories
- understand how communication is affected by context and genre
- understand how to communicate in an ethical, biblical manner
Requirements total 48 hours, including 33 hours of core courses and 15 hours from one of three emphases. (Note: Students must have the permission of the communication department chair to pursue more than one emphasis. Appropriate substitutions for overlapping courses will be determined for those students.)
Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Overview of Communication | ||
| Select three of the following | 9 | |
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Mass Communication 1 | ||
| Intercultural Communication 1 | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Communication in Practice | ||
| COM 112 | Speech 1 | 3 |
| COM 255 | Writing for Publication | 3 |
| COM 260 | Student Publication I | 3 |
| COM 281 | Social and Interactive Media Strategies | 3 |
| or GPH 205 | Intermediate Design Software | |
| COM 360 | Student Publication II | 3 |
| COM 445 | Internship | 3 |
| COM 490 | Communication Capstone | 3 |
| GPH 105 | Foundational Design Software 1 | 3 |
| Emphases | ||
| Select one of the following emphases. | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
| 1 | May be used to fulfill a general education requirement. |
Emphases
Business Communication Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUS 101 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
| or BUS 113 | Principles of Marketing | |
| or BUS 115 | Human Resources Management | |
| BUS 334 | Advertising | 3 |
| COM 140 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| COM 210X | Business Communication | 3 |
| COM 334 | Group and Organizational Communication | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Contemporary Media Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUS 388 | Digital Analytics | 3 |
| or GPH 305 | Advanced Design Software | |
| COM 140 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| GPH 110 | Design Foundations | 3 |
| GPH 210 | Tangible Design | 3 |
| GPH 230 | Introduction to Photography 1 | 3 |
| or GPH 260 | Typography | |
| or GPH 385 | Digital Storytelling | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
| 1 | May be used to fulfill a general education requirement. |
Relational Communication Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COM 334 | Group and Organizational Communication 1 | 3 |
| COM 338 | Gender and Family Communication 1 | 3 |
| PSY 220 | Interpersonal Skills Training 1 | 3 |
| PSY 300 | Personality Theories | 3 |
| or PSY 350X | Social Psychology | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Leadership Dynamics | ||
| Crisis Intervention | ||
| Psychology of Addiction 1 | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
| 1 | May be used to fulfill a general education requirement. |