The B.A. with a major in Communication prepares students for a wide variety of professional careers. Through the study of the theory and practice of communication, students in the Communication major gain expertise in the skills most valued in the 21st-century workplace. Students learn team leadership, decision making, critical and creative thinking, problem solving, presentational skills, persuasion, research, writing, technology, and intercultural communication by examining communication in multiple contexts. With the B.A. in Communication, students are able to select one of four track, which further emphasizes scholarship within the field and prepares them to move directly from the academic to the organizational environment.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers conducts an annual survey, asking employers to identify the top skills they seek in college graduates. Of the top ten skills identified, nine are directly related to courses taught in the B.A. with a major in Communication. Similarly, for over four decades, the Fortune 500 list of most valued skills has been dominated by those taught in the Communication major.
Grade Point Average Requirement for the BFA with a Major in Communication
Students who declare a major in Communication must earn a grade point average of 2.25 or better in all Core Field of Study courses. Any student who fails to earn a 2.25 or better in Core Field of Study courses will be asked to change majors or will be switched to an undeclared major status.
Selected Educational Outcomes
- The Communication major will demonstrate skill in the use of the materials, technology, and methods of communication and expression necessary to be global citizens.
- The Communication major will demonstrate understanding of the theories and practices of interpersonal, intercultural, organizational, and public communication.
- The Communication major will demonstrate skill in the analysis of the communication needs of clients and in the design and implementation of programs to satisfy those needs.
Requirements for the B.A. degree with a Major in Communication
with an Emphasis in General Communication, Organizational Communication, Interpersonal Communication, or Public Relations
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Core Field of Study | 18 | |
| COMM 1110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| or COMM 1100 | Human Communication | |
| COMM 1800 | Communication Technology | 3 |
| COMM 2100 | Introduction to Communication Theory | 3 |
| COMM 2300 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 2500 | Introduction to Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| PREL 2000 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| Senior College Curriculum | 60 | |
| Communication Core | 15 | |
| Persuasion and Social Influence | ||
| COMM 3111 | Applied Communication Research | 3 |
| COMM 3112 | Data Analytics in Communication | 3 |
| COMM 3411 | Visual Communication and Aesthetics | 3 |
| COMM 3421 | Social Media Strategies | 3 |
| Communication Tracks: Select One | ||
| General Communication Track | ||
Select 12 hours of 3xxx/4xxx courses | ||
| Interpersonal Communication Track | ||
| Advanced Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | ||
| COMM 4310 | The Darkside of Communication | 3 |
| COMM 4350 | Family Communication | 3 |
| Organizational Communication Track | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Professional Communication | ||
| Crisis Communication and Management | ||
| COMM 4531 | Advanced Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| Public Relations Track | ||
| PREL 3210 | Strategic Design for Public Relations | 3 |
| PREL 3220 | Strategic Writing for Public Relations | 3 |
| PREL 4200 | Public Relations Research | 3 |
| PREL 4220 | Integrated Communication | 3 |
| Upper Level Major Electives (select two from) | 6 | |
| Argumentation and Advocacy | ||
| Event Planning | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Teams, Leadership, and Small Group Communication | ||
| Conflict Management | ||
| Creativity and Communication Design | ||
| Advanced Public Speaking | ||
| Listening and Interviewing | ||
| Special Topics in Communication | ||
| Directed Study in Communication Arts | ||
| Communication Arts Study Abroad I | ||
| Communication Arts Study Abroad II | ||
| Media Law and Ethics | ||
| Diversity in Media | ||
| Media Criticism | ||
| International Media | ||
| News Writing | ||
| Modern/Classical Foreign Language | 6 | |
| Guided Electives (six credits must be outside field of study) | 18 | |
| Capstone or Internship Experience | 3 | |
| COMM 4550 | 0-9 | |
| or COMM 4671 | Internship in Communication | |
| Total hours required for the degree | 120 | |
