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B.A. Communication Overview
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 tracks, 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.
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.
| • | 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. |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Core Field of Study | 18 | |
| COMM 1110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| 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 | ||
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Select 12 hours of 3xxx/4xxx courses
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| Accelerated Undergraduate to Graduate Track | ||
| Select 9 hours of MAIC 5000 - 7000 courses (excluding MAIC 7999) | ||
| Select 3 hours of COMM 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) 1 | 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 | Communication Capstone | 3-9 |
| or COMM 4671 | Internship in Communication | |
| Total hours required for the degree | 120 | |
Note:
1 The Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track
The Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track is an undergraduate-to-graduate degree program. Students in this track will complete 9 graduate hours that will count
toward the completion of the B.A. in Communication. These 9 hours may then be applied toward the completion of degree requirements for the Master of Arts in
Communication (MAIC) degree at Valdosta State University upon graduate admission. To be admitted, students must have completed at least 60 credit hours, have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, and must submit the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track application. Once admitted, a specific course of study will be developed with the student's advisor. Graduate courses taken as an
undergraduate will count toward the 120-hour graduation requirement but will not count toward the student's undergraduate GPA or the calculation of academic honors. Upon acceptance into the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track, students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing. Students who do not maintain good standing or who do not wish to continue with the accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track may complete the remaining requirements for the B.A. in Communication. Students interested in continuing their graduate education may apply for admission to the M.A. in Communication
program in their senior year or upon completion of their undergraduate degree. Students in the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track will not be required to
take additional admission tests but must meet all other graduate admission requirements. Students who have completed the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track will complete an additional 21 hours of graduate MAIC classes to meet the M.A. in Communication degree requirement of 30 hours. Upon application to the Graduate School, students who have made a "C" or less in any of their graduate courses taken as undergraduates will be subject to the M.A. in Communication Special Retention Policy regarding deficiency points.
Upper division
2 Students may take any upper division (3000 - 4000) COMM class offered to apply to their Upper - Level Major Electives requirements.
