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Curriculum Structure

Graduation with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication requires a total of 34 course units, including a minimum of 14 courses in the major. Three of the major courses are taken in cognate fields and 11 in communication. Among the communication courses are two required introductory courses designed to expose students to major topics in the field, one course in research methods, four intermediate-level courses, and four advanced courses. Specific course requirements are outlined below.

General Policies

Courses comprising the major must have been taken for a letter grade (that is, not pass/fail) and have resulted in a grade of “D+” or higher. Students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences may complete one, but not both, of their required introductory courses through the College of General Studies.

Course Descriptions

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Course Requirements

  1. Introductory Courses.

    Students must complete two of the three courses ranging broadly over important parts of the field.

    • COMM 123: Communication and Popular Culture
    • COMM 125: Introduction to Communication Behavior
    • COMM 130: Introduction to Mass Media and Society

  2. Research Methods.

    One course providing a basic introduction to the principles and techniques of social research. The requirement can be met in one of two ways:

    • COMM 340: Basic Communication Research

    OR

    • An equivalent methods course in another department. Approval of such courses may require submission of a course syllabus. A non-exhaustive list of sample courses is below (some of which may carry prerequisites).
    ECON 005/103 Statistics for Economists
    MKTG 212 Marketing Research
    PHIL 225 Intro. to Philosophy of Science
    PHIL 425 Philosophy of Science
    PSCI 295 Intro. to Political Research
    PSYC 020 Probability and Statistics
    PSYC 3xx Various Research Seminars
    SOCI 004 Sociology of the Family
    SOCI 100 Intro. to Sociological Research
    SOCI 120 Social Statistics
    SOCI 123 Intro. to Soc. For Adv. Students
    SOCI 128 Intro. to Demographic Methods
    SOCI 221 Sample Survey Methods
    SOCI 222 Field Methods of Soc. Research
    SOCI 521 Methodological Legal Research
    STAT 101 Introductory Business Statistics
    STAT 102 Introductory Business Statistics
    STAT 111 Introductory Statistics
    STAT 112 Introductory Statistics
    URBS 213 Methods in Urban Ethnography

  3. Intermediate Courses.

    Four courses that apply communication perspectives to particular domains of concern, issues or industries. (Advanced courses – see below – can substitute for intermediate-level courses.)

    COMM 123 Communication & Popular Culture
    COMM 140 Intro. to Film Forms and Contexts
    COMM 175 Argumentation & Public Advocacy
    COMM 210 Film and Reality
    COMM 221 Media & Militarism
    COMM 224 Communication, Childhood, and Play
    COMM 225 Children and Media
    COMM 226 Intro. to Political Communication
    COMM 237 Health Communication
    COMM 262 Visual Communication
    COMM 275 Communication and Persuasion
    COMM 298 Study Abroad
    COMM 299 Communication Internship Seminar

  4. Advanced Courses.

    Four courses that deal with particular research topics, intended for advanced students in communication. One of these must be a seminar. Courses numbered above 500 may also be taken by seniors with Instructor and School permission.

    COMM 298+ Study Abroad
    COMM 299* Communication Internship
    COMM 300 Public Space, Public Life
    COMM 314 Anthropology and Mass Media
    COMM 322* Hist. & Theo. of Freedom of Expr.
    COMM 323* Contem. Politics, Policy & Journalism
    COMM 330 Advertising & Society
    COMM 334* The Information Age
    COMM 336 Local News Media & Urban Policy
    COMM 339 Critical Perspectives in Journalism
    COMM 340 Basic Communication Research
    COMM 349* Media and Public Opinion
    COMM 350 Non-Verbal Communication
    COMM 358* The Internet and China
    COMM 360* Lang. in the Social Constr. of Realities
    COMM 362* Visual Communication Lab
    COMM 374* Communication and Congress
    COMM 376* Supreme Court Advocacy
    COMM 393 Chinese and US Perspectives on Intellectual Property, Piracy, and Creativity
    COMM 395* Communication and the Presidency
    COMM 396* Media Events
    COMM 397* Special Topics in Communication
    COMM 398* Special Topics in Communication
    COMM 399 Independent Study
    COMM 408* Children & Media: Cog. Development
    COMM 413* Pub. Opinion in Leadership Decisions
    COMM 415* Communication Law, Policy & Public Interest
    COMM 416 Intimacy, Privacy & Surveillance
    COMM 420 Race: History, Theory, and Practice
    COMM 429* Elections and Mass Media
    COMM 430* LGBT Representation in Popular Media
    COMM 439* Media Criticism
    COMM 445 Imagery, Media and Middle East
    COMM 454* Framing Public Policy
    COMM 462* Visual Communic.& Social Advocacy
    COMM 490* Transnational Communication and Global Media
    COMM 496* Leisure, Communication and Culture
    COMM 499 Senior Honors Thesis
    *Seminar
    +Department approval required. A course syllabus must be submitted to the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies and Registrar for review.

  5. Cognate Courses.

    Three courses from other schools and departments that support a student’s research interests in communication. In fulfilling the cognate requirement, students may select courses from three different departments; but no more than a single introductory class is permitted.

    Cognates must come from one of the following three clusters:

    • Communication and Culture

      Anthropology, Art History, Comparative Literature, Education, English, Film Studies, Fine Arts, Folklore, Music, Religious Studies, Sociology, Theater Arts

    • Communication and Behavior

      Anthropology, Education, Linguistics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology

    • Communication and Commerce**

      Business & Public Policy, Economics, International Relations, Legal Studies, Management, Marketing

    / ** At least one course in this cluster must be taken either in Economics or in Business & Public Policy.

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