A degree in Communication Studies gives students tremendous flexibility in terms of
career choices because effective communication is widely recognized as
vital to such fields as advertising, public relations, journalism,
international relations, education, arts, entertainment, health and
human services, law, and government. In our program, students refine
their speaking, writing, and critical thinking skills while
investigating communication theories and methodologies. Students can
also tailor portions of the major to meet their special needs. For
example, some students focus upon interpersonal or organizational
communication while others emphasize journalism or public relations.
Our highly successful internship program helps our students gain
valuable "real world" experience that often provides an entry into
their preferred job field. Graduates of our program enjoy successful
careers in such areas as publishing, marketing, corporate and
non-profit public relations, advertising, education, corporate training
and human development, promotions, and event planning and coordination.
Requirements for the Major in Communication Studies
The
Communication Studies Major requires completion of 44 credits of course
work that are subdivided into two areas: 1) Foundations (16 credits); and
2) Advanced Area Studies (28 credits).
Foundations
courses are recommended for the Freshman year, as they provide an
introduction to key processes in human communication and the
fundamentals of reading, writing, and doing research in communication.
Advanced
Area Studies courses are recommended for the Junior and Senior years.
By carefully choosing Advanced Area Studies courses with the approval
of a faculty advisor, students can fashion a constellation of courses
to meet diverse educational and professional goals. Some students may
choose to focus on the processes of human communication (interpersonal
relationships), while others may emphasize corporate communication,
public relations, or advertising. Other students may find that a blend
of a variety of courses will best meet their needs. Regardless of their
areas of emphasis, we strongly encourage our Majors to develop
professional skills in the CM 496 Internship course.
Students
should consult full course descriptions for specific prerequisite
requirements. A summary of requirements and courses follows below.
Foundations
(12 credits required)
- COMS - 202 Rhetoric and the Public Sphere
- COMS - 203 Communication and Everyday Life
- COMS - 204 Communication and Culture (CD)
Methods
(8 credits required)
- COMS - 252 Critical and Rhetorical Methods and/or
- COMS - 253 Quantitative Research Methods and/or
- COMS - 254 Qualitative Methods
Advanced Area Studies
(24 credits required)
- COMS - 300 Interpersonal Communication
- COMS - 314 Intercultural Communication
- COMS - 320 Public Relations Principles and Practices
- COMS - Public Relations Law and Ethics
- COMS - 323 Public Relations Writing
- COMS - 326 Public Relations Campaigns
- COMS - 332 Rhetorical Criticism
- COMS - 334 Rhetoric and Citizenship
- COMS - 336 Rhetoric of Law
- COMS - 350 Nonverbal Communication
- COMS - 352 Health Communication
- COMS - 356 Organizational Communication
- COMS - 358 Persuasion and Social Influence
- COMS - 360 Language and Social Interaction
- COMS - 364 Communication for Justice and Social Change
- COMS - 365 Geographies of Communication
- COMS - 366 The Ethnography of Communication
- COMS - 368 Communication and Aging
- COMS - 373 Rhetorical History of the U.S.
- COMS - 398 Directed Study
- COMS - 490 Topics in Communication Studies
- COMS - 496 Communication Studies Internship
Communication
Studies majors may only count a total of three Advertising and/or
Public Relations courses toward the 28 credits of Advanced Area Studies
required for the major.
Note:
Students majoring or minoring in Communication Studies must maintain a
"C" (or 2.0) grade point average or higher in the major/minor to
graduate. Moreover, beginning with students entering USF Fall, 2006,
students must earn a C- (C minus) or higher in all Communication
Studies courses in order to receive credit for that course toward the
major/minor.
Learning Outcomes for the Major in Communication Studies
- Students
will demonstrate an understanding of how communication shapes patterns
of social interaction, the expression of cultural values and norms,
political practices and relations of power, and our positions as local
and global citizens.
- Students
will be able to use a variety of methodological tools to analyze
interpersonal, intercultural, and rhetorical discourse that structures
everyday interactions in both our public and private lives.
- Students
will develop and hone the skills of speaking, writing, and critical
thinking, and will be able to use these skills in their personal,
professional and public lives.
Students
will demonstrate an understanding of the possibilities, problems, and
history of discourse and deliberation in democracy and will be prepared
to use their knowledge to work for a just and more humane world.
