Communication Major

The Communication major blends the intellectual breadth of a liberal arts education with a deep understanding of communication strategy and experience in digital media production. With classes in areas such as communication theory, persuasive communication, and inter-cultural communication, you learn to write and speak with clarity and use communication technology effectively.

All Communication majors gain real experience through an internship, and you complete an in-depth capstone project, mentored by a faculty member.

Communication majors pursue one of three concentrations:

Media Production Studies: Focusing on digital media, video, film, photography and persuasive communication.
Organizational, Interpersonal, and Group Communication: Focusing on areas such as conflict resolution, inter-cultural communication and speech communication.
Strategic Corporate Communication: Covering areas such as digital marketing and advertising, public relations, health communication and political communication.

Learning Objectives

Communication Students will:

Develop and improve their interpersonal, group and strategic communication skills;
Apply communication theory to real-life situations;
Apply methodologies for public speaking and for other communication;
Develop a variety of communication strategies across communication platforms with different stakeholders;
Create meaningful, collaborative work as a team member.

Major Requirements

Core (required of all majors) - 6.5 units

Lower Level

Communication Theory - COMM 100 1
Principles and Practices of Public Speaking - COMM 210
Fundamentals of Journalism - JOUR 110

Upper Level

Research Methods in Communication - COMM 300.1
Media Law - JOUR 370.1 and JOUR 370.3 - each 0.5 unit
Internship in Communication - COMM 300 7 - 0.5 unit (related to chosen track/concentration)
Capstone in Communication - COMM 499

The Department strongly suggests students first take COMM 100.1 Communication Theory before taking COMM 300.1 Research Methods in Communication. Or the Department recommends students take the two courses in the same semester.

Concentration

Complete one concentration/track (a minimum of 6.5 units).

Media Production Studies

Introduction to Communication Technology - COMM 100.3 - 0.5 unit
Introduction to Visual Communication – COMM 200.2
Video Production - COMM 300.5
Photography 1 - ART 355

Two production electives

Radio Production - JOUR 250 - 0.5 unit
Photojournalism - JOUR 300.3
Screen-Writing - ENG 319
Documentary Film-making - SOAN 365
Advanced Video Production - COMM 400.1 (prerequisite COMM 300.5)

One or more additional electives

Media Effects & Society - COMM 200.1
Journalism and the American Landscape - JOUR 341
Women and Media - WGS 325
Graphic Design I - ART 357
Special Topics: Philosophy and Film - PHIL 310
Computer Imaging 1 - ART 353

Organizational, Interpersonal and Group Communication

Introduction to Organizational Communication - COMM 300.8
Interpersonal and Group Communication - COMM 300.9
Conflict Resolution – COMM 300.3
Intercultural Communication - COMM 300.2
Race and Gender in the Media - WGS 325

Minimum 1.5 electives

Organizational Psychology - PSYC/BUS 264
Organizational Structure and Design - SOAN/BUS 363
Introduction to Communication Technology - COMM 100.3 - 0.5 unit
Persuasive Communication - COMM 300.6
Logic - PHIL 341
Critical Thinking - PHIL 112

Strategic Corporate Communication

Introduction to VIsual Communication - COMM 200.2
Intercultural Communication - COMM 300.2
Persuasive Communication - COMM 300.6
Introduction to Organizational Communication - COMM 300.8
Marketing Management - BUS 210
Public Relations – BUS 307 - 0.5 unit

Minimum 1.0 unit of electives

Media Effects and Society - COMM 200.1
Conflict Resolution - COMM 300.3
Health Communication - COMM 300.10
Introduction to Communication Technology - COMM 100.3 - 0.5 unit
Advertising - BUS 307 - 0.5 unit
Digital Marketing - BUS 307 - 0.5 unit