Communication Major

All students majoring in Communication are required to complete 11 credit units total (7 required CU’s and 4 elective CU’s). Students will complete 4 lower-level and 7 upper-level courses; 3 upper-level courses are part of the Core and therefore, required, and 4 upper-level courses are electives.

Communication majors need to maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher within the major.

Learning Objectives

Communication Fluency - Determine best methods and strategies for developing communicative messages for mass audiences
Relational Skills - Explore the social interactions between individuals, societies, and institutions
Critical Reasoning/Analytical Skills - Evaluate and apply diversity, objectivity, and balance to any form of mass communication
Ethical Considerations - Demonstrate an understanding of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and other forms of diversity in relation to mass communication
Technological Skills - Demonstrate proper application of industry tools and techniques common to mass communication
Specialized knowledge - Identify specific examples of media evolution
Global Influence - Understand the significance of mass communication in a global society

Major Requirements

Core - 7 units

Lower Level

COMM 100 1 Communication Theory
COMM 111 Intro to Mass Media (previously JOUR 101 )
COMM 210 Principles and Practices of Public Speaking
COMM 300 1 Research Methods in Communication OR PSYC 210 Intro to Quantitative Methods

Upper Level

COMM 300 7 Internship in Communication
COMM 370 Communication Ethics (previously JOUR 370).
COMM 499 Senior Seminar (Capstone in Communication)

The Department strongly suggests students first take COMM 100 1 Communication Theory before taking COMM 300 1 Research Methods in Communication, or at least take both courses in the same semester.

Electives

4 units

Lower-level (Choose ONE)

COMM 200 1 Media Effects and Society
COMM 200 2 Intro. to Visual Communication
COMM 200 3 Digital Media I
COMM 250 OWU’s Bishop Radio
COMM 300 6 Persuasive Communication

Upper-level (Choose TWO COMM electives)

COMM 300 2 Intercultural Comm
COMM 300 5 Video and Film Production
COMM 300 10 Health Communication
COMM 300 14 Documentary Film and Video
COMM 381 Digital Media II

Upper-level (Choose ONE unit outside of department)

ART 355 Photography I
ART 357 Graphic Design I
BUS 307 A Advertising (0.5)
BUS 307 B Public Relations (0.5)
BUS 307 D Digital Marketing (0.5)
ENG 224 African American Images (theory or analysis)
ENG 254 Introduction to Film
ENG 319 Screenwriting
PG 261 American Politics and the Mass Media
WGS 325 Women and Media: Gender, Race, Class