Campuses:
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Twin Cities Campus
Communication Studies B.A.Communication Studies
College of Liberal Arts
This program examines human communication using humanistic and social scientific methods. Fields of study include speech writing, rhetorical criticism, ethics, interpersonal, small group, organizational, intercultural, and electronic (broadcasting, cable, satellite, internet) forms of communication. Students are strongly encouraged to declare their major during the first or second year. Students intending to declare a communication studies major must first meet with an a communication studies advisor in 274 Ford Hall.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete 4 semester(s) of
any second language.
with a grade of C-, or better, or S, or demonstrate proficiency in the language(s) as defined by the department
or college.
All CLA BA degrees require 18 upper-division (3xxx-level or higher) credits outside the major designator. These credits must be taken in designators different from the major designator and cannot include courses that are cross-listed with the major designator. The major designator for the communication studies BA is COMM.
A given course may only count towards one major requirement.
At least 14 upper-division credits in the major must be taken at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus.
Students may earn a bachelor of arts or a minor in communication studies, but not both.
All incoming CLA freshmen must complete the First-Year Experience course sequence.
Introductory Courses
COMM 1101/1101H is recommended.
Take exactly 2 course(s) totaling exactly 6 credit(s) from the following:
·
COMM 1101 - Introduction to Public Speaking
[CIV]
(3.0 cr)
or
COMM 1101H - Honors: Introduction to Public Speaking
[CIV]
(3.0 cr)
or
OLPD 1461 - Presentations in Work Settings: Business & Marketing Education and Human Resource Development
[CIV]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 1313W - Analysis of Argument
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
Performative Elective
In order for COMM 3990 to count as a performative elective, it must be taken for at least 3 credits.
Take exactly 1 course(s) totaling 3 - 4 credit(s) from the following:
·
COMM 3201 - Introduction to Electronic Media Production
(4.0 cr)
·
COMM 3411 - Introduction to Small Group Communication
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3422 - Interviewing and Communication
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3605W - Persuasive Speaking and Speech Writing
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3994 - Directed Research
(1.0-3.0 cr)
Additional Communication Studies Electives
At least one elective must be taken at the 4xxx level or higher. The amount of Additional Communication Studies Electives required will depend on the amount of credits taken to fulfill the Performative Elective requirement and the Capstone. Any COMM 3xxx, 4xxx, 5xxx, or its cross-list that is not counting towards a different major requirement may count as an elective.
Take 15 - 18 credit(s) from the following:
COMM 3xxx
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
COMM 3190H - Honors Course: Research Seminar in Communication
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3201 - Introduction to Electronic Media Production
(4.0 cr)
·
COMM 3202 - Audio Production and Media Literacy
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3204 - Advanced Electronic Media Production
(4.0 cr)
·
COMM 3211 - Introduction to Media Studies
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3231 - Reality TV: History, Culture, and Economics
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3263W - Media Literacy: Decoding Media Images and Messages
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3401 - Introduction to Communication Theory
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3402 - Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3409 - Nonverbal Communication
[SOCS]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3411 - Introduction to Small Group Communication
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3422 - Interviewing and Communication
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3431 - Persuasion Theories
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3441 - Introduction to Organizational Communication
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3451W - Intercultural Communication: Theory and Practice
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3452W {Inactive}
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3601 - Introduction to Rhetorical Theory
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3605W - Persuasive Speaking and Speech Writing
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3614 - Advanced Public Policy and Debate
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3615W - Argumentation
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3625W - Communication Ethics
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3631 - Freedom of Speech
[CIV]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3635W - Famous Speeches
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3666 - Greek Intellectual Revolution
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3676W - Communicating Terrorism
[GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3681W - Rhetorical Fictions and 20th Century Conflicts
[LITR, GP, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
COMM 3682W - Communicating War
[AH, CIV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3110 - Topics in Communication Studies
(3.0 cr)
or
COMM 3110H - Honors Topics in Communication Studies
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3341 - Asian American Images
[AH, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
or
AAS 3341 - Asian American Images
[AH, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
Directed Study and Research
Take at most 3 credit(s) from the following:
·
COMM 3993 - Directed Study
(1.0-3.0 cr)
Take at most 3 credit(s) from the following:
·
COMM 3996 - Directed Instruction
(3.0 cr)
Take at most 3 credit(s) from the following:
·
COMM 3994 - Directed Research
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4xxx and 5xxx
Take 1 or more course(s) totaling 3 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
COMM 4204 - Producing for Television: Theory and Practice
(4.0 cr)
·
COMM 3221 - Musical Communication
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4235 - Electronic Media and Ethnic Minorities--A World View
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4245 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4251 - Environmental Communication
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4263 - Feminist Media Studies
[DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4291 - New Telecommunication Media
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4404W - Language Borderlands
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4407 - Communication and Conflict
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4471 - Communication in Marriage and Family
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4602W - Contemporary Political Persuasion
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4616 - African American Civil Rights Rhetoric
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4621W - Rhetoric of Feminism
[DSJ, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5110 - Special Topics in Communication Theory
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5211 - Critical Media Studies: Theory and Methods
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5221 - Media, Race, and Identity
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5231 - Media Outlaws
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5250 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5261 - Political Economy of Media Culture
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5401 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5402 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5411 - Small Group Communication Research
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5431 - The Process of Persuasion
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5441 - Communication in Human Organizations
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5451W - Intercultural Communication Processes
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5611 - Survey of Rhetorical Theory
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5615W - Introduction to Rhetorical Criticism
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5617 - History and Criticism of U.S. Public Discourse: 1630-1865
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5970 - Directed Study
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5994 - Communication Research Practicum
(1.0-3.0 cr)
Capstone
The Capstone is fulfilled by completing a 10-20 page capstone paper. Students seeking honors in communication studies may fulfill the capstone requirement with the honors thesis. The honors thesis is completed by taking 6 credits of of COMM 3190H, which counts towards the Additional Electives requirement. Students who double major and choose to complete the capstone requirement in their other major may waive the communication studies BA capstone, and they do not need to replace the 1 credit.
Capstone Paper
Take COMM 3995W concurrently with any COMM 4xxx or 5xxx course. COMM 3995W is taken S-N only and must be taken during the same semester in which the capstone paper is written. The instructor sets the criteria for standards of quality and conceptual/theoretical content. If a capstone project fails to meet guidelines, the student can re-take 3995W in the May-term that most directly follows the failed capstone project.
Take exactly 1 course(s) totaling exactly 1 credit(s) from the following:
·
COMM 3999W - Capstone Project
[WI]
(1.0 cr)
Upper Division Writing Intensive within the Major
Students are required to take one upper division writing intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
·
COMM 3263W - Media Literacy: Decoding Media Images and Messages
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3451W - Intercultural Communication: Theory and Practice
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3452W {Inactive}
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3605W - Persuasive Speaking and Speech Writing
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3635W - Famous Speeches
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3645W - How Pictures Persuade
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3676W - Communicating Terrorism
[GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3681W - Rhetorical Fictions and 20th Century Conflicts
[LITR, GP, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
COMM 3682W - Communicating War
[AH, CIV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 3999W - Capstone Project
[WI]
(1.0 cr)
·
COMM 4404W - Language Borderlands
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4602W - Contemporary Political Persuasion
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 4621W - Rhetoric of Feminism
[DSJ, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5451W - Intercultural Communication Processes
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
COMM 5615W - Introduction to Rhetorical Criticism
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
|
|
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 1101/Comm 1101H/PSTL 1461 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 1101/Comm 1101H/PSTL 1461 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | FSoS 1461/OLPD 1461 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 15.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 3110/Comm 3110H |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 15.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 3110/Comm 3110H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AAS 3341/Comm 3341 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AAS 3341/Comm 3341 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 4250/Comm 5250 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 4621W/GWSS 4621W |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 5611/Writ 5776 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 18.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 9.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Comm 4621W/GWSS 4621W |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |