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2023-24 Undergraduate Academic Catalog | School of Arts and Humanities | Communication

Communication, B.A.

[Communications—0601]

Students majoring in Communication experience four areas of study (communication theory, speaking, writing, and media) and complete at least one concentration in a second academic area of interest plus a professional internship. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations (e.g., in advertising, career counseling, health services, human resource management, journalism, marketing, public relations, radio, television, and the arts) AND to pursue graduate study in such areas as communication/rhetorical studies, counseling, cultural or policy studies, education, journalism, law, media, ministry, and social services.

SPECIFICS OF THE COMMUNICATION B.A. DEGREE


Minimum Total Hours: 124   

Total Liberal Arts Hours: 93

General Education Requirements: Core Curriculum Requirements (see General Education Council). Exceptions: MATH 2400 (or approved substitute) and CSCI 1010 (or approved substitute) may meet proficiency requirements.  American Sign Language may not be used to meet the foreign language proficiency requirement.

Minimum Requirements: GPA of 2.3 in the major—and cumulative; no grade less than C- in the major; minimum grade of C+ in COMM 1105, COMP 1010, and COMP 1020.



Transfer Requirements: See institutional transfer policies; 18 of the 55 hours in the major must be completed at RWC, including COMM 4500 and COMM 3500.

Application to the Major: Formal application after completing at least 45 semester hours with minimum 2.3 Communication and cumulative GPA, including at least three courses in the major at RWC (typically in junior year). Application form is available on line and in the department office.

Major Requirements: 55 hours as follows (37 in Communication and minimum of 18 in a related field):

  • 15-hour core:
    • COMM 2201
    • COMM 3301
    • COMM 3302
    • COMM 4401
    • One COMM 4400-level theory course.
  • 18 hours distributed as follows:
    • Theoretical Emphasis: minimum 6 hours (including a COMM 4400-level course not used in the 15-hour core) (4405, 4409) 
    • Oral Emphasis: minimum 3 hours selected from COMM 2205, 2206, 2207, 3310
    • Writing Emphasis: minimum 3 hours selected from COMM 3304, 3210, 3351, COMP 3200
    • Media Emphasis: minimum 3 hours selected from COMM 2202, 2275, ARTS 1050, 2730, 2810
    • At least one additional theory, oral, writing, or media course not used above.
  • 3-hour Professional Senior Internship (COMM 4500) in a business, official office, or organization related to the student’s interest and approved by the Internship Seminar professor. Typical internships require 130 clock hours. 
  • 1-hour Senior Internship Seminar (COMM 3500) concurrent with Senior Internship (4500)
  • 18-hour concentration selected from: 
    • Business, Management, Marketing
    • Computer Science
    • Criminal Justice
    • Gender Studies
    • History OR Pre-Law
    • Language & Literature
    • Media Studies
    • Ministry
    • Music
    • Psychology OR Social Science
    • Religion/Philosophy
    • Theater
    • Visual Arts

Communication faculty assist in selecting courses for concentrations. Additional concentrations may be designed in consultation with and approval by Communication professors—and submitted to the Office of Registration.