Undergraduate Catalog

Communication

Professors DeStephen, Pruett (Emeritus), Rickert, Sayer (chair), Shupe (Emeritus)
Associate Professors Eakins-Reed (Emeritus), Fetzer (Emeritus), Gaines, John, Morgan, Rucker,Ruminski Spicer, Yi
Assistant Professors Peplow
Lecturers Alexander, Baxter
Instructors Antolik, Biswas

The Department of Communication offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. Communication students gain an understanding of human communication through the acquisition of skills in speaking, writing, and critical thinking.

The Bachelor of Arts in communication is suitable for students who wish to enter a communication-related career or for individuals interested in personal development. The department offers majors in mass communication, organizational communication, and communication studies. Study in organizational communication is appropriate for students seeking careers in training and development or other organizational communication specialties. Study in mass communication is appropriate for students interested in journalism, media management and production, and public relations. The communication studies program allows students to select courses from all of the communication majors to meet their specific needs.

The Department of Communication, in conjunction with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, also offers a Bachelor of Arts in social and industrial communication. This degree is designed to provide an understanding of social and communication variables that affect organizational productivity.

The communication major can expect to take both theoretical and practical courses and to study communication from both the traditional point of view and through experience. Consequently, students are advised to take advantage of the communication activities in the department, college, and university. These activities include cable television, WWSU-FM radio station, The Guardian (student newspaper), the Public Relations Club, cooperative education, and involvement in Daytonarea professional organizations.

Degree Requirements-Communication

Bachelor of Arts Degree
The major in communication is for students interested in personal development or a career in education, industry, government, or the media. Communication majors are expected to achieve basic proficiency in communication skills and to master the essentials of communication theory. All communication majors must take 12 hours of required courses, as well as a minimum of 43 additional hours in communication. All communication majors are encouraged to participate in communication activities outside the university. To be admitted as majors, students must have at least a 2.5 GPA.

See General Education Requirements

General Education Requirements	56

Required Course:
Area VI: Any approved Liberal Arts College
Component course
Departmental Requirements	55-56

Required Courses:
COM 101, 102, 200, 400	12
Additional electives in major	43
Foreign Language and Research Methods Requirement	24-32

Electives	48-57

Total	192

Communication Major Curricula

Communication Studies
The communication studies major is designed to develop broadly trained students in the liberal arts. Students are encouraged to develop their abilities as effective communicators and as informed critical receivers. The communication studies major affords students maximum freedom of choice in designing their programs of study and areas of specialization.

Communication Studies Major Requirements	44

Major Core Requirements:
COM 141, 152, 333, 335, 401, 449	22
Electives selected from other courses in the department	22

Mass Communication
The mass communication major is intended to provide students with an understanding of the workings of the mass media and the impact of mass communication on today's world.

Mass Communication Major Requirements	44

Major Core Requirements:
2 hours of COM 130 or 330 (or LA 203/205/ 303/305/403/405), COM 152, 256, 358, 411, 462	21
Major Core Requirements in Specialization Area:
Broadcasting
COM 253, 360, 460, 464	15
Print Journalism
COM 364, 366, 454, 458	16
Public Relations
COM 345, 346, 347, 449	16
Visual Communication
ART 206, ART 209, COM 364, ENG 347	15
Electives selected from other courses in the department	7-8

Organizational Communication
The organizational communication major is intended to provide students with knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that permit them to understand the impact of communication, messages, and structures on organizational growth and development.

Organizational Communication
Major Requirements	44

Major Core Requirements:
COM 141, 152, 446, 447, 448	18
Major Electives:
Choose five from the following: COM 343, 345, 346, 347, 432, 441, 443, 445, 449, 451, 453, 455, 457	20
Electives selected from other courses in the department	6

Communication Honors Program

The communication honors program provides outstanding students with opportunities to pursue advanced study. To enter the program, students must complete 40 credit hours in communication and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.0 overall. Departmental honors will be awarded when the student completes the required number of hours for a major in communication, including at least 12 credit hours in approved communication honors courses. Students must complete a departmental honors project and maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 3.5 GPA in communication courses while they are in the honors program.

Minor in Communication

The communication minor is appropriate for students who want to develop additional skill in communication or who feel that an understanding of communication processes will supplement their major. The minor may be especially useful for students in business, computer science, education, and nursing, as well as students majoring in other areas of the liberal arts.

Communication Minor Requirements	36

Required Courses:
COM 101, 102, 200, 400	12
Additional courses in communication, with at least 16 hours at the 300 level or above	24

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