Liberal Arts
Communication
Professors DeStephen, Pruett, Rickert, Sayer (chair), Shupe (Emeritus)
Associate Professors Eakins-Reed (Emeritus), Fetzer (Emeritus), John, Spicer
Assistant Professors Gaines, Morgan, Rucker Ruminski, Yi
Lecturers Alexander-Paul, Baxter
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 manage-ment 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. Because of this, 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 Dayton-area 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 11 hours of required courses, as well as a minimum of 44 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.
| General Education Requirements | 57 |
| Departmental Requirements | 55 |
| Required courses: COM 101, 102, 200, 400 | 12 |
| Additional electives in major | 43 |
| Foreign Language and Research Methods Requirement | 24 - 32 |
| Electives | 48 - 56 |
|
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), 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 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, and students majoring in other areas of the liberal arts.
| Requirements | 36 |
| Required Courses COM 101, 102, 200, 400 |
12 |
| Additional Courses in Communication At least 16 hours must be at the 300 level or above | 24 |
