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Communication Studies - B.A. Program Requirements PDFDownload to print

Attribute Legend: DD Diversity–Domestic; DG Diversity–Global; ELR Experiential Learning; KAD Kent Core Additional; KBS Kent Core Basic Sciences; KCM Kent Core Composition; KFA Kent Core Fine Arts: KHU Kent Core Humanities; KMC Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning; KSS Kent Core Social Sciences; WIC Writing Intensive

Please read the sections in the University Catalog on Kent Core, diversity, writing-intensive and the experiential learning requirements.

DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE (1 credit)
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  US 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience 1 1  
MAJOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (9 credits) Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
KAD COMM 15000 Introduction to Human Communication 3  
  COMM 20000 Foundations of Communication 2 3  
  COMM Diversity Elective, choose from the following: 3  
KHU/DG COMM 26000 Criticism of Public Discourse (3) 3    
DG COMM 35852 Intercultural Communication (3) 4    
DD COMM 35912 Gender and Communication (3)    
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (30-33 credits)  
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  Kent Core Composition 6  
  Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3-5  
  Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one from each) 6-9 3  
  Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 3-6 5  
  Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) 6-7  
  Kent Core Additional 3  
CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (77-83 credits) 
  Applied Communication (77-83)  
  Global Communication (77-83)  
  Health Communication (77-83)  
  Interpersonal Communication (77-83)  
  Organizational Communication (77-83)  
  Public Communication (77-83)  
MINIMUM TOTAL  120  
  1. US 10097 is not required of transfer students with 25 credits (excluding College Credit Plus and dual-enrollment) or students age 21+ at time of admission.
  2. A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned.Students must successfully complete a grammar competency requirement within the first 20 credits of the major and before enrolling in the required writing-intensive course associated with the major. Students will be provided one opportunity to fulfill this major requirement while enrolled in COMM 20000 Foundations of Communication. Students who do not earn a score of 680 or better on this test-out opportunity in COMM 20000 must complete COMM 21000 Grammar Review (1 credit), earning a C or better in the course in order to fulfill this grammar requirement.
  3. Students who choose COMM 26000 will need to fulfill 6 hours of Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts. Students who do not choose COMM 26000 will need to fulfill 9 hours of Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts.
  4. Students in the Global Communication concentration must take COMM 35852 Intercultural Communication.
  5. Students who choose JMC 20001 to fulfill a concentration requirement will need to fulfill 3 hours of Kent Core Social Science. Students who do not choose JMC 20001 will need to fulfill 6 hours of Kent Core Social Science.

 

Note:    The School of Communication Studies generally will approve dual concentrations for Communication Studies students as long as there are at least 12 hours of coursework in the concentration elective courses exclusively applied to each concentration (resulting in a total of 24 hours of unique concentration electives across the two concentrations). Students must also complete all of the other concentration requirements specific to each concentration, in addition to differentiating their major elective courses across the two concentrations. If one of the dual concentration choices is either the applied or the global communication concentration, students may select courses from across the College of Communication and Information in their elective choices for completing that part of the dual concentration. Any other duplicative course requirements for the two concentrations beyond the requirements specified above may be double counted when completing a dual concentration option.

Students electing a dual concentration must meet with an advisor to plan an individualized plan of study that meets these requirements before the dual concentration option will be approved for that student. Any changes made to the program of study also must be approved by an advisor, or the student may not be allowed to graduate with this option.

 

Applied Communication Concentration

 CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (45 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  COMM 25902 Communication Theory 3  
  COMM 30000 Communication Research Methods 3  
WIC COMM 35864 Organizational Communication 3 C 1
  COMM 45807 High Impact of Professional Speaking 3  
ELR COMM 46092 Practicum in Applied Communication 3 C
KSS/DD JMC
JMC
20001
20003
Media, Power and Culture (3) 2   or
Introduction to Mass Communication (3)
3  
  LIS 30010 Information Fluency in the Workplace and Beyond 3  
  VCD 14001 Visual Design Literacy 3  
  VCD 37000 Visual Design for Media: Advanced 3  
  Communication Electives 3 15  
  JMC electives: choose from the following 3  
  JMC 20004 Advertising Writing and Storytelling (3)    
  JMC 20005 Fundamentals of Media Messages (3)       
  JMC 26001 Writing Across Platforms (3)       
ADDITIONAL CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (32-38 credits)
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  Writing electives: choose from the following 3  
  ENG 20002 Introduction to Technical Writing (3)    
  ENG 30062 Principles of Technical Writing (3)    
  ENG 30063 Professional Writing (3)    
  General Electives 4 29-35  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 77-83  
  1. A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned in COMM 35864 to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
  2. Students who choose JMC 20001 to fulfill a concentration requirement will need to fulfill 3 hours of Kent Core Social Science. Students who do not choose JMC 20001 will need to fulfill 6 hours of Kent Core Social Science.
  3. Must be from the College of Communication and Information; minimum 6 credit hours must have course subject JMC and/or VCD; and 9 credit hours must be upper-division. May include maximum 6 credit hours combined from COMM 45092, 45093, 45095 and 45196.
  4. Any COMM course taken is calculated in the major GPA. For the Applied Communication concentration the following subjects are calculated in the major GPA: CCI, COMM, IAKM, JMC, LIS and VCD. Minimum 12 upper-division credit hours. Total number of hours required depends on meeting minimum 120 credit hours and 39 upper division hours.

 

Global Communication Concentration

 CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (36 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  COMM 45766 Communication in a Global Society 3  
ELR COMM 46091 Senior Seminar 3 C
KSS/DD JMC
JMC
20001
20003
Media, Power and Culture (3) 1 or
Introduction to Mass Communication (3)
3  
  LIS 30010 Information Fluency in the Workplace and Beyond 3  
  VCD 14001 Visual Design Literacy 3  
  Writing-intensive elective: choose from the following 3 C 2
WIC COMM 35864 Organizational Communication (3)    
WIC COMM 40001 Advanced Interpersonal Communication (3)    
WIC COMM 45902 Communication and Influence (3)    
  CCI Global Communication Electives 3 18  
  COMM 25902 Communication Theory (3)    
DD/KHU COMM 26000 Criticism of Public Discourse (3)    
WIC COMM 35864 Organizational Communication (3)    
  COMM 35912 Gender and Communication (3)    
  COMM 36505 Communication, Aging and Culture (3)    
WIC COMM 40001 Advanced Interpersonal Communication (3)    
  COMM 42000 Media, War and Propaganda (3)759    
  COMM 43000 Communication Technology and Human Interaction (3)    
  COMM 45459 Communication and Conflict (3)    
WIC COMM 45902 Communication and Influence (3)    
  COMM 45957 Language, Meaning and Cognition (3)    
  JMC 12001 Elementary Photography (3)    
  JMC 20005 Fundamentals of Media Messages (3)    
  JMC 20006 Multimedia Techniques (3)    
  JMC 20008 Research and Measurement in Advertising and Public Relations (3)    
  JMC 21001 Principles of Advertising (3)    
  JMC 22000 Photography Basics (1)    
  JMC 22001 Photography (3)    
  JMC 22002 Videography Basics (1)    
  JMC 22003 Videography Basics II (1)    
  JMC 28001 Principles of Public Relations (3)    
  JMC 30034 Programming for Electronic Media (3)    
  JMC 33024 Broadcast Performance (3)    
  JMC 40004 Computer Assisted Reporting (3)    
  JMC 40009 Comparative Media Systems (3)    
  JMC 40022 Film as Communication (3)    
  JMC 40035 Television Graphics (3)    
  JMC 40036 Non-linear Video Editing (3)    
  VCD 14002 Communicating with Color (3)    
  VCD 17000 Color: Theory and Application (3)    
  VCD 20010 Introduction to Design Research (3)    
  VCD 37000 Visual Design for Media: Advanced (3)    
WIC VCD 45000 Graphic Design Perspectives (3)    
ADDITIONAL CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (41-47 credits)
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  Foreign Language Requirement 4 14  
  Global Perspective/Cultural Awareness Requirements 5 15  
  Any approved Diversity course with Global Focus or choose from the list below:
Visit the global diversity courses in this catalog for the full list. COMM 35852 will not fulfill this requirement.   
   
WIC/ELR ANTH 48214 Politics of Culture (3)    
  ANTH 48230 Socio-Cultural Change (3)    
  BUS 30234 International Business (3)    
  ECON 32075 Introduction to International Trade (3)    
  ECON 42075 International Economic Relations (3)    
WIC/DG ENG 31006 World Englishes (3)    
  ENG 33013 Pan-African Women's Literature (3)    
  ENG 33015 African Literature (3)       
  FIN 46064 International Business Finance (3)    
  HIST 31024 World War II (3)    
  HIST 31112 Chinese Civilization (3)    
  HIST 31125 Zionism and Israel (3)    
  HIST 31126 History of the Middle East    
  HIST 31128 Late Medieval and Modern Jewish History (3)    
  HIST 31130 History of African Civilization (3)    
  HIST 31141 Early Latin American (3)    
  HIST 41020 Nineteenth Century Europe (3)    
  HIST 41024 Modern European History, 1914-1945 (3)    
  HIST 41025 Modern European History, 1945-Present (3)    
  HIST 41041 History of Germany, 1817-Present (3)    
  HIST 41044 Imperial Russia, 1689-1917 (3)    
  HIST 41045 Modern Russia, 1917-Present (3)       
  HIST 41112 History of Modern China (3)    
  HIST 41116 History of Japan (3)    
  HIST 41132 History of Africa, 1880-Present (3)    
WIC HIST 42297 Colloquium: China and Japan (3)    
  CRIM 33400 Crime and Justice in Popular Culture (3)    
  CRIM 47311 Comparative Justice Systems (3)    
  MCLS 20000 Global Literacy and Cultural Awareness (3)    
  MCLS 30420 Foreign Languages and Culture Studies (3)    
  MKTG 45060 International Marketing (3)    
  PAS 32050 African Literatures (3)    
  PAS 37100 Pan-African Women's Literature (3)    
  PH 10002 Introduction to Global Health (3)    
  POL 30500 International Relations Theory (3)    
  POL 30511 Problems of International Organization (3)    
  POL 30520 European Politics (3)    
  POL 30810 Politics of the Global Economy (3)    
  POL 30820 International Organization and Law (3)    
  POL 30840 Nongovernmental Organizations (3)    
  POL 40410 Regulatory Policy (3)    
  POL 40530 Politics of War (3)    
  POL 40620 Politics of Social Movements (3)    
  POL 40840 Comparative Foreign Policy (3)    
  POL 40930 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)       
  RPTM 26060 Introduction to Global Tourism (3)    
  SPAD 45024 Sports in Global Perspective (3)    
  General Electives 6 12-18  
  Approved Study Away Experience (credits awarded under other categories)
Study Away Experience: Students are required to complete an approved study away experience, ranging from one week to a full semester. The College of Communication and Information is committed to assisting students with financial support for the study away experience. The study away experience is waived for international students.
 
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 77-83  
  1. Students who choose JMC 20001 to fulfill a concentration requirement will need to fulfill 3 hours of Kent Core Social Science. Students who do not choose JMC 20001 will need to fulfill 6 hours of Kent Core Social Science.
  2. Minimum C (2.000) grade is required to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
  3. 12 credit hours must be upper division. Some courses may require prerequisites or departmental approval. The student is responsible for completing required prerequisites or obtaining departmental approval.
  4. Foreign Language Requirement: the 14 credit hour foreign language requirement equals three to four semesters, depending on the language selected. The 14 hours must be in one language and it must be a living, spoken language. Students may instead demonstrate an equivalent level of proficiency. Students with foreign language experience should consult with the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies for appropriate placement. Students are required to begin meeting the foreign language requirement by their third semester of full-time enrollment (that is, no later than upon completing 30 semester hours) and are required to continue to enroll for foreign language courses until the requirement has been completed.
  5. 6 credit hours must be upper-division. Some courses may require prerequisites or departmental approval. The student is responsible for completing required prerequisites or obtaining departmental approval.
  6. Any COMM course taken is calculated in the major GPA. For the Global Communication concentration, the following subjects are calculated in the major GPA: CCI, COMM, IAKM, JMC, LIS and VCD. Minimum 6 upper division credit hours. Total number of hours required depends on meeting minimum 120 credit hours and 39 upper division hours.

 

Health Communication Concentration

 CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (36 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  COMM 25902 Communication Theory 3  
  COMM 26501 Introduction to Health Communication 3  
  COMM 30000 Communication Research Methods 3  
WIC COMM 45902 Communication and Influence 3 C 1
ELR COMM 46091 Senior Seminar 3 C
  Communication Electives 2 12  
  Health Communication Electives: choose from the following 9  
  COMM 36501 Communication in Health Care (3)    
  COMM 36505 Communication, Aging and Culture (3)    
  COMM 46503 Health Communication and Media (3)    
  COMM 46507 Everyday Interpersonal Communication and Health (3)    
ADDITIONAL CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (41-47 credits)  
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
KSS/DD JMC
JMC
20001
20003
Media, Power and Culture (3) 3  or
Introduction to Mass Communication (3)
3  
  LIS 30010 Information Fluency in the Workplace and Beyond 3  
  VCD 14001 Visual Design Literacy 3  
  General Electives 4 32-38  
 MINIMUM SUBTOTAL  77-83  
  1. A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned in COMM 45902 to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
  2. Must be from Communication Studies; and 9 credit hours must be upper-division. May include maximum 6 credit hours combined from COMM 45092, 45093, 45095 and 45196.
  3. Students who choose JMC 20001 to fulfill a concentration requirement will need to fulfill 3 hours of Kent Core Social Science. Students who do not choose JMC 20001 will need to fulfill 6 hours of Kent Core Social Science.
  4. Any COMM course taken is calculated in the major GPA. Minimum 9 upper division credit hours. Total number of hours required depends on meeting minimum 120 credit hours and 39 upper division hours.

 

Interpersonal Communication Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (36 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  COMM 20001 Interpersonal Communication 3  
  COMM 25902 Communication Theory 3  
  COMM 30000 Communication Research Methods 3  
WIC COMM 40001 Advanced Interpersonal Communication 3 C 1
ELR COMM 46091 Senior Seminar 3 C
  Communication Electives 2 12  
  Interpersonal Communication electives: choose from the following 9  
  COMM 35600 Communication in Small Groups and Teams (3)    
  COMM 36505 Communication, Aging and Culture (3)    
  COMM 45957 Language, Meaning and Cognition (3)    
  COMM 45959 Nonverbal Communication (3)    
  COMM 46601 Relational Communication (3)    
  COMM 46605 Communication Across the Life Span (3)    
  COMM 46608 Family Communication (3)    
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS (41-47 credits)  
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
KSS/DD JMC
JMC
20001
20003
Media, Power and Culture (3) 3  or
Introduction to Mass Communication (3)
3  
  LIS 30010 Information Fluency in the Workplace and Beyond 3  
  VCD 14001 Visual Design Literacy 3  
  General Electives 4 32-38  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL  77-83  
  1. A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned in COMM 40001 to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
  2. Must be from Communication Studies; and 9 credit hours must be upper-division. May include maximum 6 credit hours combined from COMM 45092, 45093, 45095 and 45196.
  3. Students who choose JMC 20001 to fulfill a concentration requirement will need to fulfill 3 hours of Kent Core Social Science. Students who do not choose JMC 20001 will need to fulfill 6 hours of Kent Core Social Science.
  4. Any COMM course taken is calculated in the major GPA. Minimum 9 upper division credit hours. Total number of hours required depends on meeting minimum 120 credit hours and 39 upper division hours.

 

Organizational Communication Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (36 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  COMM 25863 Business and Professional Communication 3  
  COMM 25902 Communication Theory 3  
  COMM 30000 Communication Research Methods 3  
  COMM 35600 Communication in Small Groups and Teams 3  
WIC COMM 35864 Organizational Communication 3 C 1
  COMM 45865 Organization Communication Training and Development 3  
ELR COMM 46091 Senior Seminar 3 C
  Communication Electives 2 15  
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS (41-47 credits)  
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
KSS/DD JMC
JMC
20001
20003
Media, Power and Culture (3) 3   or
Introduction to Mass Communication (3)
3  
  LIS 30010 Information Fluency in the Workplace and Beyond 3  
  VCD 14001 Visual Design Literacy 3  
  General Electives 4 32-38  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL  77-83  
  1. A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned in COMM 35864 to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
  2. Must be from Communication Studies; and 12 credit hours must be upper-division. May include maximum 6 credit hours combined from COMM 45092, 45093, 45095 and 45196.
  3. Students who choose JMC 20001 to fulfill a concentration requirement will need to fulfill 3 hours of Kent Core Social Science. Students who do not choose JMC 20001 will need to fulfill 6 hours of Kent Core Social Science.
  4. Any COMM course taken is calculated in the major GPA. Minimum 9 upper division credit hours. Total number of hours required depends on meeting minimum 120 credit hours and 39 upper division hours.

 

Public Communication Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (36 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  COMM 25902 Communication Theory 3  
  COMM 26001 Public Communication in Society 3  
  COMM 30000 Communication Research Methods 3  
  COMM 45006 Media Use and Effects 3  
  COMM 45007 Freedom of Speech 3  
WIC COMM 45902 Communication and Influence 3 C 1
ELR COMM 46091 Senior Seminar 3 C
  Communication Electives 2 15  
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS (41-47 credits)  
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
KSS/DD JMC
JMC
20001
20003
Media, Power and Culture (3) 3   or
Introduction to Mass Communication (3)
3  
  LIS 30010 Information Fluency in the Workplace and Beyond 3  
  VCD 14001 Visual Design Literacy 3  
  General Electives 4 32-38  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL  77-83  
  1. A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned in COMM 45902 to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
  2. Must be from Communication Studies; and 12 credit hours must be upper-division. May include maximum 6 credit hours combined from COMM 45092, 45093, 45095 and 45196.
  3. Students who choose JMC 20001 to fulfill a concentration requirement will need to fulfill 3 hours of Kent Core Social Science. Students who do not choose JMC 20001 will need to fulfill 6 hours of Kent Core Social Science.
  4. Any COMM course taken is calculated in the major GPA. Minimum 9 upper division credit hours. Total number of hours required depends on meeting minimum 120 credit hours and 39 upper division hours.