Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Communication and media shape the ways we understand and interact in our social worlds. The 45-unit Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree helps students develop valuable communication understandings and skills through a deep, practical, timely, and relevant curriculum. Five core courses expose students to major communication institutions and processes, theoretical perspectives and research techniques for studying those phenomena, and career pathways and ethical considerations for communication professionals. Students deepen these understandings and sharpen their skills by specializing in one of three concentrations: Relational and Organizational Communication, Media Studies, and Strategic Communication. Further, a wide range of Experiential Learning courses gives students hands-on experience in communication and media practices to prepare them for their careers. Together, this mix of theory and practice prepares students for a lifetime of personal, civic, and professional communication, including careers in various fields, such as: human resources, training and development; journalism, broadcasting, and filmmaking; digital/social media strategy and management; strategic communication for corporations, non-profits, and government entities; and many others.
Requirements (45 units)
Total units required for graduation: 120
Requirements for the B.A. in Communication
| Core course requirements (15) | ||
| COMM 2101 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 3 |
| COMM 3101 | Communication, Self, and Others | 3 |
| COMM 3102 | Media, Culture, and Society | 3 |
| COMM 4101 | Communication Research Methodology | 3 |
| COMM 4102 | Ethical Aspects of Communication | 3 |
| Experiential Learning requirements (6) | ||
| Students choose six units from at least two of the following experiential learning courses. In these courses, students apply Communication theories and practices in supervised, "hands-on" activities, and they reflect on those experiences. | 6 | |
| Students can only apply six experiential learning units toward the B.A. in Communication; however, additional experiential learning units may contribute to a minor (where applicable), or to a student's general graduation requirements (120 units). | ||
| Experiential learning courses may not be used as elective units, either in the B.A. in Communication or its respective concentrations. | ||
| Practicum in Relational and Organizational Communication | ||
| Practicum in Mentoring | ||
| Practicum in Intercollegiate Forensics: Coyote Debate | ||
| Practicum in Multimedia Journalism: Coyote Chronicle | ||
| Practicum in Digital Audio and Radio | ||
| Practicum in Television Journalism Production: Local Matters | ||
| Practicum in Strategic Communication: Coyote PR | ||
| Practicum in Advertising: Coyote Advertising | ||
| Practicum in Communication Research | ||
| Service Learning in Communication | ||
| Advanced Practicum in Relational and Organizational Communication | ||
| Advanced Practicum in Mentoring | ||
| Advanced Practicum in Intercollegiate Forensics: Coyote Debate | ||
| Advanced Practicum in Multimedia Journalism: Coyote Chronicle | ||
| Advanced Practicum in Digital Audio and Radio: Coyote Radio | ||
| Advanced Practicum in Television Journalism Production: Local Matters | ||
| Advanced Practicum in Strategic Communication: Coyote PR | ||
| Advanced Practicum in Advertising: National Student Advertising Competition team | ||
| Advanced Practicum in Communication Research | ||
| Internship in Communication | ||
| Internship in Communication | ||
| Internship in Communication | ||
| Communication Teaching Shadowship | ||
| Electives (6) | ||
| In addition to the Communication core, experiential learning, and concentration coursework, students choose six elective units in COMM coursework to broaden and deepen their understandings of communication processes. | 6 | |
| Students can only apply six elective units toward the B.A. in Communication; however, additional elective units may contribute to a minor (where applicable), or to a student's general graduation requirements (120 units). | ||
| Elective courses should be chosen in consultation with an advisor and, in the case of non-departmental electives, the approval of the chair. COMM 1000, 1002, 1006, and 1007 may not be applied toward the B.A. in Communication. | ||
| Concentration (18) | ||
| A minimum of 18 units from one of the following concentrations below to be chosen in consultation with an advisor. | 18 | |
| Total Units | 45 | |
Note: Transfer students from a California community college who earned an appropriate Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T or AD-T) in communication may complete the B.A. in Communication by selecting any of the three concentrations.
Concentrations (18 units)
Relational and Organizational Communication Concentration (18 units)
(Program Code: CMRO)
| Core (9) | ||
| COMM 2201 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMM 4202 | Relational Communication | 3 |
| COMM 4203 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| Electives (9) | ||
| Nine units chosen from: | 9 | |
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Business and Professional Communication | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Topics in Relational and Organizational Communication | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | ||
| Communication for Training Programs | ||
| Communication and Gender | ||
| Communication and Conflict | ||
| Classroom Communication | ||
| Interviewing | ||
| Mediation Theory and Practice | ||
| Advanced Topics in Relational and Organizational Communication | ||
| Culture and Ethnicity in Language | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Total Units | 18 | |
Media Studies Concentration (18 units)
(Program Code: CMMS)
| Core (9) | ||
| COMM 3301 | Media Institutions in Context | 3 |
| COMM 3305 | Digital Media and Society | 3 |
| COMM 2301 | Newswriting and Reporting | 3 |
| or COMM 3354 | Fundamentals of Screenwriting | |
| Electives (9) | ||
| Nine units chosen from any of the following areas: | 9 | |
| Media Studies | ||
| Topics in Media Studies | ||
| Gender, Race, and Class in Media | ||
| Latinx, Media, and Cultures | ||
| Global Communication | ||
| Media Effects | ||
| Advertising as Social Communication | ||
| Media Sex and Violence | ||
| Communication Law and Policy | ||
| Muslim Women in Media and Society | ||
| Advanced Topics in Media Studies | ||
| Film Studies | ||
| The Development of Motion Pictures | ||
| Movies in the Digital Age | ||
| Film Analysis | ||
| Global Cinema | ||
| Topics in Film Studies | ||
| Advanced Topics in Film Studies | ||
| Digital Production | ||
| Television Studio Production | ||
| Visual Communication | ||
| Introduction to Digital Video Editing | ||
| Digital Video Field Production | ||
| Fundamentals of Screenwriting 1 | ||
| Topics in Digital Production | ||
| Digital Audio and Radio Production | ||
| Digital Filmmaking I | ||
| Digital Filmmaking II | ||
| Advanced Topics in Digital Production | ||
| Multimedia Journalism | ||
| Newswriting and Reporting 1 | ||
| Multimedia Journalism | ||
| Publication Design | ||
| Topics in Multimedia Journalism | ||
| Advanced Topics in Multimedia Journalism | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Total Units | 18 | |
- 1
If not already completed as a concentration core course.
Strategic Communication Concentration (18 units)
(Program Code: CMSC)
| Core Requirements (15) | ||
| COMM 2301 | Newswriting and Reporting | 3 |
| COMM 3401 | Introduction to Strategic Communication | 3 |
| COMM 3402 | Writing for Public Relations | 3 |
| COMM 4401 | Strategic Communication Campaigns | 3 |
| COMM 5401 | Crisis Communication | 3 |
| Electives (3) | ||
| Three units chosen from: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Administration | ||
| Business and Professional Communication | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Publication Design | ||
| Business Literacy for Strategic Communication | ||
| Topics in Strategic Communication | ||
| Communication Law and Policy | ||
| Advanced Topics in Strategic Communication | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Entrepreneurship and Innovation | ||
| Principles of Strategy | ||
| Marketing Principles | ||
| Total Units | 18 | |
Specialized Concentration (18 units)
(Program Code: CMSP)
Students may propose a unique, individualized and specialized 18-unit concentration if the proposed concentration is viable and if it fulfills objectives that cannot be met through one of the other Communication Studies concentrations (e.g., Media Studies, Relational and Organizational, and Strategic Communication). To be eligible for the Specialized Concentration, students must complete a proposal (pre-generated questions) for their program plan, including all the communication courses that they intend to take in the concentration and a rationale for the course of study. The proposal will be reviewed by a Communication Studies faculty advisor before a student can be approved for this concentration. Before declaring this concentration, a student must have completed the following core classes: COMM 2101, COMM 3101, and COMM 3102. Only 9 units of Communication Studies course work completed prior to such approval can be applied toward the specialized concentration. Importantly, not intended to bypass normal graduation requirements or to avoid certain requirements of a regular concentration offered by the department.
The Specialized Concentration Proposal Form can be located on the Department of Communication Studies website under FAQs: https://www.csusb.edu/communication-studies/graduate/frequently-asked-questions-0