College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Communication
Communication Studies, Bachelor of Arts
Overview
In addition to University Requirements:
- 42 units of major requirements.
- 16 units of language requirements.
- Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.
- Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion |
120 |
| Major GPA |
C |
| Highest Mathematics Required |
MAT 114 |
| Foreign Language |
Required |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship |
Optional |
| University Honors Program |
Optional |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A |
Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link |
Not Available |
Purpose Statement
Central to the discipline of Communication Studies is the assumption that communication constructs the social world and is relational, collaborative, strategic, symbolic, and adaptive. In order to understand, explore, and refine this assumption, Communication Studies focuses on the examination and integration of communication theory, research, critical thinking, ethics, and communication skills. The Communication Studies degree produces reflective citizens who are able to contribute thoughtfully and constructively to the worlds of which they are a part. Students learn about, examine, and investigate communication in diverse contexts (relational, cultural, professional, and public) using discipline-appropriate quantitative, qualitative, and critical methods. Students develop and refine skills in effective oral and written communication, and learn to create messages appropriate to their audience, purpose, and communicative context. As communication generalists, graduates are prepared to enter a variety of professions and/or post-graduate education.
Student Learning Outcomes
A central assumption of these Degree Program Learning Outcomes (DPLO) is that communication constructs the social world and is relational, collaborative, strategic, symbolic, and adaptive.
- Students will engage in Communication scholarship, theories, and research methods.
- Explain Communication scholarship, theories, and/or research methods.
- Apply Communication scholarship, theories, and/or research methods.
- Contribute to Communication scholarship using the research methods of the discipline.
- Students will create messages appropriate to audiences, purposes, and contexts.
- Locate and use information relevant to audiences, purposes, and contexts.
- Adapt messages to the diverse needs of individuals, groups, and contexts.
- Present messages in various communication modalities and contexts.
- Critically reflect on one's messages after the communication event.
- Utilize communication to respond to issues at local, national, and/or global levels (civic engagement).
- Students will critically analyze messages and communication situations.
- Identify meanings embedded in messages.
- Articulate characteristics of mediated and non-mediated messages.
- Engage in critical thinking.
- Evaluate situations and barriers that affect communication goals.
- Evaluate public discourses and issues from a communication perspective.
- Students will apply ethical communication principles and practices.
- Identify ethical perspectives.
- Evaluate the ethical elements of a communication situation.
- Propose solutions for (un)ethical communication.
- Students will utilize communication to embrace differences.
- Recognize individual and cultural similarities and differences.
- Articulate the connection between communication and culture.
- Articulate one's cultural standpoint and how it affects communication and worldview.
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