Communications, BA
The Bachelor of Arts in Communications provides students with broad-based knowledge and pragmatic skills. Classes are taught by experienced communications professionals and include a wide range of offerings in both the corporate and mass communication fields. Students majoring in communications pursue individualized degrees, designed in consultation with a faculty advisor, a sequence of courses consistent with their particular interests and needs. All majors must have at least 45 credit hours of course work in the major plus a three-credit Capstone course or a one-credit hour Culminating Project.
All majors are required to take Foundation Studies in Communications (ICM 40000, ICM 40500, ICM 40600). This cluster introduces students to the areas of study within the communication discipline, ranging from interpersonal, organizational, public relations, intercultural to mass media. The Foundations cluster is recommended as the first cluster in the major.
In their final term of study, communications majors are required to take either the Capstone course (ICM 48900) or the Culminating Project (ICU 48900). ICM 48900 Communication Capstone is offered as a traditional classroom course. The capstone project is developed, presented, and assessed within the course. ICU 48900 Culminating Project is a written or media production project done as an independent study under the supervision of the Faculty Advisor. A proposal is required and needs approval from the Communications Program Director to be eligible for the Culminating Project option. Students need to request the Culminating Project Directive and Proposal Guide and submit the proposal in the quarter prior to enrolling for the option.
A communications major may apply for a degree in communications with an emphasis in mass communication or corporate communications if he or she has at least 27 semester hours of coursework in the declared emphasis. Pursuing an emphasis is an option, not a requirement.
Corporate Communications Emphasis
Required
Foundation Studies in Communication Cluster
| ICM 40000 | Historical Development and Trends in Communication | 3 |
| ICM 40500 | Media and Society (Ethics and the Media) | 3 |
| ICM 40600 | Theories of Communication | 3 |
Promotional Mix Cluster
Public Relations Cluster
Elective Category A
(Select one of the following clusters)
Desktop Publishing Cluster
Organizational Communication Cluster
| ICM 46000 | Organizational Communication Theory | 3 |
| ICM 46100 | Communications Process Analysis | 3 |
| ICM 46200 | Practical Applications of Communication Processes | 3 |
Elective Category B
(Select one of the following clusters)
Managerial Issues Cluster
Group Dynamics Cluster
Staff Development/Information Systems Cluster
Marketing Cluster
Project Management Cluster
Required Capstone or Culminating Project
All communications majors must complete either:
Note: In special circumstances and with the permission of the Program Director, ICM 49500 (1-3) may substitute in one of the above clusters.
Mass Communications Emphasis
Required
Foundation Studies in Communication Cluster
| ICM 40000 | Historical Development and Trends in Communication | 3 |
| ICM 40500 | Media and Society (Ethics and the Media) | 3 |
| ICM 40600 | Theories of Communication | 3 |
Desktop Publishing Cluster
Elective Category A
(Select one of the following clusters)
Documentary Expression Cluster
Visual Communications Cluster
Elective Category B
(Select one of the following clusters)
Television Production Cluster
Web Design Cluster
Elective Category C
(Select one of the following clusters)
Advanced Television Production Cluster
Advanced Web Design Cluster
Project Management Cluster
| IIT 33100 | Project Cost and Schedule Estimating | 3 |
| IIT 43200 | Project Management Process | 3 |
| IIT 43300 | Cost and Scheduling Applications | 3 |
| Prerequisite Math cluster | |
Creative Non-Fiction Cluster
Or another cluster from Elective Category A or B
Required Capstone or Culminating Project
All communication majors must complete either: