Possible Careers:
• Public relations specialists
• Creative directors
• Communications specialists
• Event planners
• Sales associates
Estimated Starting Salary:
• $40,000 - $50,000
Source: Zippia.com
Source: Zippia.com
The goal of the major in communication is to prepare students to synthesize, analyze, and criticize major functions, structures, and processes of communication within interpersonal, organizational, and mediated communication contexts. The major is designed to equip its graduates: (a) to understand the processes involved in human interaction especially as these processes relate to a variety of cultural perspectives, (b) to assess the role and function of new and social media, (c) to identify and critically analyze the major theoretical perspectives in the field of communication, (d) to write and speak clearly using communication concepts, and (e) to develop transferable skills in problem solving in interpersonal interactions, in small group settings, and with diverse populations.
Undergraduate work in communication creates greater awareness of the intricate networks that shape human interaction. Communication study is designed to prepare students to become human relations specialists in industry, the media, and government as well as for graduate study and further professional education. Majors most commonly pursue careers in sales, corporate project management, fund raising, corporate recruiting and training, customer relations, public relations, and government.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication
a. | Complete a minimum of 30 credits in Communication courses with a grade-point average of 2.0 or higher achieved across COM 100, COM 225, COM 240, COM 275, and COM 300: | |||||||||||||||||
1. | All of the following courses (17 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
COM | 100 | Human Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 225 | An Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 240 | Introduction to Organizational Communication | 4 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 275 | Effects of Mass Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 300 | Methods of Communication Inquiry | 4 | |||||||||||||||
2. | One of the following capstone courses (4 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
COM | 401 | Advanced Topics in Communication (W) | 4 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 425 | Communication in Close Relationships (W) | 4 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 440 | Organizational Communication Structure (W) | 4 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 475 | Communication Campaign Design and Analysis (W) | 4 | |||||||||||||||
3. | Complete a minimum of 9 elective credits: | |||||||||||||||||
COM | 301 | Special Topics in Communication Sciences, Analytics and Research Methods | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 302 | Special Topics in Health Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 303 | Special Topics in Intercultural Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 304 | Special Topics in Interpersonal Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 305 | Special Topics in Mediated Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 306 | Special Topics in Organizational Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 307 | Special Topics in Social Influence | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 310 | Intercultural Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 320 | Diversity and Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 325 | Interpersonal Influence and Conflict | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 330 | Health Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 340 | Leadership and Group Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 360 | Advanced Sales Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 375 | Audience Response to Media Entertainment | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 399 | Special Topics in Communication | 1 to 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 402 | Public Relations Topics in Communication | 1 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 490 | Independent Study | 1 to 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 493 | Internship | 1 to 12 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 494 | Practicum in Communication Research and Instruction | 1 to 4 | |||||||||||||||
A maximum of 3 credits across any combination of COM 490, 493, and 494 may be used to satisfy this requirement. | ||||||||||||||||||
4. | Complete one of the following options: | |||||||||||||||||
(a) | A cognate in the behavioral/social sciences that is comprised of six courses outside the Department of Communication chosen from at least three of the following departments: Anthropology, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Economics, Human Development and Family Studies, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. The courses must be chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor. (18 to 24 credits) | |||||||||||||||||
(b) | A concentration from the following that focuses on a specific application area in the discipline. Courses used to satisfy requirements for the major may also be used to satisfy the requirements of a concentration. The concentration will be noted on the student’s transcript. (minimum of 18 credits) | |||||||||||||||||
Communication Science, Analytics and Research Methods | ||||||||||||||||||
1. | Both of the following courses (7 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
COM | 401 | Advanced Topics in Communication (W) | 4 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 494 | Practicum in Communication Research and Instruction | 3 | |||||||||||||||
2. | Four courses from the following (12 to 15 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
MI | 220 | Methods for Understanding Users | 3 | |||||||||||||||
MI | 355 | Media and Information Research | 3 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 101 | Introductory Psychology | 4 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 295 | Data Analysis in Psychological Research | 3 | |||||||||||||||
SOC | 281 | Social Research Methods | 4 | |||||||||||||||
SOC | 282 | Quantitative Analysis for Social Research | 4 | |||||||||||||||
STT | 201 | Statistical Methods | 4 | |||||||||||||||
WRA | 202 | Introduction to Professional Writing | 3 | |||||||||||||||
WRA | 330 | Writing Research in Communities and Cultures | 3 | |||||||||||||||
WS | 203 | Introduction to Methods for Women’s and Gender Studies Research | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Health Communication | ||||||||||||||||||
1. | All of the following courses (10 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
COM | 325 | Interpersonal Influence and Conflict | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 330 | Health Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 475 | Communication Campaign Design and Analysis (W) | 4 | |||||||||||||||
2. | Three courses from the following (9 to 11 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
ANP | 201 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Or | ||||||||||||||||||
ANP | 204 | Introduction to Medical Anthropology | 3 | |||||||||||||||
ANP | 370 | Culture, Health, and Illness | 3 | |||||||||||||||
EPI | 390 | Disease in Society: Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health | 4 | |||||||||||||||
GEO | 435 | Geography of Health and Disease | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HM | 101 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HNF | 150 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HNF | 406 | Global Foods and Culture | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HST | 425 | American and European Health Care since 1800 | 4 | |||||||||||||||
PHL | 344 | Ethical Issues in Health Care | 4 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 101 | Introductory Psychology | 4 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 320 | Health Psychology | 3 | |||||||||||||||
SOC | 475 | Health and Society | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Intercultural Communication | ||||||||||||||||||
1. | All of the following courses (10 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
COM | 310 | Intercultural Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 325 | Interpersonal Influence and Conflict | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 475 | Communication Campaign Design and Analysis (W) | 4 | |||||||||||||||
2. | Three courses from the following (8 to 11 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
ANP | 200 | Navigating Another Culture | 2 | |||||||||||||||
CSUS | 200 | Introduction to Sustainability | 3 | |||||||||||||||
CSUS | 250 | Global Issues in Agriculture and Natural Resources | 3 | |||||||||||||||
ENG | 478B | Literature and Visual Culture | 3 | |||||||||||||||
JRN | 475 | International News and Government Dynamics | 3 | |||||||||||||||
MC | 230 | Cultures and Politics in Comparative Perspective | 4 | |||||||||||||||
MI | 480 | Information and Communication Technologies and Development | 3 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 101 | Introductory Psychology | 4 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 342 | Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination | 3 | |||||||||||||||
SOC | 161 | International Development and Change | 3 | |||||||||||||||
SOC | 215 | Race and Ethnicity | 3 | |||||||||||||||
SOC | 310 | Global Migration | 3 | |||||||||||||||
SOC | 362 | Developing Societies | 3 | |||||||||||||||
TE | 352 | Immigrant Language and Culture | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Up to 6 credits of a foreign language or educational study abroad program may also serve as an elective in this concentration with advisor approval. | ||||||||||||||||||
Interpersonal Communication | ||||||||||||||||||
1. | All of the following courses (10 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
COM | 304 | Special Topics in Interpersonal Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 325 | Interpersonal Influence and Conflict | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 425 | Communication in Close Relationships (W) | 4 | |||||||||||||||
For COM 304, students must select from the following topics: conflict, family communication, computer-mediated communication. | ||||||||||||||||||
2. | Three courses from the following (9 or 10 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
ATD | 430 | Dress, Culture and Human Behavior | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HDFS | 145 | The Individual, Couples and Families | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HDFS | 225 | Lifespan Human Development in the Family | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HDFS | 414 | Parenting | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HDFS | 442 | Ethnic Families in America | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HDFS | 444 | Interpersonal Relationships in the Family | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HDFS | 445 | Human Sexuality | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HST | 313 | Women in the United States to 1869 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HST | 314 | Women in the United States since 1869 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HST | 413 | Families in Historical Perspective | 3 | |||||||||||||||
LIN | 335 | Language and Gender | 3 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 101 | Introductory Psychology | 4 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 235 | Social Psychology | 3 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 236 | Personality | 3 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 339 | Psychology of Women | 3 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 342 | Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination | 3 | |||||||||||||||
WS | 201 | Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies | 3 | |||||||||||||||
WS | 304 | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) and Sexuality Studies | 3 | |||||||||||||||
WS | 403 | Women and Change in Developing Countries | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Mediated Communication | ||||||||||||||||||
1. | Both of the following courses (7 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
COM | 375 | Audience Response to Media Entertainment | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 475 | Communication Campaign Design and Analysis (W) | 4 | |||||||||||||||
2. | Four of the following courses (12 to 14 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
ADV | 375 | Consumer Behavior | 3 | |||||||||||||||
ADV | 420 | New Media Driver’s License | 3 | |||||||||||||||
ENG | 142 | Introduction to Popular Literary Genres | 4 | |||||||||||||||
FLM | 230 | Introduction to Film | 4 | |||||||||||||||
FLM | 380 | Classical Film and Media Theory | 3 | |||||||||||||||
FLM | 381 | Contemporary Film and Media Theory | 3 | |||||||||||||||
JRN | 108 | The World of Media | 3 | |||||||||||||||
JRN | 213 | Animation, Comics, Culture and Graphic Novels in Media | 3 | |||||||||||||||
JRN | 218 | Sports in Contemporary Media | 3 | |||||||||||||||
MI | 201 | Media and Information Technologies and Industries | 3 | |||||||||||||||
MI | 239 | Digital Footprints: Privacy and Online Behavior | 3 | |||||||||||||||
MI | 301 | Bringing Media to Market | 3 | |||||||||||||||
MI | 302 | Networks, Markets and Society | 3 | |||||||||||||||
MI | 480 | Information and Communication Technologies and Development | 3 | |||||||||||||||
WRA | 202 | Introduction to Professional Writing | 3 | |||||||||||||||
WRA | 225 | Introduction to Multimedia Writing | 3 | |||||||||||||||
WRA | 425 | Advanced Multimedia Writing | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Organizational Communication | ||||||||||||||||||
1. | All of the following courses (10 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
COM | 340 | Leadership and Group Communication | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 440 | Organizational Communication Structure (W) | 4 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 493 | Internship | 3 | |||||||||||||||
2. | Three of the following courses (9 or 10 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
ACC | 230 | Survey of Accounting Concepts | 3 | |||||||||||||||
ADV | 325 | Public Relations Techniques and Ethics | 3 | |||||||||||||||
ANP | 321 | Anthropology of Social Movements | 3 | |||||||||||||||
GBL | 323 | Introduction to Business Law | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HST | 213 | U.S. Business and Economic History | 3 | |||||||||||||||
MGT | 325 | Management Skills and Processes | 3 | |||||||||||||||
MKT | 327 | Introduction to Marketing | 3 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 101 | Introductory Psychology | 4 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 255 | Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 3 | |||||||||||||||
SOC | 481 | Social Movements and Collective Identities | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Social Influence | ||||||||||||||||||
1. | Both of the following courses (7 courses): | |||||||||||||||||
COM | 325 | Interpersonal Influence and Conflict | 3 | |||||||||||||||
COM | 475 | Communication Campaign Design and Analysis (W) | 4 | |||||||||||||||
2. | Four of the following courses (12 to 15 credits): | |||||||||||||||||
ANP | 321 | Anthropology of Social Movements | 3 | |||||||||||||||
HST | 316 | United States Intellectual History since 1860 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
IBIO | 446 | Environmental Issues and Public Policy | 3 | |||||||||||||||
PHL | 330 | Formal Reasoning | 4 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 101 | Introductory Psychology | 4 | |||||||||||||||
PSY | 270 | Community Psychology | 3 | |||||||||||||||
SOC | 241 | Social Psychology | 3 | |||||||||||||||
SOC | 368 | Science, Technology and Society | 4 | |||||||||||||||
SOC | 481 | Social Movements and Collective Identities | 3 | |||||||||||||||
SOC | 499 | Social Issues and Change in Contemporary Society (W) | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Students should meet with their academic advisors concerning the minimum and maximum numbers of elective credits available to them at various stages in their programs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship or experiential learning experience approved by the Department of Communication whether for university credit based on academic eligibility standards or on a voluntary, non–credit basis. The department will make every effort to assist communication majors in finding appropriate internship placements. |
Source: Michigan State University - Information listed is intended for educational purposes only, degree requirements are property of Michigan State University.