2020-2021 Academic Catalog

Communication

Department Chair: Shane Miller
Faculty: Kelly Berg, Jeanmarie Cook, Karyl Daughters, Dana Drazenovich, Nicole Hurt, Katherine Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson-Miller, Jennifer Kramer, Julie Lynch, Shane Miller, Emily Paup, Aric Putnam, Erin Szabo

The field of communication studies how people communicate and how that communication constructs shared beliefs and shapes human community.  Scholars of communication promote analysis of, and reflection on, the practical and ethical effects of communication in diverse situations, e.g. between individuals, in the public sphere, and in a variety of mediated contexts.

Communication courses are designed to provide students with the theory and skill necessary for college work and for personal and professional development after graduation. The department emphasizes written and oral communication skills, message analysis, and communal responsibility.

Assessment

The Communication Department uses a variety of assessment measures to determine the abilities of our students and the effectiveness of our teaching. These may include, but are not limited to, the following: senior exit interviews, portfolios of papers collected across lower and upper division courses, videotapes of speeches and presentations, sophomore and senior essays, self-assessment instruments, site supervisors’ written evaluations of internship performance and communication competence, job placement upon graduation, and standardized longitudinal assessments. The data collected is used by the department to revise the curriculum and/or individual courses in order to enhance student learning.

Acceptance to Major Requirements

Course Requirements:  COMM 102, 103 and 105 (must complete 2 of 3)
Minimum Grade and/or GPA for required courses:  GPA 2.0
Minimum Cumulative GPA:  2.0

Major (40 credits)

Forty (40) credits -the equivalent of 10 courses -distributed as follows:

  1. Communication majors must take all three foundation courses (12 credits): 102, 103, 105.
  2. At least one course in Message Design: 212, 220, 225, 240, 245, 247, 248, 265, 282, or 382.
  3. At least one course in Analysis of Communication: 201, 205, 250, 251, 308, 311, 312, 330, 336, 338, 340, 342, 352, 358, 367, or 384.
  4. At least one course in Communication and Community:  303, 304, 305, 307, 309, 310, 335, 341, 350, 351, or 387.
  5. At least one Capstone course:  331, 333, 334, 346, 347, 353, 360, 368, 395, or 398.
  6. At least 16 credits (the equivalent of four courses) must be 300-level Communication department courses.  COMM 392 (Communication Practicum) and COMM 397 (Internship) do not count for this requirement.

Plus additional courses within the department to complete the required 40 credits

One course (or 4 credits) may be counted toward the major from the following:  ART 317, ART 318, ART 333A (2), ART 333D (2), ENGL 311, ENGL 387, PCST 346, PSYC 221, SOCI 201, or one approved elective course from study abroad.  These outside courses are optional and not required for the Communication major.

Please NOTE:  COMM 200 is open to non-majors and does not count toward the major.  COMM 292 and 392 (Communication Practicum) and COMM 397 (Internship) do not count toward the major.

Minor (20 credits)

Twenty (20) credits -the equivalent of five (5) courses -distributed as follows:

  1. All Communication minors must take COMM 102: Public Speaking and the Public Sphere. Communication minors must also take at least one additional foundational course: either COMM 103 or 105.
  2. One course in Message Design: 212, 220, 225, 240, 245, 247, 248, 265, 282, or 382.
  3. One course in Analysis of Communication: 201, 205, 250, 251, 308, 311, 312, 330, 336, 338, 340, 342, 352, 358, 367, or 384.
  4. One course in Communication and Community: 303, 304, 305, 307, 309, 310, 331, 335, 341, 350, 351, or 387.

Please NOTE:  COMM 200 is open to non-majors and does not count toward the minor.  Courses in other departments do not count toward the Communication Minor.  Study Abroad courses do not count toward the Communication Minor.  COMM 292 and 392 (Communication Practicum) and COMM 397 (Internship) do not count toward the minor.

 For the most current information about the department, consult our web site at: http://www.csbsju.edu/communication/

Courses (COMM)