All of the courses in the Communication Studies major involve a significant amount of writing, analysis, research, and creative work. In addition, all majors take Critical/Cultural Research Methods, usually their junior year, a writing intensive course that explicitly engages in the teaching of writing, research, analysis, and methodology, and includes multiple draft assignments and peer critique. This course provides focused preparation for the Capstone Research Seminar, and ensures that all Communication Studies students learn the value of revision, learn to negotiate constructive criticism from multiple perspectives, and learn to think critically about what happens to textual communication when it becomes public.

Note on course numbering: The departmental curriculum is organized around two main cognate areas: Rhetorical Studies and Critical Media Studies. 100 numbered courses are introductory. 200-300 numbered courses are Rhetorical Studies. 400-500 numbered courses bridge the two main cognate areas. 600-700 numbered courses are Critical Media Studies. 900 numbered courses are capstone, tutorials, honors, internships, and independent study. After the introductory (100 numbered) courses, numbers have no relationship to the difficulty or level of the course (200-courses are not easier than 600-courses, for instance).

Major in Communication Studies: 8 courses  

• COM75-134 Critical/Cultural Communication Studies
• COM75-204 Rhetorical Theory
• COM75-604 Critical Media Theory
• COM75-804 Critical/Cultural Research Methods
• COM75-964 Capstone Research Seminar
• Three additional courses (3-4 credits each) in Communication Studies, two of which must be upper level. 

Note: Only one Internship (4 credits maximum) can count toward the requirements for the major. Additional Internship credits can still count as COM credits and work toward a student’s overall degree, but will not fulfill the requirement for the major. Only one Independent Study (4 credits) can count toward the requirements for the major. Additional Independent Study credits can still count toward the degree, but will not fulfill requirements for the major. 

Minor in Communication Studies: 5 courses  

• COM75-134 Critical/Cultural Communication Studies
• Four additional courses (3-4 credits each) in Communication Studies three of which must be upper level

Note: Only one Internship (4 credits maximum) can count toward the requirements for the minor. Additional Internship credits can still count as COM credits and work toward a student’s overall degree, but will not fulfill the requirement for the minor. Only one Independent Study (4 credits) can count toward the requirements for the minor. Additional Independent Study credits can still count as COM credits and work toward a student’s overall degree, but will not fulfill the requirements for the minor. 

See the Education Department for information regarding teacher certification in Communication Studies.