Program Learning Objectives
- Describe the foundational concepts, theories, and methods of critical, humanistic, and social scientific approaches to studying communication.
- Analyze mediated and non-mediated communication practices, messages, and effects considering the culture and context in which they occur.
- Practice self-reflexivity about one’s own communication practices.
- Develop a critical framework for making ethical and inclusive communication choices.
- Select appropriate modalities and technologies to accomplish communication goals.
- Apply communication concepts, theories, and methods to real-world events, issues, and problems.
- Produce effective and ethical communication based on awareness of diverse perspectives, contexts, and social identities.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
In addition to the program requirements listed on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:
- 60 units of upper-division courses
- Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR)
- 2.0 GPA
- U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)
Note: No Major or Support courses may be selected as credit/no credit.
| MAJOR COURSES | ||
| COMS 100 | Introduction to the Communication Studies Major | 2 |
| COMS 205 | Rhetorical Studies | 4 |
| COMS 206 | Communication Theory | 4 |
| COMS 208 | Performance, Literature, and Culture (C1 ) 1 | 4 |
| COMS 211 | Interpersonal Communication (E) 1 | 4 |
| COMS 213 | Organizational Communication | 4 |
| COMS 215 | Media Studies | 4 |
| COMS 217 | Small Group Communication | 4 |
| COMS 250 | Forensic Activity | 2 |
| Select from the following: | 4 | |
| Quantitative Research Methods in Communication Studies | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods in Communication Studies | ||
| Select from the following: | 4 | |
| Rhetorical Criticism | ||
| Media Criticism | ||
| COMS 316 | Intercultural Communication (Upper-Division D) (USCP) 1 | 4 |
| COMS 460 | Undergraduate Seminar | 1 |
| COMS 461 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Focus Area 2 | ||
| Select from the following focus areas or any courses in the list below: | 24 | |
| Culture, Identity, and Power | ||
| Group Performance of Literature | ||
| Critical Cultural Studies and Communication | ||
| Intergroup Communication | ||
| Contemporary Rhetorical Theory | ||
| Advanced Forensic Activity | ||
| Speech and Debate Team | ||
| Sports Communication | ||
| Video Games & Society | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | ||
| Gender and Communication | ||
| Family Communication | ||
| The Dark Side of Interpersonal Communication | ||
| American Political Rhetoric | ||
| Media and Technology | ||
| Technology and Human Communication | ||
| Media Effects | ||
| Communication, Media, and Politics | ||
| Sports Communication | ||
| Science Communication | ||
| Video Games & Society | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Gender and Communication | ||
| Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Medicine | ||
| Solving Big World Challenges | ||
| Values and Technology | ||
| Persuasion and Social Influence | ||
| Advanced Public Speaking | ||
| Applied Argumentation | ||
| Business and Professional Communication | ||
| Technology and Human Communication | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Classical Rhetorical Theory | ||
| Advanced Forensic Activity | ||
| Speech and Debate Team | ||
| Media Effects | ||
| Communication, Media, and Politics | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | ||
| American Political Rhetoric | ||
| Politics, Advocacy, and Civic Engagement | ||
| Advanced Public Speaking | ||
| Applied Argumentation | ||
| Group Performance of Literature | ||
| Critical Cultural Studies and Communication | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Classical Rhetorical Theory | ||
| Contemporary Rhetorical Theory | ||
| Advanced Forensic Activity | ||
| Speech and Debate Team | ||
| Media Effects | ||
| Communication, Media, and Politics | ||
| Environmental Communication | ||
| Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Medicine | ||
| American Political Rhetoric | ||
| Relationships, Organizations, and Socialization | ||
| Business and Professional Communication | ||
| Intergroup Communication | ||
| Sports Communication | ||
| Advanced Organizational Communication | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | ||
| Gender and Communication | ||
| Family Communication | ||
| The Dark Side of Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Solving Big World Challenges | ||
| COMS Electives (300-400 level) 3, 4 | 12 | |
| SUPPORT COURSES | ||
| Modern language 103 (CHIN, FR, GER, ITAL, JPNS, SPAN, WLC) or demonstration of comparable level of proficiency | 4 | |
| Select from the following: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Statistical Concepts and Methods (B4) 1 | ||
| Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences (B4) 1 | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) | ||
| (See GE program requirements below.) | 56 | |
| FREE ELECTIVES | ||
| Free Electives 5 | 32 | |
8-12 units of free electives may need to be at the 300-400 level to ensure completion of the required minimum of 60 units of upper-division. | ||
| Total units | 180 | |
| 1 | Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement. |
| 2 | Students should consult with a faculty advisor to make a course plan for the focus area of their choice. |
| 3 | Only 4 units of supervised instruction, including COMS 400, COMS 450, and COMS 485, may be counted here. |
| 4 | Courses taken to meet the focus area cannot double count as a COMS Elective. |
| 5 | If a General Education (GE) course is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree. |
General Education (GE) Requirements
- 72 units required, 16 of which are specified in Major and/or Support.
- If any of the remaining 56 units is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
- See the complete GE course listing.
- A grade of C- or better is required in one course in each of the following GE Areas: A1 (Oral Communication), A2 (Written Communication), A3 (Critical Thinking), and B4 (Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning).
| Area A | English Language Communication and Critical Thinking | |
| A1 | Oral Communication | 4 |
| A2 | Written Communication | 4 |
| A3 | Critical Thinking | 4 |
| Area B | Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning | |
| B1 | Physical Science | 4 |
| B2 | Life Science | 4 |
| B3 | One lab taken with either a B1 or B2 course | |
| B4 | Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (4 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| Upper-Division B | 4 | |
| Area C | Arts and Humanities | |
| Lower-division courses in Area C must come from three different subject prefixes. | ||
| C1 | Arts: Arts, Cinema, Dance, Music, Theater (4 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| C2 | Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English | 4 |
| Lower-Division C Elective - Select a course from either C1 or C2 | 4 | |
| Upper-Division C | 4 | |
| Area D | Social Sciences - Select courses in Area D from at least two different prefixes | |
| D1 | American Institutions (Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement) | 4 |
| D2 | Lower-Division D | 4 |
| Upper-Division D (4 units in Major) 1 | 0 | |
| Area E | Lifelong Learning and Self-Development | |
| Lower-Division E (4 units in Major) 1 | 0 | |
| Area F | Ethnic Studies | |
| F | Ethnic Studies | 4 |
| GE Electives in Areas B, C, and D | ||
| Select courses from two different areas; may be lower-division or upper-division courses. | ||
| GE Electives | 8 | |
| Total units | 56 | |
| 1 | Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement. |
San Luis Obispo, California 93407