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 | ||
| Select from the following: | 4 | |
| Advanced Public Speaking | ||
| Performance of Literature | ||
| Applied Argumentation | ||
| COMS 212 | Interpersonal Communication | 4 |
| COMS 213 | Organizational Communication | 4 |
| COMS 217 | Small Group Communication | 4 |
| COMS 250 | Forensic Activity | 2 |
| COMS 311 | Communication Theory | 4 |
| COMS 312 | Communication Research Methods | 4 |
| COMS 316 | Intercultural Communication (Upper-Division D) (USCP) 1 | 4 |
| COMS 322 | Persuasion | 4 |
| COMS 330 | Classical Rhetorical Theory | 4 |
| COMS 331 | Contemporary Rhetorical Theory | 4 |
| or COMS 435 | American Political Rhetoric | |
| COMS 332 | Rhetorical Criticism | 4 |
| COMS 350 | Advanced Forensic Activity | 2 |
| COMS 384 | Media Effects | 4 |
| or COMS 385 | Media Criticism | |
| COMS 460 | Undergraduate Seminar | 1 |
| COMS 461 | Senior Project | 3 |
| COMS Electives (300-400 level) 2 | 20 | |
| SUPPORT COURSES | ||
| Upper-division writing intensive course | ||
| Select from the following: | 4 | |
| Corporate Communication | ||
| Advanced Rhetorical Inquiry and Composing | ||
| Creative Nonfiction | ||
| Modern language 103 (CHIN, FR, GER, ITAL, JPNS, SPAN, WLC) or demonstration of comparable level of proficiency | 4 | |
| HIST 110 | Western Civilization: Ancient to Renaissance | 4 |
| Select from the following: | 4 | |
| United States History Since 1865 (D1) 1 | ||
| World History, 1800 - Present (D2) 1 | ||
| PSY 201 | General Psychology (E) 1 | 4 |
| or PSY 202 | General Psychology | |
| STAT 217 | Introduction to Statistical Concepts and Methods (B4) 1 | 4 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) | ||
| (See GE program requirements below.) | 56 | |
| FREE ELECTIVES | ||
| Free Electives 3 | 24 | |
| Total units | 180 | |
| 1 | Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement. |
| 2 | Only 4 units of supervised instruction, including COMS 400, COMS 450, and COMS 485, may be counted here. |
| 3 | 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 | |
| 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) (0-4 units in Support) | 0-4 | |
| D2 Lower-Division D (0-4 units in Support) | 0-4 | |
| Upper-Division D (4 units in Major) 1 | 0 | |
| Area E Lifelong Learning and Self-Development | ||
| Lower-Division E (4 units in Support) 1 | 0 | |
| Area F Ethnic Studies | ||
| Lower-Division F | 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