Dec 26, 2024

2023-2024 General Catalog

2023-2024 General Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Communication Studies - BA, BS

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Communication Studies and Philosophy

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For more information about Communication Studies, please see the Communication Studies and Philosophy website.
Following is a sample four-year plan. Please note that this plan is only a general guideline and that student-specific plans may differ. Please make sure to consult regularly with your departmental advisor to confirm what courses will be available and to work out your plan of study.
Admitted students must meet with an academic advisor. Current students should also meet with an academic advisor and log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Bachelor of Science Degree

Students desiring a (BS) Bachelor of Science degree must complete all requirements listed in the core requirements below.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Students desiring a (BA) Bachelor of Arts degree must complete the language proficiency requirements in one of the following ways in addition to the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree requirements:

Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent) OR
Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language by successful completion of American Sign Language IV (COMD 4920 ) and Socio-Cultural Aspects of Deafness (COMD 4780 ), and by passing an exit interview OR
Demonstration of proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level in one language and the 2010 course level in the second language (or its equivalent) OR
Completion of an upper-division (3000-level or higher) foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 course level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Conversation courses cannot be considered for satisfying this requirement.

For nonnative English-speaking students only, the following options are available:

Successful completion of the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) program for international students OR
TOEFL, Michigan, or IELI placement scores high enough to meet the University admission criteria.

Minimum University Requirements
Total Credits	120	Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)	2.00 GPA
Credits of C- or better	100	Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above)	40
Total USU Credits	30	Upper-division USU Credits	20
USU Credits within the Major	10	Credits in Minor (if required)	12
Credits in Major	see below	Credits in American Institutions	3
General Education Requirements	see link	University Studies Depth Requirements	see link
NOTES: The highest math requirement for this degree is Quantitative Literacy (QL) course of student’s choice. NOTES: A minor or additional major must also be completed to complete all requirements for this major.

Admissions Requirements for this Program
New freshmen	Admitted to USU in Good Standing			Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU	3.00 GPA

First Year
_{Fall Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}	_{Spring Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}
ENGL 1010: Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (CL1)	3		CMST 1020: Public Speaking (BHU)	3
Breadth Requirement	3		Quantitative Literacy (QL)	3
Breadth Requirement	3		Breadth Requirement	3
Breadth Requirement	3		Elective Course	3
Breadth Requirement	3		Elective Course	3
TOTAL CREDITS:	15		TOTAL CREDITS:	15
Comments			Comments

Second Year
_{Fall Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}	_{Spring Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}
CMST 2110: Interpersonal Communication (BHU/HR)	3		Required Area: Diversity Course	3
ENGL 2010: Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2)	3		Required Area: Discovery Course	3
Elective Course	3		Depth Social Sciences (DSS) or CMST 3330: Intercultural Communication (DSS)	3 or 3
Required Minor Course	3		Required Minor Course	3
Elective Course	3		Elective Course	3
TOTAL CREDITS:	15		TOTAL CREDITS:	15
Comments			Comments

Third Year
_{Fall Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}	_{Spring Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}
Required Area: Discovery Course	3		Com Theme: Connect/Collaborate Course	3
Depth Life and Physical Sciences (DSC)	3		Com Theme: Challenge/Change Course	3
Com Theme: Connect/Collaborate Course	3		Quantitative Intensive (QI)	3
Required Minor Course	3		Required Minor Course	3
Elective Course	3		Elective Course	3
TOTAL CREDITS:	15		TOTAL CREDITS:	15
Comments			Comments

Fourth Year
_{Fall Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}	_{Spring Semester}	_Credits	_{General Education Info and Notes:}
Com Theme: Challenge/Change Course	3		CMST 5800: Communication Studies Senior Capstone (CI)	2
Elective/Emphasis Course	3		Elective/Emphasis Course	3
Elective/Emphasis Course	3		Required Minor Course	3
Required Minor Course	3		Upper-Division Elective Course	3
Upper-Division Elective Course	3		Upper-Division Elective Course	3
TOTAL CREDITS:	15		TOTAL CREDITS:	14
Comments			Comments

Communication Studies Major Requirements (38 credits)

Total Credits: 38
Minimum Grade Point Average to Declare PPRU Communication Studies Major: 2.75 Overall GPA
Minimum Grade Point Average to Apply for the Full Major in Communication Studies: 2.75 Overall GPA
Minimum Grade Point Average to Graduate with Communication Studies Major: 2.5 GPA within major coursework
Credits in Residence: At least half (50 percent) of the credits earned for the Communication Studies major must be earned at USU and approved by the department head. As many as 19 credits completed at other colleges or universities may be used to partially satisfy these requirements. For more information, students should contact their advisor.
Note: A second major or minor is required. No more than 9 credit hours of the Communication Studies major can overlap with an additional declared major.
Minimum Grade Requirement: All courses taken for the major require a minimum grade of C- or better. Courses for the major may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.

A. Required Classes (8 credits)

CMST 1020 - Public Speaking (BHU) 3 credit(s)
CMST 2110 - Interpersonal Communication (BHU/HR) 3 credit(s)
CMST 5800 - Communication Studies Senior Capstone (CI) 2 credit(s)

B. Required Areas (9 credits)

Diversity (3 credits)

Complete one course from the following options:

CMST 1330 - Introduction to Global Communication (BSS) 3 credit(s)
CMST 3160 - Gender Communication 3 credit(s)
CMST 3330 - Intercultural Communication (DSS) 3 credit(s)
CMST 4700 - Health Communication (CI) 3 credit(s)

Discovery (6 credits)

Complete at least two courses from the following options:

CMST 4800 - Qualitative Research in Communications Studies 3 credit(s)
CMST 4810 - Quantitative Communication Studies Research Methods (QI) 3 credit(s)
CMST 4820 - Communication Criticism (CI) 3 credit(s)
CMST 5100 - Theories of Communication (CI) 3 credit(s)
CMST 5300 - Visual Rhetoric 3 credit(s)

C. Communication Themes (12 credits)

Complete at least two classes (6 credits) from each of the following two areas focused on Functions of Communication.

Note: Courses taken to meet a Diversity or Discovery requirement will not count as a thematic class.

Connect/Collaborate (6 credits)

Complete two courses from the following options:

CMST 1330 - Introduction to Global Communication (BSS) 3 credit(s)
CMST 2120 - Small Group Communication 3 credit(s)
CMST 3120 - Communication in Family Contexts 3 credit(s)
CMST 3250 - Organizational Communication (CI) 3 credit(s)
CMST 3330 - Intercultural Communication (DSS) 3 credit(s)
CMST 3600 - Communication and Conflict 3 credit(s)
CMST 4200 - Language, Thought, and Action (CI/DSS) 3 credit(s)
CMST 4330 - Advanced Perspectives in Global Communication 3 credit(s)
CMST 5110 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication 3 credit(s)
CMST 5500 - Communication and Leadership 3 credit(s)
CMST 5600 - Advanced Communication and Conflict 3 credit(s)

Challenge/Change (6 credits)

Complete two courses from the following options:

CMST 2270 - Argumentation and Debate 3 credit(s)
CMST 3160 - Gender Communication 3 credit(s)
CMST 3270 - Culture and Public Discourse 3 credit(s)
CMST 3280 - Organizations and Social Change 3 credit(s)
CMST 3400 - Persuasion (CI) 3 credit(s)
CMST 3730 - Culture and Global Intervention 3 credit(s)
CMST 4270 - Communication, Culture, and Power 3 credit(s)
CMST 4700 - Health Communication (CI) 3 credit(s)
CMST 4750 - Strategic Health Messaging 3 credit(s)
CMST 4760 - Communication, Mental Health, and Social Inequality 3 credit(s)
CMST 5250 - Environmental Communication 3 credit(s)
CMST 5300 - Visual Rhetoric 3 credit(s)
CMST 5400 - Advanced Persuasion 3 credit(s)

D. Electives (9 credits)

Electives may be any CMST course (including any of the of the courses in sections B and C not previously taken), internships, independent readings or topics classes under CMST 5000.

Area of Emphasis

It is recommended that students use their electives in a very intentional manner. To help facilitate that process, students are encouraged to consider selecting an area of emphasis that they could list on their resume.

To qualify for an area of emphasis, students must have taken three of the courses noted next to each of the areas listed below (it is permissible if these courses overlap courses from the required areas to create or strengthen the emphasis area):

Advocacy & Social Justice: CMST 2270 , CMST 3160 , CMST 3280 , CMST 3400 , CMST 3730 , CMST 4700 , CMST 5250
Conflict Management: CMST 3330 , CMST 3400 , CMST 3600 , CMST 4200 , CMST 5500 , CMST 5600
Health and Community Outreach: CMST 3120 , CMST 3400 , CMST 4700 , CMST 4750 , CMST 5250
Human Relationships: CMST 3120 , CMST 3330 , CMST 3600 , CMST 4200 , CMST 5100 , CMST 5110
Intercultural Communication: CMST 1330 , CMST 3270 , CMST 3330 , CMST 3730 , CMST 4270 , CMST 4330
Leadership: CMST 2120 , CMST 3250 , CMST 3280 , CMST 3330 , CMST 3400 , CMST 3600 , CMST 4200 , CMST 5500
Organizational Communication: CMST 2120 , CMST 3050 , CMST 3250 , CMST 3280 , CMST 3600 , CMST 5500
Persuasion & Social Influence: CMST 3400 , CMST 3730 , CMST 4200 , CMST 4750 , CMST 5300 , CMST 5400
Political Communication: CMST 3270 , CMST 3400 , CMST 3730 , CMST 4200 , CMST 4330 , CMST 4700 , CMST 5250
Research Analysis: CMST 4330 , CMST 4800 , CMST 4810 , CMST 4820 , CMST 5100 , CMST 5300

Related Programs

Organizational Communication Minor: 15 credits
Speech Communication Teaching Minor: 29 credits