Communication, BA

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Department of Communication, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

50 credits (plus minor)

Introduction

Students contemplating a major in communication are encouraged to register as pre-majors with the communication department in Communication Facility 203.

Students who transfer to Western after completing an AA at a community college can enroll in upper-division communication classes as long as they meet the stated prerequisites. Students who enter Western as freshmen will enroll in required GUR classes and develop a GPA that is suitable to communication department majors.

Admission and Declaration Process

Declaration of Major

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Requirements

❑ Satisfy departmental requirements for declaration of major (stated above); see link
❑ COMM 398 - Research Methods in Communication
❑ COMM 498 - Communication Ethics
❑ Complete a course that emphasizes library research strategies and skills. Only the following courses are approved:
COMM 235 - Exposition and Argumentation
LIBR 201 - Introduction to Research Strategies
❑ Select 30 credits of departmental courses. Obtain recommended course list from departmental office; no more than 6 credits from the following may be included in the 30 major credits:
COMM 236 - Intercollegiate Forensics
COMM 300 - Independent Study
COMM 339 - Practicum in Applied Communication
COMM 400 - Independent Study
COMM 436 - Advanced Forensics and Debate
COMM 450 - Communication Pedagogy I
COMM 451 - Communication Pedagogy II
COMM 459 - Field Internship in Communication
Normally, majors will take an official minor comprised of 25 or more credits, approved at the time of declaration. The student may petition to substitute a self-designed major, comprised of at least 25 credits and including a written statement prepared by the student indicating the rationale for the courses selected. Students may substitute a second major, TESOL certification or Internet Studies certification for a minor. Any Communication courses taken as part of a double major, or a minor, or a certification, cannot be double-counted within both the communication major and the double major, minor or certification.

Departmental Honors

A communication major who wishes to graduate with honors in communication must maintain a GPA of 3.5 in upper-division communication courses and successfully complete Com 492, Senior Thesis, under the direction of a faculty advisor. In addition, the student must provide evidence of excellence and extensive participation (from 2 to 6 quarters) in research, forensics, intercultural/international, or service activities, under advisement. A detailed list of courses and activities from which a student may earn departmental honors will be available from faculty advisors.

University Graduation Requirements

General University Requirements (GURS)
Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
180 Minimum Total Credits
60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
Residency Requirement
Minimum Grade Requirements
Final Quarter Requirement