Communication Major

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Communication students develop competencies in public speaking and debate, critical thinking and argumentation, interpersonal and group communication, theory and research, and public relations and media. The major is designed to offer students the opportunity to tailor their program to focus on rhetoric – public speaking and debate – or media. Students are taught to evaluate communication from a Christian perspective and incorporate the tenets of faith in their communication, whether oral or written.

The B.A. (Communication) prepares students for the variety of careers in writing for the media, producing and delivering persuasive speeches, and working in radio and television. Additionally, the major prepares students for careers in law, politics, business, education, ministry, as well as graduate work.

While an emphasis is not required for the communication major, it is an opportunity for students to participate in specialized coursework geared towards either Mass Media or Rhetoric.

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication requires completion of the following 128 credits:
General Education Core (57 credit hours)
Communication Core (36 credit hours)
Electives (35 credit hours)

General Education Requirements (57 credit hours)

Biblical Studies (12 credit hours)

Take the following four courses (some courses are cross-listed and only one prefix needs to be taken):

Communication (12 credit hours)

Take each of the following four courses:

COM 103 - Public Speaking (CUS) (3)
COM 212 - Persuasion (3)
ENG 102 - English Composition (3)
ENG 104 - Research Writing (3)
ENG 105 - Honors English
may be taken by invitation of the English faculty to fulfill requirements for both ENG 102 and ENG 104.

Arts and Humanities (9 credit hours)

Take one course from each of the following three academic disciplines:

Philosophy (3 credit hours)

PHL 202 - Philosophical Inquiry (3)

Fine Arts (3 credit hours)

Choose one course from the following:

Literature (3 credit hours)

Choose one course from the following:

Social Sciences (15 credit hours)

Take each of the following five courses:

Integrative Studies (3 credit hours)

* Please see the First- Year Integration (FYI) page for specific information about this required course.

INT 101 - First-Year Integration (3)

Mathematics (3 credit hours)

MAT 111 - College Algebra (3) (or higher)

Science (3 credit hours)

SCI 230 - Great Ideas in Science (3)

Communication Major Core (36 credit hours)

Required Core (21 credit hours)

Communication Electives with a COM prefix (15 credit hours)

Choose 15 credit hours from the following courses with a minimum of 9 credit hours of 300 or 400 level courses:

Emphasis - (12 credit hours)

Emphasis is optional within electives.

To earn an emphasis in either Mass Media or Rhetoric, 12 of the 15 total electives for the major must be taken from one of the following areas:

Mass Media Emphasis

Rhetoric Emphasis

COM 202 - Debate Team (1)
Must be taken consecutively fall and spring semester for two credit hours.
COM 205 - Digital Media Lab (1)
COM 301 - Advanced Public Speaking (3)
COM 360 - Advanced Persuasion (3)
COM 452 - Communication Research Internship (3)