UMUC

School of Undergraduate Studies

Communication Studies

Students may seek either an academic major or minor in communication studies.

Major in Communication Studies

Today’s global workplace requires effective communication skills. Combining theory with sophisticated, practical application, you’ll possess critical knowledge and skills needed to advance rapidly in any organization.

Objectives

The student who graduates with a major in communication studies will be able to:

  • Apply communication theories—including both speech communication and mass communication theories—to various situations and contexts.
  • Identify and apply effective strategies for creating, editing, and presenting effective written messages to different audiences and within different contexts.
  • Explain the role media and mass communication play in society.
  • Describe and use effective interaction styles in communication with others across a variety of contexts.
  • Analyze any communication situation and be able to apply appropriate oral and/or written communication skills as needed.
  • Use tools and technology to gather information, as well as to develop and deliver messages.
  • Critically analyze information for creating effective oral or written messages and for evaluating messages.

Degree Requirements

A degree with a major in communication studies requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework, including 30 credits for the major; 41 credits in general education requirements; and 49 credits in the minor, electives, and other degree requirements. At least 15 credits in the major must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

Course Requirements for the Communication Studies Major

Coursework for a major in communication studies includes the following:

Recommended Sequence

The following course sequence will fulfill all the requirements for the BA in communication studies. Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an advisor whenever taking advantage of other options.

Coursework for the major is indicated by ‡

First Courses (to be taken within the first 18 credits)

Note: Placement tests are required for math and writing courses.

  • EDCP 100 Principles and Strategies of Successful Learning (3) (strongly recommended as first course)
  • LIBS 150 Information Literacy and Research Methods (1)
  • WRTG 101/101X Introduction to Writing (3)
  • MATH 105 Mathematics: Contemporary Topics and Applications (3) or MATH 106 Finite Mathematics or a higher-level math course

Introductory Courses (to be taken within the first 30 credits)

  • HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3) or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865 or other ARTH or HIST course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement in historical perspective
  • Both BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3) and BIOL 102 Laboratory in Biology (1) or BIOL 103 Introduction to Biology or other course(s) to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture and laboratory requirement
  • WRTG 291 Expository and Research Writing (3) or other course to fulfill the communications/ writing requirement
  • SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology or GVPT 170 American Government (3) or other ANTH, BEHS, ECON, GEOG, GVPT, PSYC, SOCY, or eligible AASP, CCJS, GERO, or WMST course to fulfill the first behavioral and social sciences requirement
  • IFSM 201 Introduction to Computer-Based Systems (3) or CMST 303 Advanced Application Software (3)

Foundation Courses (to be taken within the first 60 credits)

  • PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3) or BEHS 210 Introduction to Social and Behavioral Science or other course to fulfill the second behavioral and social sciences requirement (discipline must differ from first)
  • NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3) or ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy or other course to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture requirement
  • PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues (3) or a foreign language course or other ARTH, ARTT, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, or literature course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement (discipline must differ from other humanities course)
  • SPCH 100 Foundations of Speech Communication (3) or JOUR 201 Writing for the Mass Media or other course to fulfill the communications/writing or speech requirement
  • IFSM 304 Ethics in the Information Age (3) or other course to fulfill the interdisciplinary issues/computing requirement
  • ‡ COMM 300 Communication Theory (3)

Additional Required Courses (to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

  • WRTG 393/393X Technical Writing (3) or WRTG 394/394X Business Writing or other course to fulfill the communications/ upper-level intensive writing requirement
  • ‡ COMM 380 Language in Social Contexts (3) or other writing or language arts course for the major
  • ‡ COMM 400 Communication and the Law (3) or JOUR 330 Public Relations Theory or other mass communication course for the major
  • ‡ SPCH 470 Listening (3) or other speech communication course for the major
  • ‡ COMM 493 Strategies for Visual Communications (3) or other supplemental major course
  • ‡ SPCH 482 Intercultural Communication (3) or other supplemental major course
  • ‡ Any COMM, JOUR, SPCH, or WRTG course (3) (supplemental major course)
  • ‡ A supplemental major course (3)
  • ‡ A supplemental major course (3)

Capstone Course for Major (to be taken in the last 15 credits)

  • ‡ COMM 495 Seminar in Workplace Communication or SPCH 397 Organizational Presentations or WRTG 493 Seminar in Technical Communication

Minor and/or Elective Courses (to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses) (46)


Total credits for BA in communication studies: 120