Department Chair: Lee Krähenbühl, Ph.D.
Description
The communication studies program offers students an opportunity to examine critically how communication functions in personal, public, and professional contexts. Students learn to become ethical and responsible producers and users of messages in response to specific contexts, audiences, and goals, but also learn to think critically about the messages that they consume. The program encourages students to use communication as an introspective lens and to communicate sensitively and competently as members of groups, communities, cultures, and as global citizens. Empowering students to challenge assumptions, this program prepares students to serve as change agents and advocates for themselves and others through the power of public discourse. Communication studies provides opportunities for students to engage in communication inquiry in order to broaden their own perspectives and to contribute to the general body of communication knowledge and research. Overall, the undergraduate experience in communication studies equips students for entry into careers that value skilled communication practices as well as into graduate fields appreciative of the critical and practical nature of a communication program.
Outcomes
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies, graduates will be able to:
- Distinguish the communication discipline from related areas of study.
- Apply communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts in personal, public, and professional contexts.
- Create messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context using multiple communication modalities and technologies.
- Critically analyze messages in various communication contexts.
- Evaluate the ethical elements of communication situations.
- Utilize communication to embrace difference.
- Interpret diverse perspectives and advocate with empathy for oneself and others.
Policies
Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major, and the lowest acceptable grade is a “C” in all courses that are program requirements. No student, regardless of major, will be permitted to advance to the next course without earning a grade of “C” or better in the prerequisite course(s). When a grade below “C” is earned in a major course, the student must repeat that course.
Requirements
The courses listed below are required for completion of the bachelor’s degree in communication. Students must also complete the requirements for the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE). Specific pre- and co-requisites for each course are listed in the course descriptions.
Major Requirements:
| FYS 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 credit |
| CM 101 | Public Speaking | 3 credits |
| CM 115 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 credits |
| CM 120 | Human Communication | 3 credits |
| CM 205 | Communication Ethics | 3 credits |
| CM 206 | Listening and Communication | 3 credits |
| CM 211 | Intercultural Communication | 3 credits |
| CM 235 | Media and Society | 3 credits |
| CM 236 | Communication Research and Writing | 3 credits |
| CM 290 | Internship Preparation | 1 credit |
| CM 300 | Advanced Public Speaking | 3 credits |
| CM 310 | Conflict Resolution and Negotiation | 3 credits |
| CM 315 | Communication Theory | 3 credits |
| CM 331 | Nonverbal Communication | 3 credits |
| CM 390 | Organizational Communication | 3 credits |
| CM 440 | Persuasion Theory | 3 credits |
| CM 445 | Communication and Leadership | 3 credits |
| CM 460 | Communicating Identities | 3 credits |
| CM 490 | Communication Capstone | 3 credits |
| SOD 390 | Internship | Variable credits |
Suggested Course Sequence
2024-25 SCS Communication Studies
Minor in Communication
Students majoring in Communication Studies may not earn a minor in communication.
Other Options
BA Option: Students also have the option of completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies. The student must fulfill all SEE requirements, program requirements and complete two semesters of a foreign language from the point of placement or completion of 202 level.
BS/MS Option: The BS/MS option is available for students majoring in communication studies who wish to combine their bachelor’s coursework with work toward a master’s degree in one of Stevenson’s graduate programs. Students choosing this option may earn their master's degree in as little as one year after their bachelor's degree. Interested students must formally apply for entrance into a BS/MS option in their junior year. Once admitted into this program, students develop an educational plan in consultation with their undergraduate and graduate advisors. A master's degree in communication is available. For more information on this program, see the Stevenson University Graduate Catalog.
Course Descriptions
See Communication Course Descriptions