Communication Studies Undergraduate Major (BA, BS, HBA, HBS)
This program is available at the following location:
- Corvallis
The Communication Studies major consists of 53 credits of coursework which focuses on the theories regarding, research about, and practices of human communication.
Courses in communication studies offer students opportunities to study the nature, significance, and application of communication in interpersonal, small groups, organizational and societal contexts. Under the relational and rhetorical approaches, these courses cover various forms of communication, including oral, written, visual, mediated, and technological and with a range of topics such as health, family, interculture, argumentation.
Communication Studies graduates have found employment in a variety of fields that emphasize the many facets of human communication: public relations, training and development, education, nonprofit corporation development, mediation and conflict management, politics, advertising, sales and management, and law. Our graduates have also excelled in outstanding graduate programs at both the MA and PhD levels.
Major Code: A030
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Interpret and evaluate the various theoretical underpinnings of human communication.
- Develop research on the social, cultural, and historical significance of human communication using qualitative and/or quantitative approaches.
- Integrate human communication concepts into both personal and public practices.
- A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required.
- Courses in the major cannot double-count as restricted electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| COMM 421 | +SCIENCE COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| or COMM 342 | +INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS | |
| or COMM 424 | +CRISIS COMMUNICATION AND STRATEGIC CONFLICT MANAGEMENT | |
| COMM 428 | +COMMUNICATION OF CULTURAL IDENTITIES | 3 |
| or COMM 432 | +GENDER AND COMMUNICATION | |
| Introductory Theory Research and Practice | ||
| COMM 111Z | +*PUBLIC SPEAKING | 4 |
| COMM 114 | +*ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE | 3 |
| COMM 218Z | +*INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| Intermediate Theory | ||
| COMM 320 | INTRODUCTION TO RHETORICAL THEORY | 3 |
| COMM 321 | +INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION THEORY | 3 |
| Intermediate Research | ||
| COMM 300 | ^WRITING FOR COMMUNICATION STUDIES | 3 |
| Intermediate Practice | ||
| Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| +INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | ||
Any 300-level COMM courses not included in Intermediate Theory and Intermediate Research | ||
| Advanced Theory | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| ^INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION THEORY AND RESEARCH | ||
| ^SMALL-GROUP COMMUNICATION THEORY AND RESEARCH | ||
| INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION: THEORIES AND ISSUES | ||
| +GENDER AND COMMUNICATION (if not used above) | ||
| THEORIES OF CONFLICT AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT | ||
| ADVANCED ARGUMENTATION | ||
| ^RHETORIC: 500 BC TO 500 AD | ||
| ^RHETORIC: 500 AD TO 1900 | ||
| ^CONTEMPORARY THEORIES OF RHETORIC | ||
| ETHICS OF RHETORIC | ||
| Advanced Methods | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| COMMUNICATION RESEARCH METHODS | ||
| ETHNOGRAPHY OF COMMUNICATION | ||
| RHETORICAL CRITICISM | ||
| Advanced Practice | ||
| Select any 400-level COMM courses not included in Advanced Theory and Advanced Methods | 6 | |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Select 9 credits of COMM or NMC courses with at least 3 non-variable credits at 400-level 1 | 9 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Remaining Core Ed, CLA Core, BA/BS Requirements and Electives | 127 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
No more than 6 credits of variable credit courses, no more than 3 credits of lower-division courses and no more than 6 credits of NMC courses can be used as restricted electives
Major Code: A030
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
Bachelor of Science
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| COMM 111Z | +*PUBLIC SPEAKING | 4 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| COMM 114 | +*ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE | 3 |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMM 218Z | +*INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| BS Computer Science | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| BS College of Science | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMM 320 | INTRODUCTION TO RHETORICAL THEORY | 3 |
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 321 | +INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION THEORY | 3 |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| COMM 300 | ^WRITING FOR COMMUNICATION STUDIES | 3 |
| Intermediate Practice | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Intermediate Practice | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 421 | +SCIENCE COMMUNICATION or +INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS or +CRISIS COMMUNICATION AND STRATEGIC CONFLICT MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| COMM 428 or COMM 432 | +COMMUNICATION OF CULTURAL IDENTITIES or +GENDER AND COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Advanced Theory | 3 | |
| Advanced Practice | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Advanced Methods | 3 | |
| Advanced Practice | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
Bachelor of Arts
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| COMM 111Z | +*PUBLIC SPEAKING | 4 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Language 111 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| COMM 114 | +*ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE | 3 |
| Language 112 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMM 218Z | +*INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| Language 113 | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Language 211 | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Language 212 | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMM 320 | INTRODUCTION TO RHETORICAL THEORY | 3 |
| Language 213 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 321 | +INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION THEORY | 3 |
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| COMM 300 | ^WRITING FOR COMMUNICATION STUDIES | 3 |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Intermediate Practice | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Intermediate Practice | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 421 | +SCIENCE COMMUNICATION or +INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS or +CRISIS COMMUNICATION AND STRATEGIC CONFLICT MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Advanced Practice | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| COMM 428 or COMM 432 | +COMMUNICATION OF CULTURAL IDENTITIES or +GENDER AND COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| Advanced Theory | 3 | |
| Advanced Practice | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Advanced Methods | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course