Communication, BA, Concentration: Strategic Communication

About the Program

The Concentration in Strategic Communication will allow students to sharpen organizational and public relations skills through four courses focused on creating/managing individual and organizational images. Students will study crisis management, negotiation, event planning, and communicating with internal and external publics.  

Degree Requirements

• 120 Credit Hours
• Minimum grade of C required for all Major Core courses; minimum grade of C- required for all Gen Ed and CHESS College Core courses
• Minimum GPA of 2.0 required for graduation

PNW General Education Core (30 Credits Minimum)

• English Composition (6 Credits): ENGL 10400 English Composition I   and ENGL 10500 English Composition II  
• Speech Communication (3 Credits): COM 11400 Fundamentals Of Speech Communication   
• Quantitative Reasoning (3 Credits): select from the Quantitative Reasoning Core List    
• Natural Sciences (3 Credits): select from the Natural Sciences Core List  
• Technology (3 Credits): select from Technology Core List  
• Humanities (3 Credits): select from the Humanities Core List  
• Social Sciences (3 Credits): select from the Social Sciences Core List  
• Additional Credits (3 Credits): Select from any Communication & Creative Arts from the Gen Ed Core List  
• First-Year Experience (FYE) (3 Credits): COM 10300 The Freshman Seminar In Communication  

CHESS College Core (24 Credits)

• CHSS 10000 - Topics In Self & World (3 credits)
• CHSS 20000 - Topics In Knowledge (3 credits)
• CHSS 30000 - Topics In Individual & Society (3 credits)
• CHSS 40000 - Topics In Happiness (3 credits)
• World Language - Proficiency through Level IV in one world language (12 Credits)

Major Core (24 Credits)

• COM 20400 - Critical Perspectives On Communication
• COM 21400 - Comparative Theories Of Interpersonal Communication
• COM 22500 - Introduction To Rhetoric And Social Influence
• COM 25000 - Mass Communication And Society
• COM 30900 - Visual Communication
• COM 31800 - Principles Of Persuasion
• COM 32000 - Small Group Communication
• COM 37000 - Writing For Media

Concentration Core (12 Credits)

• COM 25300 - Introduction To Public Relations
• COM 32300 - Business And Professional Speaking
• COM 32500 - Interviewing: Principles And Practice
• COM 46000 - Advanced Public Relations

Other Required Courses (30 Credits)

• Free Electives (30 Credits)

Civics Literacy Proficiency

The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue Northwest students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

• Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
• Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
• Earning a passing grade for one of the approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course)

For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

Degree Map

Additional Information and Guidelines

Note 1: Freshman Seminar in Communication (FYE) requirement also met with any other PNW (FYE) course from 1-3 credit hours.

Note 2: Free Elective: Choose electives for further study in Communication or for a Minor in any department. Prerequisites may apply. Up to 15 credits of free electives at 30000 level or higher may be required to meet Purdue University Northwest residency rule.

Note 3: Select from any Communication & Creative Arts General Education Core courses, once you use a course for this section, it cannot be used for other sections.

Note 4: All four CHESS Core seminar courses, CHSS 10000, CHSS 20000, CHSS 30000 and CHSS 40000 must be taken. Duplicates are not allowed.