2018-19 Academic Catalog 
    
    Apr 18, 2024  
2018-19 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Communication, BA, Concentrations: Advertising, Broadcasting, International Communication, Journalism, Media, Media Studies, or Public Relations


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About the Program


The Communication degree offers students the opportunity to prepare for a wide range of careers where effective oral and written communication is essential. By combining a study of communication theory and research with an emphasis on performance, communication majors will see improvement in critical thinking, research, writing, team, interpersonal, and public speaking skills. Graduates of the program may find work in such diverse areas as organizational training and development, broadcasting and public relations. Internship opportunities are available to students that will allow them to network with professionals while continuing to build their communication skills.

Students may choose to complete one concentration from the following areas:

Degree Requirements


  • 120 Credit Hours
  • Minimum grade of C required for all Supplemental Core, Major Core, and Communication Elective courses
  • Minimum GPA of 2.0 required for graduation

PNW General Education Core (30 Credits Minimum)


Supplemental Core (30 Credits)


Other Required Courses (45 Credits)


Communication Electives (18-27 Credits)


Choose courses with emphasis in an identified career path or concentration. Seven (7) electives in communication are required for major. At least four of those electives must be upper division (UD) at 30000 level or above. At least two of those UD courses must be COM EXL courses. Prerequisites may apply.

Courses that are only offered on one campus will be noted by an (H) for Hammond, or (W) for Westville.

Broadcasting Concentration

To receive a concentration in Broadcasting in our B.A. in Communication program, students must complete:

International Communication Concentration

To receive a concentration in International Communication in our B.A. in Communication program, students must complete:

Media Studies Concentration

To receive a concentration in Media Studies in our B.A. in Communication program, students must complete:

Free Electives (18-27 Credits)


Total 120 Credits Required


Degree Map


Requirements


Minimum Grade and Grade Point Average (GPA):  Minimum grade of C required for all Supplemental Core, Major Core, and Communication Elective courses; 2.0 GPA

Experiential Learning (EL):  One EL course required.  EL courses are noted by (e) next to the course title.

General Education Core:  General Education notations can be found within the course description.  Please click on a course to see if it meets a Gen Ed requirement.

Milestone Courses noted by (m) next to the course title have been identified as being critical to your success in this field of study. 

Courses that are only offered on one campus will be noted by an (H) for Hammond, or (W) for Westville.

Please see the Additional Information and Guidelines section below for more information.

Semester 4 (15 Credits)


Semester 5 (15 Credits)


Semester 6 (15 Credits)


Semester 7 (15 Credits)


Semester 8 (15 Credits)


Additional Information and Guidelines


Note 1: Freshman seminar requirement also met with any other PUC Freshman Seminar course from 1-3 credit hours.

Note 2: Modern Language Requirement, must complete 4 semesters of the same language - Choose from ASL, FR, GER, JPNS, or SPAN

Note 3: Communication Elective: Choose courses with emphasis in an identified career path or concentration. Seven (7) electives in communication are required for major. At least four of those electives must be upper division (UD) at 30000 level or above. At least two of those UD courses must be COM EXL courses. Prerequisites may apply. Students may choose to complete one concentration from the following areas: Advertising, Broadcasting, International Communication, Journalism, Media Studies, or Public Relations. (Use the separate degree map for the Visual Communication Design concentration.) For more information on career paths and recommended courses contact your advisor or visit http://academics.pnw.edu/communication-creative-arts

Note 4: Free Elective: Choose electives for further study in Communication or for Minor in any department. Eight (8) electives are required for graduation. Electives may be in Communication, for a Minor in any department, or in any subject. 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.

Resources


The 8 semester plan of study is a recommended sequence of classes designed to show how this program can be completed within four years.

Visit the 15 to Finish website for information and resources.

For career information, check out “What Can I Do With this Major?”

For Financial Aid eligibility, click here. Annual FAFSA filing deadline is March 10. Financial Aid recipients are required to complete 30 credits per calendar year to stay eligible for the standard financial aid award.

Financial Guarantee: If you follow the degree map and find a course unavailable, you may be able to take the course for free in a future semester.  Certain exclusions apply. 

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