Communication, BA

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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.

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)

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 Gen Ed Quantitative Reasoning Core list
Natural Sciences (3 Credits): Select from Gen Ed Natural Sciences Core list
Technology (3 Credits): Select from the Gen Ed Technology Core list
Humanities (3 Credits): Select one course from -
Social Sciences (3 Credits): Select one course from -
Additional Credits (3 Credits): Select one course from below that has not been used to meet another requirement -
First-Year Experience (FYE) (3 Credits): COM 10300 - The Freshman Seminar In Communication

CHESS College Core (36 Credits)

Modern Language (12 Credits)
Gender Issues (3 Credits)
Global Cultures (3 Credits)
Individual and Society (3 Credits)
Literature and the Arts (3 Credits)
Racial and Ethnic Diversity (3 Credits)
Social Ethics (3 Credits)
United States Tradition (3 Credits)
Western Heritage (3 Credits)

For courses that meet these requirements, please see the CHESS College Core list .

Major Core (36 Credits)

COM 20400 - Critical Perspectives On Communication
COM 25000 - Mass Communication And Society
COM 30000 - Introduction To Communication Research Methods
COM 31800 - Principles Of Persuasion
COM 43500 - Communication And Emerging Technologies
20000-level or above COM Electives (9 Credits)
30000-level or above COM Electives (12 Credits)

Other Required Courses (18 Credits)

Free Electives (18 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 1 (15 Credits)

ENGL 10400 - English Composition I
COM 10300 - The Freshman Seminar In Communication (See Note 1)
Social Sciences - select from provided list (See Note 5)
Modern Language Level I (See Note 2)
COM 11400 - Fundamentals Of Speech Communication

Semester 2 (15 Credits)

ENGL 10500 - English Composition II (e)
COM 25000 - Mass Communication And Society
US Traditions - select from CHESS College Core List
Technology - select from Gen Ed Core List
Modern Language Level II (See Note 2)

Semester 3 (15 Credits)

COM 20400 - Critical Perspectives On Communication
Literature and the Arts - select from CHESS College Core List
Individual and Society - select from CHESS College Core List
Modern Language Level III (See Note 2)
20000-level or above Communication Elective (See Note 3)

Semester 4 (15 Credits)

COM 30000 - Introduction To Communication Research Methods
Natural Sciences - select from Gen Ed Core List
Modern Language Level IV (See Note 2)
20000-level or above Communication Elective (See Note 3)
Free Elective (See Note 4)

Semester 5 (15 Credits)

Global Cultures - select from CHESS College Core List
Social Ethics - select from CHESS College Core List
20000-level or above Communication Elective (See Note 3)
30000-level or above Communication Elective (See Note 3)
Free Elective (See Note 4)

Semester 6 (15 Credits)

COM 31800 - Principles Of Persuasion (m)
Gender Issues - select from CHESS College Core List
Humanities - select from provided list (See Note 6)
30000-level or above Communication Elective (See Note 3)
Free Elective (See Note 4)

Semester 7 (15 Credits)

Quantitative Reasoning - select from Gen Ed Core List
Racial and Ethnic Diversity - select from CHESS College Core List
30000-level or above Communication Elective (See Note 3)
30000-level or above Communication Elective (See Note 3)
Free Elective (See Note 4)

Semester 8 (15 Credits)

COM 43500 - Communication And Emerging Technologies
Western Heritage - select from CHESS College Core List
Additional Gen Ed Credits - select from provided list (See Note 7)
Free Elective (See Note 4)
Free Elective (See Note 4)

Additional Information and Guidelines

Note 1: Freshman seminar requirement also met with any other PNW 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: At least two courses must be COM EXL courses. Prerequisites may apply.

Note 4: Free Elective: Choose electives for further study in Communication or for Minor in any department. Six (6) 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.

Note 5: Select from: COM 21200-Approaches to the Study of Interpersonal Communication, COM 32000-Small Group Communication or COM 32400-Introduction to Organizational Communication. Once you use a course for this section, it cannot be used for other sections.

Note 6: Select from: AD 25500- Art Appreciation, COM 24000-Introduction to Oral Interpretation, MUS 25000-Music Appreciation, THTR 20100-Theatre Appreciation or THTR 30800-The History and Development of the American Musical Theatre. Once you use a course for this section, it cannot be used for other sections.

Note 7: Select from: AD 25500- Art Appreciation, COM 21200-Approaches to the Study of Interpersonal Communication, COM 24000-Introduction to Oral Interpretation, COM 32000-Small Group Communication, COM 32400-Introduction to Organizational Communication, MUS 25000-Music Appreciation, THTR 20100-Theatre Appreciation or THTR 30800-The History and Development of the American Musical Theatre. Once you use a course for this section, it cannot be used for other sections.

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, click here to visit the Careers and Employment Trends page.

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.