2021-2022 Academic Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Communication, BA


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About the Program


Apply Now The Communication degree offers students the opportunity to prepare for a wide range of careers where effective visual, oral and written communication is essential. By combining a study of communication theory with practical application, communication majors will see improvement in critical thinking, research, writing, teamwork, interpersonal, and public speaking skills. Graduates of the program may find work in such diverse areas as advertising, broadcasting, journalism, public relations, visual communication and a variety of art-related fields.  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 Major Core courses; minimum grade of C- required for all Gen Ed and Supplemental Core courses
  • Minimum GPA of 2.0 required for graduation

PNW General Education Core (30 Credits Minimum)


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 .

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 Major Core courses; minimum grade of C- required for all Gen Ed and Supplemental Core courses; 2.0 GPA

Experiential Learning (EL):  Two COM 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)


Semester 2 (15 Credits)


Semester 3 (15 Credits)


Semester 4 (15 Credits)


Semester 5 (15 Credits)


Semester 6 (15 Credits)


Semester 7 (15 Credits)


Semester 8 (15 Credits)


  • 30000-level or above Communication Elective (See Note 3)
  • 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: Two COM EL courses required.  EL courses are noted by (e) next to the course title.  Prerequisites may apply.

Note 4: Free Elective: Choose electives for further study in Communication or for Minor in any department. Six electives (18 Credits) 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.

Note 8:  The Communication capstone course is COM 43400- Practicum in Media Communication, which is repeatable.

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. 

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