Professors—Busby, Chaney, Chen, Chung, Jenkins, Medcalf, Merrigan, Shimanoff, Tuman, Yep
Associate Professors—Isaacson, Lovaas
Assistant Professors—Golden, Kilgard, Sabee, Wingard
B.A. in Communication Studies
Minor in Communication Studies
M.A. in Communication Studies
Mission of the Department. We are committed to the study of human communication in various contexts from multiple and interconnected perspectives in such a way as to contribute to a more humane world. Through communication humans form identities, connect with one another, examine values, enact cultures, and work collectively.
The department examines how people express themselves verbally and nonverbally; how identities are created, performed, and changed; how people listen to others; and how symbols relate to human behavior. It acknowledges, appreciates, and integrates human diversity in its various forms. It studies human communication in culturally and socially diverse contexts. It does so by using a variety of methods and technologies to discover and share knowledge about communication and to analyze, interpret, and perform discourse. Areas of study include face-to-face interaction, group process, organizational communication, rhetoric, advocacy, intercultural communication, political communication, and performance studies.
Communication students can expect to develop skills essential for leadership and career development, and for understanding and interpreting events. They learn to advocate and critically debate ideas in social and political settings, appreciate diverse communication styles, work productively in task-oriented groups, and engage in rewarding interpersonal relationships.
The department works to express, as accurately and clearly as it can, what it perceives, feels, and believes, encouraging students to do the same so that it may engage openly in genuine dialogue. It also encourages the practice of hearing and honoring a variety of voices and celebrating creative and humane approaches to solving complex human problems in our local and global communities.
Advising. Students work with an adviser in designing their academic program. Students must consult with their adviser at the start of the program. Every undergraduate student's application for graduation must be signed by an adviser who has worked with that student and has approved the major program. Students may select an adviser or ask to be assigned to an adviser by contacting the department in their first semester as a Communication major. Otherwise, students are assigned an adviser by the department.
Special Programs. See advisers before selecting these programs.
Forensics:A competitive intercollegiate program in policy debate and individual speaking events such as performance of literature, extemporaneous and persuasive speaking. Director: Whalen.
English Language Arts: Students who wish to teach at the secondary level (grades 7-12) may prepare for the Secondary Credential Program with a subject matter program in English Language Arts. A program that combines Communication and English is available. Adviser: Nelson Graffe, English Department.
Graduates in communication have an excellent track record entering their chosen career fields and attending graduate and professional schools. Communication graduates have secured positions as public relations managers, human resources trainers, employment recruiting specialists, marketing representatives, civil rights activists, and sales representatives, among others. Advisers can assist students in planning programs of study that are attractive to graduate schools and to prospective employers.
The department's internship program has helped many students begin their careers. The program offers over 200 internship and service learning opportunities. Students are encouraged to seek advising from the department's internship coordinator: Isaacson.
Students pursuing a B.A. in Communication Studies must complete a 44 unit program consisting of 32 units of breadth area requirements and 12 units of electives, which may be used to form a coherent depth of study. There are eight breadth area requirements: Communication Diversity, Group and Organizational Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Language and Social Interaction, Performance Studies, Public Communication, Rhetoric and Political Communication, and Research Methodology.
With adviser approval, up to 9 units of lower division transfer courses may be counted toward the major as elective units or potentially, within a depth of study. A maximum of 8 units may be counted toward the electives/depth of study within the major, from any combination of Projects Teaching Communication (COMM 685), Internship (COMM 695), and/or elective courses from allied departments. A maximum of 12 units from General Education, in Segments II and III, may be double-counted in both GE and the major, if the relevant courses are listed as meeting both requirements. However, any course that is used to fulfill a Segment I General Education requirement cannot be counted within the Communication Studies major.
On-line course descriptions are available.
| Breadth Area Requirements Select 8 courses (i.e., one course from the options listed for each breadth area) |
Units | |
| Communication Diversity | 4 | |
| COMM 503 | Gender and Communication | |
| COMM 525 | Sexual Identity and Communication | |
| COMM 541 | Intercultural Communication | |
| COMM 542 | Intracultural Communication | |
| COMM 543 | Dialogues Across Differences | |
| Group and Organizational Communication | 4 | |
| COMM 521 | Small Group Discussion | |
| COMM 522 | Organizational Communication | |
| COMM 533 | Communication and Empowerment in Organizations | |
| COMM 537 | Leadership Communication | |
| Interpersonal Communication | 4 | |
| COMM 502 | Interpersonal Communication | |
| COMM 512 | Nonverbal Communication | |
| COMM 515 | Family Communication | |
| COMM 544 | Communication and Aging | |
| Language and Social Interaction | 4 | |
| COMM 561 | Social Semiotics | |
| COMM 562 | Discourse in Interaction | |
| COMM 563 | Conversational Analysis | |
| Performance Studies | 4 | |
| COMM 352 | Women and Words | |
| COMM 362 | Introduction to Oral Interpretation | |
| COMM 363 | Oral Interpretation of the First Person Voice | |
| COMM 496 | Performance Art | |
| COMM 697 | Advanced Performance Study | |
| Public Communication | 4 | |
| COMM 351 | Public Speaking | |
| COMM 365 | Argumentation and Debate | |
| COMM 366 | Persuasion | |
| Research Methodology | 4 | |
| COMM 661 | Communication Research Strategies | |
| COMM 662 | Communication Criticism | |
| COMM 663 | Qualitative Methods in Communication and Performance | |
| COMM 664 | Research Methods in Language and Social Interaction | |
| Rhetorical and Political Communication | 4 | |
| COMM 302 | Communication and Social Process | |
| COMM 341 | Rhetorical Theory | |
| COMM 440 | Political Communication | |
| Students may select any twelve units of elective coursework in Communication, given the stipulations listed above under, “Requirements for the Major.” Alternately, students can develop in-depth knowledge of one area of communication by selecting three additional courses related to a single breadth area (see an adviser for assistance developing a depth of study plan). | ||
| Total for major | 44 | |
Select three courses (twelve units), each of which is from a different breadth area; select eight additional units with approval of an adviser in Communication Studies. With consent of an adviser, up to eight units of lower division coursework in communication may be counted toward the minor. However, any course that is used to fulfill a Segment I, General Education requirement cannot be used to fulfill minor requirements.
| Program | Units |
| Units selected from 3 of the following breadth areas: | 12 |
| Communication Diversity | |
| Group and Organizational Communication | |
| Interpersonal Communication | |
| Language and Social Interaction | |
| Performance Studies | |
| Public Communication | |
| Rhetoric and Political Communication | |
| Research Methodology | |
| Additional units on advisement in communication | 8 |
| Total for minor | 20 |
The requirements for admission are an undergraduate major in communication and a 3.0 or better upper division grade point average. Applicants not meeting these criteria may be eligible for conditional admission. Conditions may vary from completing four to sixteen units of approved undergraduate courses in Communication Studies to earning a B or better in the initial three graduate courses, including COMM 700, Introduction to Graduate Study. No units used in fulfilling prerequisites for advancement to classified status may be counted toward the satisfaction of course requirements in the graduate program. The Graduate Record Examination and two letters of reference are required for admission. Send GRE scores to the graduate coordinator in the department.
Level One: students must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) analytical writing test prior to applying for admission to the Communication Studies program. Students who achieve a score of 4.0 or higher will have passed the first level graduate writing requirement. Students who achieve a score below 4.0 on the GRE writing test may still be considered for admission to the Communication Studies program, based on the rest of their application materials, and may be required to complete a writing course (conditional admission) before meeting the first level writing requirement. Level Two: satisfactory completion of master's thesis or written comprehensive examination or creative project.
On-line course descriptions are available. Upper division courses the department offers may be considered, upon approval of the graduate adviser, except public performance courses.
| Core Requirements | Units | |
| COMM 700 | Introduction to Graduate Study | 4 |
| COMM 871 or COMM 872 |
Communication Research Strategies Field Research Methods |
4 |
| Units selected in graduate seminars on advisement. Seminars must be from COMM 701-798 | 16 | |
| Electives on advisement | 8 | |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| COMM 894 | Creative Work Project | |
| COMM 896 |
Directed Readings in Speech Communication and Written Comprehensive Examination |
|
| COMM 898 | Master's Thesis | |
| Minimum total | 35 | |
NOTE: No more than eight units may be from upper division courses regardless of department; no more than eight units, graduate or undergraduate, may be from an allied department; and no more than eight units may be in any combination of COMM 850-852, COMM 855, COMM 885 or COMM 899. No more than four units may be listed on the GAP for any combination of COMM 851, COMM 852, or COMM 885.
Master's Thesis or Creative Work Project. Each candidate who selects the option of a Master's Thesis or Creative Work Project must submit a written proposal for approval and complete the department's Description of Proposed Culminating Experience form. After the proposal is approved and a supervising committee of two or more faculty members is established, the Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement form is signed and filed in the Division of Graduate Studies office. Following the candidate’s successful oral defense of the completed thesis or creative work project, a Final Report of Completion for the Culminating Experience is signed and filed in the Division of Graduate Studies.
Master's Written Comprehensive Examination. Each candidate who selects the option of Master's Written Comprehensive Examination must establish a three-member faculty committee and complete the department's Description of Proposed Culminating Experience form. Next, the Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement form must be signed and filed in the Division of Graduate Studies. The candidate then enrolls in COMM 896 and completes the examinations.