Departmental Written Policies
The Department of Communication's own written and approved policies are posted on the applicable websites as soon as possible, and every effort is made to ensure that material posted on the Department's World Wide Web site is accurate. However, should a conflict arise between a statement posted on the web and the Department's official written and approved curricula, course requirements and other policy matters, the Department's official written policies will apply. Students are responsible for ensuring that the major requirements and other curricular and program guidelines they are following are the correct ones.
Curriculum Objectives
- Communication as a Field: Communication as a phenomenon, as an academic discipline, as a system of processes and practices, and as a profession. Students should be able to describe and explain why people study communication, types of communication processes, and careers in communication.
- Theory: Theoretical analysis of communication processes and practices. Students should be able to use a variety of communication and other disciplinary theories to describe, explain, and predict communication processes and outcomes in a variety of contexts.
- Research Methods: Research methods as they relate to and inform communication processes and practices. Students should be able to identify, describe, and explain research methods used by communication scholars and professionals and use some of these methods to produce independent research and generate knowledge.
- Diversity & Globalization: Multiple cultural contexts and global processes and their implications for communication processes and practices. Students should be able to articulate the challenges and opportunities inherent in communication with diverse, global participants and audiences.
- Ethics: Critical thinking about ethical problems in communication. Students should be able to apply their understanding of ethical responsibility in interpersonal, group, organizational, public, and mediated contexts.
- Communication Competencies: Targeted communication skill areas and competencies. Students should be able to use the theories, methods, analytical tools, and skills from their coursework across a variety of contexts.
Important Requirements Applying to All Communication Majors
- • All Communication courses taken to meet Graduation requirements, whether as Concentration requirements or as Free Elective courses, must be taken for a letter grade and passed with at least a "C-".
- • Each major must select a Concentration upon which to focus his/her work; Curriculum Guides for each Concentration identify the specific courses which satisfy the degree requirements. These requirements are available on the University website, the Communication Departmental Homepage, in the Communication Advising Handbook, and in printed form at the Communication Main Office. Some Concentrations require prerequisite classes be taken before students enroll in upper-level courses. Students are expected to understand and follow the pre-requisite requirements in planning their curricula. In some but not all cases, instructors may waive prerequisites if students can provide convincing evidence that they are prepared for the advanced work in a specific upper-level course. Instructors do not consider students' desires to graduate at a particular time a valid reason to waive prerequisites. If students find that the concentration they prefer has a prerequisite structure that necessitates they remain at NCSU longer than they would prefer, they should choose another concentration.
- • All majors must complete at least 12 hours of Communication courses within the Concentration at the 300/400 level. Each Concentration defines the exact number of 300/400 level courses required for Graduation. Students are advised to review their Concentration requirements carefully and to consult with their Advisor if they have questions.
All students are assigned a Departmental Advisor and students are encouraged to consult with their Advisor. Ms. Stallings, Assistant Head for Advising in the Department, is available to all students for consultation. However, it is the student's responsibility to understand both the University and Departmental requirements for graduation.
Course Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication
In addition to the courses listed below, a student must meet NC State University's General Education Requirements. To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, a student must satisfactorily complete at least 36 semester credit hours of Communication courses as well as a Restricted Elective as explained below.
Four courses (totaling 12 credit hours) are required of all students majoring in Communication. They are:
• COM 230 − Communication Theory, 3 credit hours
• COM 240 − Communication Inquiry, 3 credit hours
• COM 250 − Communication and Technology, 3 credit hours
• COM 110 − Public Speaking, 3 credit hours OR
COM 112 − Interpersonal Communication, 3 credit hours
Students are strongly encouraged to take COM 230, COM 240, and COM 250 in sequential order.
Concentrations
24 additional credit hours are required in one of three departmental concentrations:
- • Communication Media: This concentration engages students in the analysis and production of technologically-mediated messages through coursework in media writing and production, media history and criticism, and the study of emerging technologies. 8-semester display..
- • Public and Interpersonal Communication: This concentration addresses theoretical, rhetorical, and applied approaches to the study of human communication processes and problems within interpersonal relationships, groups and teams, and public and political discourse. 8-semester display.
- • Public Relations and Organizational Communication: This concentration engages students in the study of communication theories and methods that establish and maintain organizational identity and mutually beneficial relationships with employees, consumers, and other target audiences. 8-semester display.
Each concentration is specific about the number of 300/400-level courses required for graduation.
"D" Grades in Communication Courses
"D" grades in Communication courses will not count toward Graduation requirements − not as a required or elective course in the Concentration and not as a Free Elective. All "D" Communication courses will fall into the Additional/Non-Degree portion of the Degree Audit.
Departmental Restricted Elective
All Communication majors must complete a Departmental Restricted Elective for 3 credit hours. Students may choose from one of the following courses:
• COM 486 − Communication Research Methods
• FL_ 202 − Intermediate Foreign Language II
• PS 371 − Political Science Research Methods
There may be prerequisites or other restrictions on enrollment for these courses.
Students in the Public Relations Curriculum are required to complete COM 486 as the Restricted Elective.
Credit-Only Courses
Students may complete 12 hours of Free Electives plus the 2 required Physical Education courses on a Credit-Only basis. COM 437 and COM 496 are the only Communication courses taught on a Credit-Only basis.
Registering for Classes
To register for classes, all Communication majors must have (1) an approvable/submitted Plan of Work through the immediate next 2 semesters and (2) meet with their Advisor to have their Advising Hold released. Once the Advising Hold is released, students may register for classes once their registration window opens.
Communication Department Honors Program
The Communication Department Honors Program requires the completion of three academically challenging courses during a student’s senior year. At least one of the three courses must be at the 500-level (graduate course). Other courses may include a 400-level class taken with an honors option (initiated by the student or faculty) or an Independent Study (COM 499) with an Honors option. These three courses will all count toward the 39 hour BA degree in Communication.* Students who satisfy all of the requirements of the Honors Program will have this accomplishment noted on their transcript and be recognized at the departmental graduation ceremony.
In most cases, application to the Departmental Honors Program is submitted during the junior year. All eligible students will be notified and are encouraged to apply. The following criteria must be met by the time the candidate begins honors coursework:
(1) completion of the departmental core courses
(2) completion of COM 110 or COM 112
(3) completion of an additional 9 hours of Communication courses, including a 300- or 400- level course that involves considerable writing and/or discussion of communication theory
(4) completion of at least 75 hours of university coursework (at least 24 at NCSU)
(5) an overall GPA of at least 3.50
(6) a major GPA of at least 3.50
To apply for admission to the Honors Program, students must submit a copy of their transcript, a letter of intent that discusses their academic goals and interest in the honors program, and a letter of recommendation from either the professor who taught the 300/400 level course mentioned in (3) above or a tenured / tenure-line faculty member who is familiar with the individual’s academic potential.
The Communication Department Honors Program Committee reviews the applications of interested students and then makes final acceptance decisions.
Questions about the Communication Department Honors Program should be directed to Dr. Daniel DeJoy. (ddejoy@ncsu.edu)
*Students who are eligible for the Honors Program may also be eligible for the Accelerated Bachelor/s/Master’s (ABM) Degree in Communication. Students interested in the ABM must complete the standard application for admission to the Graduate School. Students who complete the honors program in conjunction with the ABM must take three 500-level courses to complete the Honors Program.
Application for Graduation
Each student intending to graduate must complete an on-line Graduation Application. The Assistant Head for Advising will review the Graduation Application and, if all requirements have been met, will provide Departmental Approval for Graduation. If the Graduation Application is "denied" by the Assistant Head for Advising, the student should meet with the Assistant Head immediately.
At the end of the term in which graduation is expected and when all grades have been received, the College will review the Graduation Application and "Approve" or "Deny" the Graduation Application as appropriate. Students who are "Denied" Graduation will be contacted by the CHASS Dean's office.
Transfer Credit Information
Students who transfer Communication credit(s) from other programs at other Colleges and Universities are subject to the NC State University Department of Communication's Residency Policy. Under this Policy, students may transfer a maximum of 12 hours of coursework in Communication, but no more than 6 hours of Communication coursework may be applied toward a particular Concentration. Students are advised to check the NCSU Transfer Equivalency List for already evaluated coursework. Communication coursework not on the Transfer Equivalency List may be reviewed on an individual basis by Departmental faculty. The Assistant Head for Advising will inform Transfer students when this is appropriate.
