BA/BS in Communication and Media Studies

The Communication major gives students a broad grounding in what communication is, the many forms it takes, and the social, cultural and cognitive effects it produces. Courses connect theory to everyday life, from family and community relationships to roles within organizations. Prospective students are advised to study English composition in high school, along with civics, history and economics, and to be comfortable with computers. Community college transfers may bring in a limited number of lower-division communication units if the grades are strong enough. Courses for the major, including preparation courses, require a C or better, and a set amount of upper-division work must be completed at the university itself. Prospective students can consult the 2026-2027 catalog entry published by the university for the full list of required courses, special conditions and learning outcomes, and should plan their sequence of study with a departmental advisor so that every requirement is completed in a sensible order and nothing is missed along the way, whichever term they begin.