Communication, Bachelor of Arts (6003)
Program Coordinator
Holly J. Payne, holly.payne@wku.edu, (270) 745-5876
The Communication major prepares students to understand and apply communication theories and concepts that explain human interaction across contexts and provides students a platform for understanding the diverse ways communication creates, maintains, and transforms relationships, organizations, institutions, and society. Communication graduates possess strong interpersonal, writing, and critical-thinking skills, which are highly valued in a wide array of fields. Therefore, they have the flexibility to explore diverse career paths and industries according to their interests and specialties. Recent graduates hold positions in Corporate Communication, Sales, Nonprofit Management, Social Media Management, Digital Content Creation, and Employee Relations.
Students will complete a set of core courses covering different aspects of the discipline including organizational, interpersonal, and intercultural communication. Additionally, students select courses on message strategies such as persuasion and crisis communication, specialized contexts such as health, sport, and leadership, and other electives tailored to different interests and career goals.
Program Requirements (39 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
A minor, certificate, or second major outside of the department is required.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational Study in Communication * | 9 | |
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Communication | ||
| Communication Foundations | ||
| Introduction to Applied Communication Research | ||
or PS 302 | Research Design in Political Science | |
or SOCL 302 | Social Research Methods | |
or COMM 321 | Communications Analytics in Public Relations and Advertising | |
| Core Competencies * | 18 | |
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Persuasion | ||
or COMM 345 | Advanced Presentational Speaking | |
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Capstone in Communication | ||
| Communication in Specialized Contexts * | 6 | |
| Sport Communication | ||
| Leadership Communication | ||
| Advanced Presentational Speaking | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Interracial Communication | ||
| Crisis Communication | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Communication in the Digital Age | ||
| Communication in Multinational Organizations | ||
| Special Topics in Communication | ||
| Study Abroad in Communication | ||
| Advanced Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Advanced Organizational Communication | ||
| Advanced Intercultural Communication | ||
| Organizational Relationships | ||
| Internship in Communication | ||
| Independent Study in Communication | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
| Digital Tools | ||
| Advertising in a Digital World | ||
| Branding | ||
| Digital Video Production and Distribution | ||
| Survey of Electronic Media Writing | ||
| Introduction to Digital Texts and Media | ||
or ENG 212 | Introduction to Digital Texts and Media | |
| Effective Listening | ||
| Voice and Diction | ||
| Communications Analytics in Public Relations and Advertising | ||
| Sport Communication | ||
| Leadership Communication | ||
| Advanced Presentational Speaking | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Interracial Communication | ||
| Crisis Communication | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Communication in the Digital Age | ||
| Communication in Multinational Organizations | ||
| Special Topics in Communication | ||
| Study Abroad in Communication | ||
| Advanced Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Advanced Organizational Communication | ||
| Advanced Intercultural Communication | ||
| Organizational Relationships | ||
| Internship in Communication | ||
| Independent Study in Communication | ||
| Creative Writing | ||
| Argument and Analysis in Written Discourse | ||
| Business Writing | ||
| Cultural Diversity in the U S | ||
| Cultural Connections and Diversity | ||
| Introduction to News Writing | ||
| Multiplatform News Presentation | ||
| Leadership Theory and Application | ||
| Leading Change | ||
| Leadership Ethics and Decision-Making | ||
| Organization and Management | ||
| Business Communication Fundamentals | ||
| Human Resource Management | ||
| Management of Nonprofit Organizations | ||
| Business Negotiation | ||
| Basic Marketing Concepts | ||
| Personal Selling | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Relations | ||
| Minority Politics | ||
| Women and Politics | ||
| The Psychology of Sales Behavior | ||
| Industrial / Organizational Psychology | ||
| Social Institutions: Race, Class, and Gender | ||
| Diversity in American Society | ||
| Media Diversity | ||
| Total Hours | 39 | |
- *
A grade of C or above is required in all courses within the Foundational Study, Core Competencies, and Specialized Contexts Categories
Finish in Four Plan - Communication Studies (6003)
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENG 100 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| MATH 109 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| World Lanuage, if needed OR General Elective | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/lab | 3 |
| Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences | 3 | General Elective/2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| COMM 200 | 3 | COMM 300 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Explorations (Social & Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | COMM 348 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Explorations (Natural/Physical Sciences) | 3 | COMM 365 | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| COMM 349 | 3 | COMM 346 or COMM 345 | 3 |
| COMM 362 | 3 | COMM in Specialized Contexts Elective | 3 |
| Colonnade: Natural/Physical Sciences (Must have 1 with lab) | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | Colonnade: Systems | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| COMM in Specialized Contexts Elective | 3 | COMM 494 | 3 |
| 3 | Communication Elective | 3 | |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | 3 | |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||