Requirements for the Major

Requirements for the major and an example of a typical program are listed below:

Introductory Courses:

All communication courses are three credits, except CM 423 , which is one credit.

All communication and media majors are required to take the following three courses, normally completed by the end of sophomore year. In addition, they are also required to take the appropriate pathway course.

• CM 201 - Media Writing
• CM 202 - Digital Tools
• CM 203 - Introduction to Communication

Intermediate Courses:

Majors must take a combination of eight 300- and 400-level communication courses, one of which must be Diversity-Justice designated communication course, and at least three courses in one specialization. Majors may choose a second specialization (see Notes below).

General Communication Courses

• CM 302 - Free Speech, Free Expression
• CM 303 - Media Ethics
• CM 305 - Media and the Political Process
• CM 306 - Popular Culture in America
• CM 310 - Public Speaking
• CM 314 - Communication Research
• CM 317 - Social Media for Social Justice
• CM 321 - Mobile Media and UX Design
• CM 325 - Social Media and Culture
• CM 330 - Stereotypes in U.S. Media
• CM 342 - Media, Culture, and Society
• CM 347 - The Documentary Tradition
• CM 366 - Voice and Speech
• CM 368 - Entertainment, Media, and Politics
• CM 380 - Advanced Study in Communication
• CM 385 - Special Topics in Communication
• CM 394 - Research Experience
• CM 411 - Exploring Digital Culture
• CM 421 - Communication Internship (150 Hours)
• CM 423 - Communication Internship (50 Hours)

• 
  Senior Capstone Course: Students must take one senior capstone course in their specialization for which all prerequisites are met.

• CM 400 - Senior Capstone in Multimedia Journalism
• CM 401 - Senior Capstone in Digital Media
• CM 403 - Senior Capstone in Advertising
• CM 404 - Senior Capstone in Public Relations

Typical Program

A typical program of courses for a major are as follows:

Notes:

1. Communication and media majors must choose one specialization (Advertising/PR, Journalism, or Digital Media) composed of the appropriate 300-level pathway course (CM 307  or CM 308 ), three 300-level courses within their specialization, and the 400-level senior capstone course in that specialization for which the prerequisites have been met.
2. Communication and media majors may choose a second specialization composed of the appropriate 300-level pathway course (CM 307  or CM 308 ) and three 300-level courses within that specialization. Double specialization majors need to take only one senior capstone course, under the specialization of their choosing, as long as the prerequisites have been met.
3. Communication and media majors may choose a second specialization in Media & Society composed of four appropriate 300-level courses within that specialization. This specialization must be taken along with an Advertising/PR, Journalism, or Digital Media specialization.
4. Communication and media majors must take one CM 300-level Diversity-Justice designated course as part of the 13 overall communication courses required for the major. This course will fulfill one of the university's two required Diversity-Justice courses. This course may also fulfill a communication specialization requirement.
5. Advertising/PR students are encouraged to minor in Marketing or Business. Digital Media students are encouraged to minor in Fine Arts. Journalism students are encouraged to minor in Writing.
6. Students are urged to consider Statistics (ST 110 ) as their math core course, if appropriate to their skills and interests.
7. Photojournalism students should choose either a Communication major and a Visual Arts minor with a Photography concentration, or a Visual Arts major with a Photography concentration and a Communication and Media minor.
8. Two, three-credit internships may be counted toward the graduation requirement. A one-credit internship does not count toward the graduation requirement.
9. Students must complete the Diversity-Justice requirement by completing two Diversity-Justice designated courses anywhere in their curriculum (see Diversity-Justice Requirement​ under Curriculum and Policies).