Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Communication (B.A.)


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Program: B.A.
Department of Communication  
College of Liberal Arts

Neff Hall 230 ~ 260-481-6825


The Department of Communication strives to prepare undergraduate and graduate students to be critically engaged citizens.  Our program of study develops students’ theoretical, technological, and rhetorical skills needed to achieve their professional and personal goals.  Moreover, the interdisciplinary nature of our department reflects the complexity of a world facing challenges best addressed by skilled communicators.


Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this degree, students will:

  • Articulate the historical traditions of the discipline
  • Demonstrate an awareness and skillful use of the use of new technologies relevant to their major
  • Explain communication concepts and theories relevant to the major.
  • Explain, evaluate and apply the processes involved in productive conflict in the contexts (interpersonal, small group, organizational, mediated, public) relevant to their major
  • Demonstrate awareness of diverse perspectives
  • Read, speak, write and listen competently
  • Demonstrate the ability to be a critically engaged citizen

Program Delivery:

  • This program is available on-campus

Declaring this Major:

General Requirements:

Program Requirements:

  • A grade of C- or higher in all department courses required for the major, and for courses in the minor; and an overall GPA of 2.00 or higher for courses required in the major, the minor, and the concentration.
  • A concentration in one of four areas is required.  Links to these concentrations are in the Area of Concentration section below.
  • A minor in an appropriate discipline or a second major outside the department is required  (Information for minors and majors can be found in the Program Descriptions  section in this Catalog).
  • Up to two courses in the major offered through the Department of Communication can be counted in the required minor.
  • Students in the Journalism concentration and the Media Production and/or the Public Relations minor may count up to three departmental courses in their major toward their minor.
  • The Public Relations minor requires three credit hours of Internship.
  • COM 32300 is not available for credit toward any Communication major or minor.

In addition to the General Requirements noted above, to earn the B.A. with a major in Communication you must:

  • fulfill the following core requirements
  • choose and fulfill the requirements of a concentration listed in the Area of Concentration section below

General Education Requirements: Credits 33


  • Click on the Purdue Fort Wayne General Education Requirements link above for details
  • Some majors may require particular General Education courses as specified in their program description.  Up to six credits of approved General Education courses satisfying requirements in Areas A and B, and three credits satisfying requirements in Area C, may originate in the major.  A grade of C- or higher in each course, and an overall GPA of 2.0 is required to satisfy the Purdue Fort Wayne General Education Requirements.

College of Liberal Arts Course Requirements


Click on the PFW College of Liberal Arts link above for detailed information on college requirements.

Introduction to the Liberal Arts: Credits 3


International Language: Credits 12


You must complete two courses at the first-year level and two courses at the second-year level in a single international language or in American Sign Language (or demonstrate equivalent proficiency).  Click on the PFW College of Liberal Arts link above for more details.

Thematic Requirements: Credits 15


Students will take one course in each of these five areas to ensure that they have an opportunity to deepen their traditional liberal arts education while also preparing for a culturally diverse, technologically advanced, and increasingly globalized and complex world:

  1. Gender, Sexuality, Race, and/or Ethnicity:  Credits 3
  2. Conflict and Cooperation:  Credits 3
  3. Institutions and Behavior:  Credits 3
  4. Regional/Geographic Study:  Credits 3
  5. Digital Humanities/Public Humanities:  Credits 3
     

List of Courses and Stipulations for the COLA Thematic Requirements  

Core and Concentration Courses


General Electives


  • Sufficient additional credits to bring the total to 120.

Total Credits: 120


Student Responsibility


You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program.  Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career.  If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean. 

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