The Communication Department offers a strong and varied major for students interested in careers in communication, convergent media, theater, and secondary education. In addition, students develop the ability to think clearly, interpret data, and communicate results using a variety of media. These skills are essential for other fields including business management and marketing.
Communication majors have the opportunity to take literature courses in addition to communication courses because the richness of insight and quality of literary writing may serve as inspiration and models for the students' own thought and writing.
An extensive internship and co-op program encourages all students to work during several semesters or summers at the many communication organizations in the Philadelphia area. Students have worked at most of the Philadelphia newspapers, radio, and television stations, as well as at many theaters and ad agencies and companies seeking well-prepared writers in public relations, advertising and technical writing.
Students may be certified in secondary education and prepared to teach in high school or may choose to go on to graduate or law school.
| Requirements for the major in Communication |
| View core curriculum requirements (34-48 credits). |
| Required Courses |
CREDITS |
| COM 101 |
Introduction to Media Communication |
3 |
| COM 472 |
Senior Convergence: Media for Social Justice |
3 |
|
or |
|
| COM 474 and 475 |
Senior Honors Convergence Sequence |
6 |
| COM |
Communications electives |
27-30 |
COM 103, 203,
303, 403 |
Professional Development Program |
4 |
|
Electives, selected from any department(s) |
20-36 |
|
Total credits for major |
40 |
*MINOR: The Communication program offers a minor in communication made up of 18 credits of communication courses. Students wishing to minor in communication are encouraged to consult the department to design a program.
Communication Professional Development Program: In addition to course requirements, students in the department are expected to fulfill the requirements of the Department’s Professional Development Program. This four-year program provides majors with individualized career guidance and sets career development goals for each year. All majors are required to register for COM 103 both semesters in their first year, COM 203 both semesters sophomore year, COM 303 both semesters junior year and COM 403 both semesters senior year. The program is fully explained online in BBVista for COM 103, 203, 303, and 403.
Cooperative Education and Internship: Three credits of cooperative education or internship may be applied toward fulfilling major requirements in communication.
Concentrations
Students should study the available concentrations to aid them in selecting courses.
Special Requirements
A QPA of 2.33 is required in communication for the major or minor. No course with a grade of 'D+' or lower is counted toward the major.