StudyQA — Bachelor: Communication

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Description Contents Requirements Funding

The Department of Communication offers a 33-credit undergraduate major in Communication that prepares you to engage practically and intellectually with these contemporary challenges. Our Communication (COMM) major focuses on the nature, diversity and impact of communication on the evolution of the individual, group and institutions within society. In business, government, civil society and personal relationships, we are continually called upon to be competent communicators. We are expected to foster collaborative and civil discourse, cope with conflict, elicit and share information, and make clear and persuasive presentations of ideas and concerns.

As mentioned, the major requires completion of 33 credits of coursework in Communication: 5 courses (15 credits) in core areas and 6 courses (18) credits in the student's areas of interest in communication.

Upon successful completion of the Communication Major, students should be able to demonstrate:

Understanding of fundamental communication perspectives, theories and concepts
Ability to use communication theories and concepts to analyze human behavior (including interpersonal, family, group, health, organizational or mediated settings)
Proficiency in gathering and using evidence to study and understand communication processes and consequences (including asking questions and systematically attempting to answer them, understanding the value and limitations of the research processes and conclusions)
Competency in written and oral communication in varied settings (including interpersonal, family, group, health, organizational or mediated settings)
Ability to apply communication theories and concepts to social and professional life (including issues of diversity, ethics and civic engagement)

Students majoring in communication are required to earn 33 credits at the School of Communication and Information, including the prerequisite survey requirement of 04:189:101 Introduction to Communication and Information Processes (3) required before admission to the major. Requirements for the remaining credits include:

Interdisciplinary Requirement (3 credits):
Either

04:189:102 Introduction to Media Systems and Processes (3) or
04:189:103 Information Technology and Informatics (3)

Core Requirements (12 credits):

04:192:200 Communication Theory (3)
04:192:201 Communication in Relationships (3)
04:192:300 Communication Research (3)
At least one of
04:192:354 Mediated Communication (3) or
04:192:355 Interpersonal Communication (3) or
04:192:357 Organizational Communication (3) or
04:192:359 Persuasion (3)

Upper-Level Courses (15 credits):
Student elective upper-level courses may include all 300- and 400-level courses, and must include at least two 400 level courses. Courses 04:192:491,492 Independent Study in Communication (3) and 04:192:495 Applied Study in Communication (3) may not be used to fulfill this or the total credit requirement in the major. Students should check the communication website or undergraduate handbook to determine prerequisites for 300 and 400 level courses.

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all communication courses in order for those courses to count toward the major.

Specialization

The Department of Communication offers four optional areas of specialization:

Health and Wellness Communication
Leadership in Organizations and Community
Relationship and Family Communication
Strategic Public Communication and Public Relations

Each specialization is offered as an 18-credit program that includes theory-based and practice-based courses taught by leading scholars and industry professionals. The specializations are designed to provide essential knowledge of communication methods and techniques and help students build the necessary skills to start a career that is right for them. Specializations are open to communication majors. Students can earn more than one specialization [as long as they satisfy all requirements]. Specialization course credits will apply toward satisfying degree requirements in the major. A total of six courses (18 credits) are required for each specialization. There is no need to apply for or declare the specialization. The specialization will be listed on your transcript by successfully completing with a C or better for all selected and required courses from the approved list under each specialization. Students should request a verification of their specializations in the semester they graduate in order for the specialization to appear on the transcript.

No course substitutions are permitted unless the department has approved a new course/special topics course for a specialization. Students must follow the same rules for enrolling in a course as any student not in a specialization (e.g., all prerequisites apply).

Internship

The department encourages students to pursue internship experiences that complement their studies and potential career choices. Students must be accepted into the communication major in order to enroll in the internship. Students may apply up to 3 internship course credits toward their upper-division course electives in the major. Additional internship credits may be earned but do not apply to the communication major. Note that each four-year school in the university sets its own limits regarding the number of experiential credits a student may apply toward graduation.

Interested students must meet each of the following minimum requirements in order to submit an application to any SC&I major:

You must have already COMPLETED Expository Writing (01:355:101) at Rutgers University or an exact equivalent course with a grade of C or better; AND
You must have already COMPLETED at least 15 credits at Rutgers, or at least 15 transfer credits to Rutgers, with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA; AND
You must have already COMPLETED the required course for the major of your choice with a grade of C or better:

For Communication Major applicants, the required prerequisite survey course is 04:189:101 Introduction to Communication and Information Processes

For Journalism & Media Studies Major applicants, the required prerequisite survey course is 04:189:102 Introduction to Media (formerly Introduction to Media Systems and Processes).

For Information Technology & Informatics Major applicants, the required prerequisite survey course is 04:189:103 Information Technology and Informatics

Please note that meeting our minimums does not guarantee admission to a major.

Our application to the major is relatively simple to complete. Log in to the application below; complete some basic information about yourself; and complete a one page essay. (The essay question asks you to explain why you are interested in the major and what you project yourself doing after you graduate with your bachelor's degree from Rutgers. Your essay should be a maximum of one page.) When we receive your application online we will get copies of your transcripts from the Registrar's Office. If you are a transfer student, we will obtain any required transfer transcripts from Undergraduate Admissions.

Our application is available online from the beginning of each semester until the application deadline for the semester. It is important that you "SUBMIT" your application once you have completed it in entirety, as our admissions committee will not be able to review applications that are not 'submitted'.