Communication, B.A.

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Students must complete the Oakland University General Education Requirements, General College of Arts and Sciences requirements , College of Arts and Sciences Exploratory requirement , Major Requirements, and an appropriate number of free elective classes to meet the overall credit requirement for the degree (in most cases a minimum of 124; some degrees may require a greater number).

As a general rule, no more than eight credits of coursework used to satisfy one major, minor or concentration may be applied toward another, but exceptions to this rule may be allowed with the written approval of the program coordinators.

Schedule of Classes

Specific offerings for each semester may be found in the Schedule of Classes.

General Education Requirements

In order to graduate on-schedule without taking additional courses, it is highly recommended that students meet with an Undergraduate Academic Adviser concerning the selection of all of their general education courses.

Each candidate for an Oakland University baccalaureate will need to satisfactorily complete approved courses in each of the following areas: Foundation, Exploration, Integration, Writing, U.S. Diversity and Capstone. For details, refer to the General Education Requirements section of the catalog.

Requirements for the liberal arts major in communication, B.A.

The major in communication combines theory and practice and emphasizes how people analyze and make responsible choices in diverse communication contexts. Students develop critical perspectives in order to evaluate different communication approaches. Students, as communicators, learn to choose the effect their actions have on others. They learn also to choose their roles as citizens in a democratic community. This responsibility requires that they gain an appreciation for humans across our varied differences, and respect human differences among cultures, social groups, genders and individuals, and that they create an ethical voice for building personal and public relationships.

To earn the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in communication, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits, of which 20 credits must be at the 3000 level or above, at least eight (8) of which must be at the 4000 level (capstone counts as one of the 4000 level courses) plus corequisite language courses.

The requirements include:

1. Required core courses (must be completed with a grade of (C) or higher)

COM 1000 - Introduction to Communication Studies (4)
COM 3300 - Communication, Culture, and Belonging (4)

Plus one course in public address (must be completed with a grade of (C) or higher)

COM 2000 - Public Speaking (4)
COM 2001 - Professional Communication (4) (may satisfy the requirement either for public address or for the organizational communication group, but not both)

And one course in theory (must be completed with a grade of (C) or higher)

COM 3000 - Relational Communication Theory (4) (may satisfy the requirement either for theory or for the relational group, but not both)
COM 3002 - Cultural Theory in Communication (4) (may satisfy the requirement either for theory or for the culture and communication group, but not both)
COM 3201 - Rhetorical Theory (4) (may satisfy the requirement either for theory or for the Advocacy and Social Influence Group, but not both)
COM 3202 - Discourse Theory (4) (may satisfy the requirement either for theory or for the Advocacy and Social Influence Group, but not both)

2. Capstone requirement - choose one (must be completed with a grade of (C) or higher)

COM 4950 - Internship (4) (may satisfy the requirement either for capstone or for the practicum group, but not both)
COM 4970 - Communication Capstone (4)

3. Distribution courses (choose two courses from any of the five following groups, no two courses can be from the same group)

4. The remaining credits must be satisfied with communication electives (COM courses); one course may be from JMS or PR

5. Language Corequisite (select one of the following)

1. An introductory two-semester sequence in a modern foreign language, OR one
semester of a modern foreign language at the 1150 level or higher or American sign
language at the 1501 level or higher. (4 credits of which will satisfy university
general education language requirement.)

2. Students who have taken either LIN 1101 or LIN 1181 to satisfy the university
general education requirement in language and culture may take either COM 3201
or COM 3202 to satisfy this corequisite.

Additional program information

Communication majors interested in careers in public relations or advertising are encouraged to minor in public relations or advertising. (See the Journalism Program section of this catalog.)
Communication majors may not minor in relational communication or interactive and social media.