For students beginning major Fall 2021 or later:

Bachelor of Arts — Communication

All students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Communication must complete the requirements listed below. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h. Current WIU students must be in good standing (2.0 GPA or higher) to declare a major in Communication.

The BA degree in Communication is designed to allow maximum flexibility for students to pursue their own interests within the framework of the program. Some students may choose to focus their coursework in depth on central areas such as interpersonal communication, organizational communication or persuasion, while others may decide to pursue a broader and more eclectic understanding of communication by taking courses purely based upon their interests at the time.

Core Courses

There are four required core courses:

COMM 130, Introduction to Human Communication
COMM 247, Argumentation
COMM 311, Quantitative Research Methods in Communication
COMM 344, Interpersonal Communication

Communication Electives

Students will complete 30 semester hours (10 classes) of Communication courses of their choice based upon their personal interests and career goals. At least three of these courses (9 s.h.) must be completed at the 400-level.

For students beginning major prior to Fall 2021:

Bachelor of Arts — Communication

All students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Communication must complete one of the Options listed below. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h. Current WIU students must be in good standing (2.0 GPA or higher) to declare a major in Communication.

Core Courses

There are five required core courses:

COMM 130, Introduction to Human Communication
COMM 247, Argumentation
COMM 309, Communication Theory
COMM 310, Qualitative Research Methods in Communication
COMM 311, Quantitative Research Methods in Communication

Options (Choose One):

A.  Communication Studies (27 s.h.)

1. Comprehensive Electives - Students must choose three of the following courses (9 s.h.):
   COMM 343 (Organizational Communication)
   COMM 344 (Interpersonal Communication)
   COMM 356 (Persuasion)
   COMM 312 (Rhetorical Criticism)
2. Advanced Theory Electives - Students must choose one of the following 400-level courses (3 s.h.):
   COMM 410 (Advanced Interpersonal Communication)
   COMM 413 (Advanced Organizational Communication)
   COMM 441 (Rhetoric and Public Culture)
   COMM 457 (Social Influence)
3. General Communication Electives - (6 s.h.)
4. Applied Communication Electives - Students must choose three of the following (9 s.h.):
   COMM 235 (Communicating in Small Groups)
   COMM 305 (Interviewing)
   COMM 314 (Professional Presentations)
   COMM 341 (Small Group Communication)
   COMM 409 (Conflict Management)
   COMM 413 (Advanced Organizational Communication)
   COMM 425 (Health Communication)
   COMM 430 (Communication Training & Development)
   COMM 456 (Persuasive Campaigns)
   COMM 496 (Internship)

B.  Interpersonal Communication & Processes (27 s.h.; Macomb campus only)

1. Interpersonal Sequence (9 s.h.):
   COMM 344 (Interpersonal Communication)
   COMM 377 (Nonverbal Communication)
   COMM 410 (Advanced Interpersonal Communication)
2. Directed Electives (9 s.h.; Choose three of the following):
   COMM 235 (Communicating in Small Groups)
   COMM 315 (Gender and Communication)
   COMM 330 (Language and Communication)
   COMM 345 (Computer-Mediated Communication)
   COMM 356 (Persuasion)
   COMM 409 (Conflict Management)
   COMM 428 (Family Communication)
   COMM 425 (Health Communication)
3. Communication Electives: (9 s.h.)

C. Social Influence (27 s.h.; Macomb campus only)

1. Social Influence Sequence (9 s.h.):
   COMM 356 (Persuasion)
   COMM 456 (Persuasive Campaigns)
   COMM 457 (Social Influence)
2. Directed Electives (9 s.h.; Choose three of the following):
   COMM 312 (Rhetorical Criticism)
   COMM 314 (Professional Presentations)
   COMM 344 (Interpersonal Communication)
   COMM 377 (Nonverbal Communication)
   COMM 409 (Conflict Management)
   COMM 425 (Health Communication)
   COMM 441 (Rhetoric and Public Culture)
3. Communication Electives: (9 s.h.)

D.  Organizational Communication (27 s.h.; Macomb campus only)

1. Organizational Communication Sequence (9 s.h.):
   COMM 343 (Organizational Communication)
   COMM 413 (Advanced Organizational Communication)
   COMM 430 (Communication Training and Development)
2. Directed Electives (9 s.h.; Choose three of the following):
   COMM 235 (Communicating in Small Groups)
   COMM 305 (Interviewing)
   COMM 314 (Professional Presentations)
   COMM 344 (Interpersonal Communication)
   COMM 381 (Intercultural Communication)
   COMM 409 (Conflict Management)
   COMM 496 (Internship)
3. Communication Electives: (9 s.h.)