Program Overview

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Communication Studies - B.A.

Overview

Communication is the backbone of 21st century society and the modern economy — the driving force behind community action, societal change and many business endeavors. Whether you are interested in social media, digital communications/marketing, fundraising, human resources or any other field, with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, you’ll master the skill employers consistently rank as most important in the workforce: effective communication. This program provides a foundation for success in careers across government, business, nonprofits and beyond.

About This Program

The Communication Studies major comprises the following concentrations (both of which are offered in-person or fully online):

• The Applied Communication concentration allows students to gain expertise in organizational communication, advanced presentational speaking, professional writing and visual design. Students combine theoretical knowledge and technical skills while mastering professional tasks such as conducting training seminars, creating web content, designing promotional materials, managing communication campaigns and writing press releases.
• The Communication Studies–General concentration features flexibility and choice. Students create a personalized plan of study tailored to their specific academic interests and career goals in areas such as global and intercultural communication, advocacy, social media, corporate communication and workplace consulting, presentational and motivational speaking, campaign design and more. This concentration is appropriate for those who have diverse academic interests. It permits students to take courses across the schools in the College of Communication and Information and provides space for electives that students could use to pursue a minor in another discipline.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

• First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework.
• First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program.
• Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.
• Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

• COMM 15000: INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) - 3 credit hours
• COMM 26000: CRITICISM OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE (DIVD) (KHUM) - 3 credit hours
• COMM 34000: DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN COMMUNICATION (WIC) - 3 credit hours
• COMM 45092: INTERNSHIP IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES (ELR) - 3 credit hours
• EMAT 10310: MY STORY ON THE WEB - 3 credit hours
• Communication Studies (COMM) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) - 6 credit hours
• College of Communication and Information Core Electives - 9 credit hours
• Kent Core Composition - 6 credit hours
• Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) - 9 credit hours
• Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) - 6 credit hours
• Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) - 6-7 credit hours
• Kent Core Additional - 3 credit hours
• General Electives - 38 credit hours

Applied Communication Concentration Requirements

• COMM 35864: ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION - 3 credit hours
• COMM 45807: HIGH IMPACT PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING - 3 credit hours
• VCD 47000: VISUAL DESIGN FOR MEDIA - 3 credit hours
• Communication and Information Interdisciplinary Electives - 6 credit hours
• Additional Concentration Elective - 3 credit hours

Communication Studies-General Concentration Requirements

• Communication Studies (COMM) Electives - 6 credit hours
• Communication Studies (COMM) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) - 12 credit hours

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum Major GPA: 2.000
• Minimum Overall GPA: 2.000

University Requirements

• Flashes 101 (UC 10001) - 1 credit hour
• Diversity Domestic/Global (DIVD/DIVG) - 2 courses
• Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) - varies
• Kent Core (see table below) - 36-37 credit hours
• Writing-Intensive Course (WIC) - 1 course
• Upper-Division Requirement - 39 credit hours
• Total Credit Hour Requirement - 120 credit hours

Kent Core Requirements

• Kent Core Composition (KCMP) - 6 credit hours
• Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR) - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (min one course each) - 9 credit hours
• Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (must be from two disciplines) - 6 credit hours
• Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (must include one laboratory) - 6-7 credit hours
• Kent Core Additional (KADL) - 6 credit hours
• Total Credit Hours: 36-37

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Display competence in verbal, nonverbal and written communication.
2. Advocate courses of action to stimulate improved decision-making.
3. Influence others through demonstrated presentational speaking skills.
4. Communicate ethically.
5. Foster inclusive dialogues and tailor messages that respect diversity, empower others and bring about social change.
6. Articulate creative, effective and evidenced-based solutions to communication problems.
7. Coordinate action, solve problems, foster well-being, engage in critical thinking and participate in civic life.
8. Communicate effectively in a technological, multicultural and global society to bring about meaningful social change.
9. Apply information and media literacy in an effective and ethical manner.

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• Street Address: 800 E. Summit St., Kent, OH 44240
• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH
• Contact Us: www.kent.edu

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Roadmaps

Applied Communication Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester One

• COMM 15000: INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) - 3 credit hours
• UC 10001: FLASHES 101 - 1 credit hour
• College of Communication and Information Core Electives - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 16

Semester Two

• COMM 26000: CRITICISM OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE (DIVD) (KHUM) - 3 credit hours
• College of Communication and Information Core Electives - 3 credit hours
• Communication and Information Interdisciplinary Electives - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 15

Semester Three

• Communication Studies (COMM) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) - 3 credit hours
• Communication and Information Interdisciplinary Electives - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 15

Semester Four

• VCD 47000: VISUAL DESIGN FOR MEDIA - 3 credit hours
• College of Communication and Information Core Electives - 3 credit hours
• Additional Concentration Elective - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 15

Semester Five

• EMAT 10310: MY STORY ON THE WEB - 3 credit hours
• Communication Studies (COMM) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• General Electives - 6 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 15

Semester Six

• COMM 34000: DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN COMMUNICATION (WIC) - 3 credit hours
• General Electives - 12 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 15

Semester Seven

• COMM 35864: ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION - 3 credit hours
• COMM 45807: HIGH IMPACT PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING - 3 credit hours
• General Electives - 9 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 15

Semester Eight

• COMM 45092: INTERNSHIP IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES (ELR) - 3 credit hours
• General Electives - 11 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 14
• Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

Communication Studies-General Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester One

• COMM 15000: INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) - 3 credit hours
• UC 10001: FLASHES 101 - 1 credit hour
• College of Communication and Information Core Elective - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 16

Semester Two

• COMM 26000: CRITICISM OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE (DIVD) (KHUM) - 3 credit hours
• Communication Studies (COMM) Elective - 3 credit hours
• College of Communication and Information Core Elective - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 15

Semester Three

• Communication Studies (COMM) Elective - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• General Elective - 3 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 15

Semester Four

• Communication Studies (COMM) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) - 3 credit hours
• College of Communication and Information Core Elective - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• General Elective - 3 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 15

Semester Five

• EMAT 10310: MY STORY ON THE WEB - 3 credit hours
• Communication Studies (COMM) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) - 3 credit hours
• Kent Core Requirement - 3 credit hours
• General Electives - 6 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 15

Semester Six

• COMM 34000: DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN COMMUNICATION (WIC) - 3 credit hours
• Communication Studies (COMM) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) - 3 credit hours
• General Electives - 9 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 15

Semester Seven

• Communication Studies (COMM) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) - 6 credit hours
• General Electives - 9 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 15

Semester Eight

• COMM 45092: INTERNSHIP IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES (ELR) - 3 credit hours
• Communication Studies (COMM) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) - 3 credit hours
• General Electives - 8 credit hours
• Credit Hours: 14
• Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120