Program Overview

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication is a comprehensive program designed to equip students with a deep understanding of communication principles, theories, and practices. The program is offered by the School of Communication at Virginia Tech.

Program Curriculum

The program curriculum is structured to provide students with a broad foundation in communication, including degree core requirements, major requirements, and major restricted electives.

• Degree Core Requirements:
  • COMM 1004: First-Semester Experience in Communication (1 credit)
  • COMM 1014: Introduction to Communication (3 credits)
  • COMM 2024: Media Writing (3 credits)
  • COMM 2084: Media and Society (3 credits)
  • COMM 2094: Communication and Issues of Diversity (3 credits)
  • COMM 2124: Introduction to Communication Research (3 credits)
  • COMM 4024: Communication Law (3 credits)
• Major Requirements:
  • CMST 2034: Visual Media (3 credits)
  • CMST 2064: The Tradition of Rhetoric and Societal Change (PATHWAY-2) (3 credits)
  • CMST 3064: Persuasion (3 credits)
  • CMST 3214: Professional Communication (PATHWAY-1A) (3 credits)
  • CMST 4714: Senior Seminar in Communication (3 credits)
  • COMM 3900: Bridge Experience (0 credits)
• Major Restricted Electives:
  • Students must choose two courses from one category and three courses from the other category, including at least one course at the 4000-level.
  • Theory Electives:
    • ADV 2134: Introduction to Health Communication (3 credits)
    • ADV 4324: Health Communication Campaigns (3 credits)
    • CMST 3124: Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)
    • CMST 3134: Public Advocacy (3 credits)
    • CMST 4224: (3 credits)
    • CMST 4244: Topics in Communication (3 credits)
    • JMC 2074: Introduction to Sports Media (3 credits)
    • JMC 3254: Media and Politics (3 credits)
    • JMC 4014: Media Effects (3 credits)
    • JMC 4264: Social Media Theory and Practice (3 credits)
    • JMC 4334: Communication Ethics (3 credits)
    • JMC 4374: (3 credits)
    • PR 2044: Principles of Public Relations (3 credits)
    • PR 3324: Corporate Communication (3 credits)
    • PR 4074: Organizational Communication (3 credits)
  • Application Electives:
    • CMST 3024: Digital Publishing (3 credits)
    • CMST 3074: (3 credits)
    • CMST 4174: Digital Advocacy Campaigns (3 credits)
    • CMST 4214: Web Content Management Strategies (3 credits)
    • COMM 4204: Communication Internship (1-6 credits)
    • ENGL 3844: Writing and Digital Media (3 credits)
    • ENGL 4804: Grant Proposals and Reports (3 credits)
    • ENGL 4814: Developing Online Content (3 credits)
    • JMC 1114: Introduction to Media Production Technology (3 credits)
    • JMC 4064: Social Media Analytics (3 credits)

Pathways to General Education

The program requires students to complete Pathways to General Education, which includes:

• Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse: COMM 1015 and COMM 1016 (6 credits)
• Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities: two courses (6 credits)
• Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences: two courses (6 credits)
• Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences: two courses (6 credits)
• Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking: two courses (6 credits) and one course (3 credits)
• Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts: one course (3 credits) and one course (3 credits)
• Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States: one course (3 credits)

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must complete a minimum of 120 credits, including:

• Core Degree Requirements (19 credits)
• Major Requirements (15 credits)
• Major Restricted Electives (15 credits)
• Pathways to General Education (45 credits)
• Minor and Electives (26 credits)
• Overall GPA of 2.0
• Major GPA of 2.0
• Courses taken in major to fulfill graduation requirements must be graded A-F (not pass/fail)

Foreign Language Requirement

Students must complete one of the following foreign language requirements:

• 2 years of single foreign or classical language or American Sign Language in middle or high school
• Credit by examination for a foreign or classical language or American Sign Language
• 6 college-level semester credits in a single foreign or classical language or American Sign Language (in addition to the 120 required for graduation)

Plan of Study Grid

The plan of study grid outlines the recommended course sequence for each semester.

Progress toward Degree

Students will be certified as making satisfactory progress toward a degree by meeting the following requirements:

• Completion of COMM 1004 within the first 3 classes (9 credits) in the major
• Completion of COMM 1014 within the first 6 classes (18 credits) in the major (minimum grade of C- required)
• Completion of COMM 2124 within the first 8 classes (24 credits) in the major
• Overall GPA of 2.0
• Major GPA of 2.0

Students who fall below 2.0 in their major coursework will have one semester to regain the required GPA standards. A student who fails to make satisfactory progress toward degree after that semester will be blocked from continuing in COMM or another School of Communication major.