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Academic Plan

Students writing in an English class

The communication major offers you a choice of two concentrations: oral or written communication.

Oral concentration

The oral concentration is ideal for students considering careers in human resources, human relations, organizational consulting, public relations, promotion and advertising, management, sales and a wide range of other positions within organizations.

Students who choose this concentration work closely with faculty to design their concentration. Speech communication courses blend the traditions of rhetoric with contemporary communication theory to provide you with critical-thinking, speaking and listening skills necessary to become a successful and responsible leader.

Written concentration

Many students who plan to pursue careers in public relations, writing, publishing, education, management, banking, medicine and law, or found their own businesses choose the communication major with a written communication concentration.

Students who choose the written concentration work with an advisor from the English Department in designing their program and take writing and literature courses offered by the English Department.

These courses provide students with opportunities to integrate the critical-thinking, reading and writing skills required for ethical leadership.

Course plan

Below is a sample course sequence. Upon admission, you will work with an adviser to tailor your courses to fit your individual needs.

  • ENGL 2000: Writing: Developing Skill and Confidence or ENGL 3060: Intermediate Writing
  • COMM 1030: Speaking to Lead and Influence
  • COMM 3090: Communication in Organizations
  • PHIL 3300: Ethics in Communication
  • ENGL: English literature course
  • ENGL 2200: Intro. to Literary Theory & Research
  • ENGL: Three courses in writing (two courses must be 3000-level or above)
  • ENGL: English language course
  • COMM: One additional oral communcation course
  • Portfolio requirement (consult the English Department)
  • COMM 2020: Communication Dynamics in Personal Relationships or COMM 3100: Communicating Across Cultures, Identities and Difference
  • COMM 2090: Communication and Conflict in Groups & Teams or COMM 3100 or COMM 3600: Leadership and the Art of Persuasion
  • COMM 2050: Media, Culture and Society or COMM 3030: Rhetoric, Civic Participation and Social Justice or COMM 3070: Gender & Rhetoric
  • COMM: Two additional oral communication courses
  • ENGL: One additional English course

One additional course from:

  • INDI 2090: Promotional Communication
  • COMM 4060: Internship
  • COMM 4954: Independent Study

For detailed course descriptions, visit the courses page.

Portfolio requirement

If you choose the written concentration, you begin developing a portfolio as soon as you declare your intent to major and are assigned an adviser. The portfolio allows you to assess your own intellectual growth and offer a means for assessing your ability to read and write critically, analytically, creatively and professionally.

Writing requirements

Communication majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing ENGL 2000: Writing: Developing Skill and Confidence. You complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with three other writing intensive courses (CORE 1000: The Reflective Woman and CORE 3990: Global Search for Justice, and any other writing-intensive course in this major or another department).