Communication Studies, BA

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Communication and Media Studies is a high-demand major. On-campus change of majors are limited by the number of students who can be served by the faculty and facilities of the program.

Major Core: All students complete 24 units of required coursework.
Major Skill: All students complete 4 units of skill coursework.
Major Outlet: All students complete 8 units of media outlet coursework.
Major Electives: All students complete 8 units of COMS elective coursework.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students should be able to:

Improve written, oral, and multimedia communication skills
Practice collaborative learning and leadership skills
Critically analyze media messages and understand media theory, research, law, and ethics
Demonstrate a practical skill related to a media industry
Integrate and apply academic skills in experiential learning

Degree Requirements

See the “Degree Requirements ” in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.

General Education Requirements (48 units)

See the “General Education Program ” requirements in the University Catalog for information on General Education requirements. Some major requirements may double count for GE requirements.

Core Courses

(24 Units Required)

COMS 200 - Principles of Media Communication Unit(s): 4 OR
COMS 160A - Humanities Learning Community Unit(s): 4
AND
COMS 160B - Humanities Learning Community Unit(s): 4
COMS 202 - Methods of Media Criticism Unit(s): 4 OR
COMS 162A - Humanities Learning Community Media Literacy Unit(s): 4
AND
COMS 162B - Humanities Learning Community Media Literacy Unit(s): 4
COMS 301 - Media Theory and Research Unit(s): 4 OR
CINE 301 - World Cinema History & Theory Unit(s): 4
COMS 302 - Media Ethics and Law Unit(s): 4
COMS 402 - Senior Seminar Unit(s): 4
COMS 499 - Media Internship Unit(s): 1-4 (4 Unit(s) Required)

Skill Courses

(4 units required - additional units can be used for COMS elective credit)

COMS 201 - Video Production Unit(s): 4
COMS 210 - Web and Print Journalism Unit(s): 4
COMS 240 - Public Relations Unit(s): 4
COMS 265 - Radio and Audio Production Unit(s): 4
COMS 320 - Selected Topics in COMS Unit(s): 4 (e.g. Advanced Video Production)
COMS 322 - Broadcast Journalism Unit(s): 4
COMS 323 - Health Science and Environmental Journalism Unit(s): 4
COMS 325 - New Media Unit(s): 4
COMS 326 - Advanced Presentation Techniques Unit(s): 4

Media Outlets

(8 units required- additional units can be used for COMS elective credit)

COMS 340 - Public Relations Firm Lab (Primitivo) Unit(s): 4
COMS 368 - Newspaper Writing/Editing Lab (STAR) Unit(s): 4
COMS 369 - Video Production Lab (Studio Blue) Unit(s): 4
COMS 385 - Media Lab: Radio (KSUN Unit(s): 4

Major Electives

(8 units are required)

Note: 4 Elective Units are also earned by any of the following: 1) The COMS 160A /COMS 160B LC or COMS 162A /COMS 162B which yields 4 Elective units for the year; 2) Taking an extra/additional Skill or Media Outlet course; or 3) Taking an approved course in another Arts and Humanities department.

COMS 273 - SYRCE: Topics in COMS Unit(s): 4
COMS 275 - 21st Century Television As Art Unit(s): 3
COMS 320 - Selected Topics in COMS Unit(s): 4 (e.g. Sports Talk)
COMS 321 - International Communication Unit(s): 4
COMS 435 - Seminar in Mass Media Unit(s): 4

Units

Total units needed for graduation: 120 units