Communication Studies
Associate of Arts
Transfer Major
Decisions on the transferability of courses are made by the four-year colleges and differ from school to school. Students enrolled in this major should contact the Transfer Services Office early in their academic program to determine which courses will transfer to the college of their choice.
Arts Department: Communications Office
Hicks 125 • Phone (215) 968-8425
Curriculum Code: 1120
The Communication Studies major is designed to serve the needs and interests of students who want to explore various subject areas in the Communication field without committing themselves immediately to any one area of concentration. Students in this major, through the required courses and the recommended elective list, have the opportunity to explore such diverse areas as speech communication, theatre, video-production, journalism, public relations, mass communication, advertising and marketing, and film within the context of a well-balanced liberal arts curriculum. Students planning transfer into a Communication major at a four-year college find this program is suited to their individual needs.
Graduates of this program are able to
- demonstrate a basic knowledge of communication and awareness of the responsibilities associated with communication;
- evaluate various types of communication through the application of standardized criteria; and
- analyze their own communication and the communication of others.*
*To fulfill the technological competence requirement, students demonstrate proficiency in accessing, creating, and presenting a digital visual aid appropriate for public presentation in COMM240.
Students who plan to transfer into a Communications major at a four year college will find this major well suited to their individual needs.
Degree Course Requirements
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COLL101 College Success Seminar | 1 |
| COMM101 Communication Theory |
3 |
| COMM105 Interpersonal Communication 2,3,8 |
3 |
| COMM110 Effective Speaking A,4,5 |
3 |
| COMM111 Media and Society 2,3,8 |
3 |
| COMM240 Persuasive Communication D,2,4,9 |
3 |
| COMP110 English Composition I A,10 |
3 |
| COMP111 English Composition II D,2,4,10 |
3 |
| COMT101 Introduction to Theatre 1 |
3 |
| MATH115 Elementary Statistics A,D,6 |
3 |
| SOCI110 Introduction to Sociology 3,8 |
3 |
| Cinema Elective: VACV141 or VACV142 1 | 3 |
| Social Science B | 3 |
| Electives F | 6 |
| Foreign Language and/or Literature B | 3 |
| College Level Science A,E,7 | 4 |
| Program Electives C (choose from list) | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours | 62 |
Program Electives (Select at least 12 credits):
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COMM215 Intercultural Communication< |
3 |
| COMT103 Introduction to Acting |
3 |
| COMT106 Introduction to Improvisational Performance |
3 |
| COMT203 Acting II D |
3 |
| COMT206 Improvisational Performance II D |
3 |
| JOUR155 Advertising Copywriting |
3 |
| JOUR175 News Reporting and Writing D |
3 |
| MKTG200 Advertising |
3 |
| MKTG230 Social Media Marketing |
3 |
| VACV130 Media Scriptwriting D |
3 |
| VACV135 Video Studio Production I D |
3 |
| VACV137 Sound Design for Film and Video |
3 |
| VACV140 Digital Video Editing |
3 |
| VACV145 Filmmaking |
3 |
| VAPH110 Digital Photography Fundamentals |
3 |
| VAMM100 Digital Imaging |
3 |
| VAMM110 Web Design D |
3 |
Recommended Semester Sequence
The recommended course sequence is designed for full-time students who average 15 credit hours per semester. Students may need more time to complete major requirements based on placement testing. This additional time will entail some adjustments to the sequence recommended.
First Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COLL101 College Success Seminar | 1 |
| COMM101 Communication Theory |
3 |
| COMM105 Interpersonal Communication 2,3,8 |
3 |
| COMP110 English Composition I A,10 |
3 |
| MATH115 Elementary Statistics A,D,6 |
3 |
| SOCI110 Introduction to Sociology 2,8 |
3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 16 |
Second Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COMM110 Effective Speaking A,4,5 |
3 |
| COMP111 English Composition II A,2,4,10 |
3 |
| COMT101 Introduction to Theatre 1 |
3 |
| Program Elective C | 3 |
| Cinema Elective: VACV141 or VACV142 1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 |
Third Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COMM111 Media and Society 2,3,8 |
3 |
| College Level Science A,E,7 | 4 |
| Foreign Language and/or Literature B | 3 |
| Program Electives C | 3 |
| Elective F | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 16 |
Fourth Semester
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COMM240 Persuasive Communication D,2,4,9 |
3 |
| Social Science B | 3 |
| Program Electives C | 9 |
| Elective F | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 |
A Placement testing required.
B Consult the list of courses approved for this subcategory. Any course may be chosen.
C Consult the list of Program Electives.
D Course requires pre-requisites.
E Choose from BIOL101, BIOL181, CHEM101, CHEM121, PHYS106, SCIE103, SCIE104, SCIE105.
F Pre-college level courses do not meet this requirement.
1 Satisfies Arts/Humanities
2 Satisfies Critical Thinking
3 Satisfies Diversity
4 Satisfies Information Literacy
5 Satisfies Oral Communication
6 Satisfies Quantitative Literacy
7 Satisfies Scientific Literacy
8 Satisfies Social Sciences
9 Satisfies Technological Competence
10 Satisfies Writing