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Bucks County Community College

Catalog

  Catalog  —  Majors and Certificate Programs  —  Arts and Communication  —  Communication Studies

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 & Communication: Communications Office
Hicks 125 • Phone (215) 968-8425
Curriculum Code: 1120

Communication is an essential skill highly valued by most employers. In today’s ever-changing world, effective communication will significantly affect your relationships and career. Students in the Communication Studies major will observe, interpret, and evaluate human communication in a wide variety of contexts. By exploring a variety of courses in the major, students will develop competency in oral and written communication, critical thinking and problem-solving, and presentations and teamwork. The program is designed to encourage students to explore other areas of interest relevant to communication while also learning how other academic disciplines can provide insight into your communication studies.

This program prepares students in various communication fields for occupations such as advertising, public relations, marketing, international relations, technical writing, broadcast news analysts, reporters and correspondents, theatre or performance, film and video editing or camera operators.

The degree is designed for students preparing to enter a program leading to a baccalaureate degree at a four-year college or university.

Graduates of this program can:

  • create messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context;
  • describe the basic theories and principles of communication in various contexts;
  • apply the basic theories and principles of communication to one’s lived experience in various contexts;
  • apply intercultural competence-related skills in communication;
  • describe the ethical principles in decision making and communication. *

*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.


Explore Career Ideas
Communication Studies
Learn about the job market, average salary, and necessary level of training you can expect to encounter in the workforce after completing this program based on data from the PA Department of Labor.

Degree Course Requirements

Course Credits
COLL101
College Success Seminar
1
COMM101
Communication Theory
3
COMM105
Interpersonal Communication 2,3
3
COMM110
Effective Speaking A,4,5
3
COMM111
Media and Society 2,3,8
3
COMM215
Intercultural Communication 2,3
3
COMM240
Persuasive Communication D,2,4,9
3
COMP110
English Composition I A,2,10
3
COMP111
English Composition II D,2,4,10
3
COMT101
Introduction to Theatre 1
3
MATH115
Elementary Statistics A,D,2,6
3
SOCI110
Introduction to Sociology 2.3,8
3
Cinema Elective: VACV141 or VACV142 1 3
Social Science B 3
Electives F 3
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
COMT103
Introduction to Acting
3
COMT106
Introduction to Improvisational Performance
3
COMT203
Acting II
3
COMT206
Improvisational Performance II
3
JOUR155
Advertising Copywriting
3
JOUR175
News Reporting and Writing D
3
MGMT145
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
3
MKTG200
Advertising
3
MKTG220
Digital Marketing
3
MKTG230
Social Media Marketing
3
PSYC105
Introduction to Group Dynamics
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
Videography
3
VAPH110
Digital Photography Fundamentals
3
VAMM100
Digital Imaging
3
VAMM110
Web Design D
3
WMST110
Introduction to Gender Studies
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
COMM105
Interpersonal Communication 2,3
3
COMP110
English Composition I A,2,10
3
COMT101
Introduction to Theatre 1
3
SOCI110
Introduction to Sociology 2,3,8
3
Program Electives C (choose from list) 3
Total Credit Hours 16

Second Semester

Course Credits
COMM110
Effective Speaking A,4,5
3
COMM111
Media and Society 2,3,8
3
COMP111
English Composition II A,2,4,10
3
MATH115
Elementary Statistics A,D,2,6
3
Program Elective C 3
Total Credit Hours 15

Third Semester

Course Credits
Cinema Elective: VACV141 or VACV142 1 3
COMM101
Communication Theory
3
College Level Science A,E,7      4
Foreign Language and/or Literature B 3
Program Electives C 3
Total Credit Hours 16

Fourth Semester

Course Credits
COMM215
Intercultural Communication 2,3
3
COMM240
Persuasive Communication D,2,4,9
3
Social Science B 3
Program Electives C 3
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

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Arts & Communication

215-968-8425 arts.comm@bucks.edu 125 Hicks Art Center

Arts & Communication

215-968-8425 arts.comm@bucks.edu 125 Hicks Art Center
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