Degree Programs :: Department of Communication

Degree Programs

Communication, BA and Minor

College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs | Department of Communication
Communication Building, Room 100
Phone: (208) 426-3320
E-mail: commdept@boisestate.edu

The communication discipline looks at how theories, philosophies, and the roles people assume, operate in personal and public arenas. We study how people articulate their ideas, create and interpret meaning, interact, and produce and analyze messages both face to face and through the media. All programs emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, research, and independent scholarship. Issues of specific concern are cultural perception, social ethics, creativity, and freedom of expression. Most classes are speaking and/or writing-intensive, and all focus on the interdependence of theory and practice.

Majors may choose to concentrate their study within one of the following areas of emphasis:

The Media Production Emphasis provides opportunities to create projects in a variety of forms, including film, audio, video, television, print journalism, multi-media, digital imaging, motion graphics, web design, DVD authoring and streaming video.

The Media Studies Emphasis provides opportunities for critical examination of the aesthetic, economic and social dimensions of media communication, including cinema, television, radio, print journalism, the Internet, and digital, interactive and social media technologies.

The Public Communication Emphasis offers opportunities to explore rhetorical theory, criticism, and public discourse with an aim to critically evaluate public communication and participate in responsible public engagement.

The Relational and Organizational Studies Emphasis offers opportunities to critically explore the complex ways communication creates, maintains, and changes the relationships that constitute our interpersonal, group, organizational, and intercultural lives.

Students may enrich their learning through participation in the campus newspaper (The Arbiter), KBSU Radio, student radio (University Pulse), University Television Productions, intercollegiate debate and speech competition, Public Relations Student Society of America, and internships. The work of many students participating in these activities has been recognized through regional and national awards. Students are encouraged to participate in internships and practica. A total of 9 credits of any combination of internships, independent study, practica, or communication activities may count toward departmental major requirements. A total of 3 credits of workshops may count toward departmental major requirements. Additional credits in any of these areas may count toward general education electives.

Communication, Bachelor of Arts

Course Number and Title	Credits
ENGL 101-102 Introduction to College Writing and Research	6
Area I – see list of approved courses
Area I core in literature	3
Area I core course in a second field	3
Area I core course in a third field	3
Area I core course in any field	3
Area II – see list of approved courses
Area II core course in history	3
*Area II core course in a second field	3
*Area II core course in a third field	3
*Area II core course in any field	3
*Communication majors may use COMM 101 or COMM 112, but not both, to satisfy Area II requirements.
Area III – see list of approved courses
Area III core course in a mathematics	3-5
Area III core course in a second field	4
Area III core course in any field	4
Additional Area I and II courses Communication majors may not use communication courses to satisfy additional Area I or II requirements.	9
Communication Foundation Courses
Communication Arts (choose one from the following) COMM 131 Listening COMM 211 Voice Study for Media and Live Performance COMM 231 Public Speaking COMM 268 Introduction to Video Production COMM 269 Introduction to Audio Production COMM 273 Reporting and News Writing COMM 278 Principles of Public Relations	3
Communication Contexts (choose one from the following) COMM 221 Interpersonal Communication COMM 341 Nonverbal Communication COMM 351 Intercultural Communication COMM 356 Communication in the Small Group COMM 361 Organizational Communication COMM 390 Conflict Management	3
Analysis and Criticism/Research (choose one from the following) COMM 302 Research Methods COMM 304 Perspectives of Inquiry COMM 331 Message Analysis and Criticism COMM 332 Contemporary Public Communication COMM 360 Media Aesthetics and Culture COMM 365 Film Styles and Genres	3
Communication Theory and Philosophy (choose one from the following) COMM 321 Rhetorical Theories COMM 421 Theory and Philosophy of Communication COMM 431 Small Group Theory and Research COMM 466 Communication Technology and Social Change COMM 467 Mass Communication and Democracy	3
Communication Elective Courses All Communication majors must have 18 Communication credits of which at least 15 credits must be upper-division. Students in an emphasis area must choose from the following courses listed for that emphasis area.	18
Media Production Emphasis Courses chosen to satisfy the emphasis area requirements must be in addition to the courses chosen to satisfy the Communication Foundation requirements. Choose 5 media production courses (15 credits) from the following: COMM 116 Communication Activities: Studio Television Production for Community† COMM 117 Communication Activities: UTP† COMM 118 Communication Activities: Student Radio† COMM 119 Communication Activities: Student Newspaper† COMM 267 The Film Grip’s Role COMM 268 Introduction to Video Production COMM 269 Introduction to Audio Production COMM 273 Reporting and News Writing COMM 316 Communication Activities: Studio Television for Community† COMM 317 Communication Activities: UTP† COMM 318 Communication Activities: Student Radio† COMM 319 Communication Activities: Student Newspaper† COMM 363 Advanced Journalistic Writing COMM 368 Advanced Audio Production COMM 369 Video Post-Production COMM 370 Advanced Video Production COMM 373 Reporting Public Affairs COMM 470 The Film Producer’s Role COMM 486 Studies in Media Production* COMM 489 Advanced Studies in Media COMM 493 Internship: Film Production COMM 494 Workshop: Animation Choose 1 media criticism/theory/history course (3 credits) from the following: COMM 171 Mass Media and Society COMM 360 Media Aesthetics and Culture COMM 362 Legal and Ethical Issues of Mass Media COMM 364 Visual Communication COMM 365 Film Styles and Genres COMM 466 Communication Technology and Social Change COMM 467 Mass Communication and Democracy COMM 487 Studies in Media Theory* *Course may be repeated for credit towards emphasis area requirements. †Only six credits of communication activities classes (COMM 116-119 and COMM 316-319) will count towards emphasis area requirements.
Media Studies Emphasis Courses chosen to satisfy the emphasis area requirements must be in addition to the courses chosen to satisfy the Communication Foundation requirements. Choose 5 media criticism/theory/history courses (15 credits) from the following: COMM 171 Mass Media and Society COMM 360 Media Aesthetics and Culture COMM 362 Legal and Ethical Issues of Mass Media COMM 364 Visual Communication COMM 365 Film Styles and Genres COMM 466 Communication Technology and Social Change COMM 467 Mass Communication and Democracy COMM 487 Studies in Media Theory* COMM 489 Advanced Studies in Media Choose 1 media production course (3 credits) from the following: COMM 116 Communication Activities: Studio Television for Community† COMM 117 Communication Activities: UTP† COMM 118 Communication Activities: Student Radio† COMM 119 Communication Activities: Student Newspaper† COMM 267 The Film Grip’s Role COMM 268 Introduction to Video Production COMM 269 Introduction to Audio Production COMM 273 Reporting and News Writing COMM 316 Communication Activities: Studio Television for Community† COMM 317 Communication Activities: UTP† COMM 318 Communication Activities: Student Radio† COMM 319 Communication Activities: Student Newspaper† COMM 363 Advanced Journalistic Writing COMM 368 Advanced Audio Production COMM 369 Video Post-Production COMM 370 Advanced Video Production COMM 373 Reporting Public Affairs COMM 470 The Film Producer’s Role COMM 486 Studies in Media Production* COMM 493 Internship: Film Production COMM 494 Workshop: Animation *Course may be repeated for credit towards emphasis area requirements. †Only six credits of communication activities classes (COMM 116-119 and COMM 316-319) will count towards emphasis area requirements.
Public Communication Emphasis Courses chosen to satisfy the emphasis area requirements must be in addition to the courses chosen to satisfy the Communication Foundation requirements. COMM 112 Reasoned Discourse COMM 114 Communication Activities: Forensics COMM 160 Communication and Culture COMM 211 Voice Study for Media and Live Performance COMM 214 Intercollegiate Debate COMM 231 Public Speaking COMM 302 Research Methods COMM 304 Perspectives of Inquiry COMM 314 Communication Activities: Forensics COMM 321 Rhetorical Theories COMM 331 Message Analysis and Criticism COMM 332 Contemporary Public Communication COMM 364 Visual Communication COMM 373 Reporting Public Affairs COMM 412 Persuasion COMM 414 Intercollegiate Debate COMM 421 Theory and Philosophy of Communication COMM 441 Advanced Public Presentation COMM 484 Studies in Rhetoric and Public Presentation COMM 498 Communication Seminar Only six credits of communication activities classes (COMM 114 and COMM 314) will count towards emphasis area requirements.
Relational and Organizational Studies Emphasis Courses chosen to satisfy the emphasis area requirements must be in addition to the courses chosen to satisfy the Communication Foundation requirements. COMM 131 Listening COMM 160 Communication and Culture I COMM 221 Interpersonal Communication COMM 302 Research Methods COMM 304 Perspectives of Inquiry COMM 307 Interviewing COMM 341 Nonverbal Communication COMM 351 Intercultural Communication COMM 356 Communication in the Small Group COMM 361 Organizational Communication COMM 390 Conflict Management COMM 421 Theory and Philosophy of Communication COMM 431 Small Group Theory and Research COMM 432 Advanced Organizational Communication COMM 471 Advanced Interpersonal Communication COMM 475 Advanced Studies in Communication Theory and Philosophy COMM 481 Studies in Interpersonal Communication COMM 483 Studies in Organizational Communication COMM 485 Studies in Gender and Communication COMM 498 Communication Seminar
Communication Capstone Course Courses chosen to satisfy the capstone requirement must be in addition to the courses chosen to satisfy the Communication Elective requirements. Choose one of the following advanced studies courses as a capstone course. Courses listed below will provide an intensive, in-depth research or production opportunity. If pursuing a general degree without an emphasis area, choose any course from the lists below. If pursuing a specific emphasis area of study, choose a course that corresponds with your particular area of interest. Media Production: COMM 363 Advanced Journalistic Writing COMM 368 Advanced Audio Production COMM 369 Video Post-Production COMM 370 Advanced Video Production COMM 489 Advanced Studies in Media COMM 498 Communication Seminar Media Studies: COMM 489 Advanced Studies in Media COMM 498 Communication Seminar Public Communication: COMM 441 Advanced Public Presentation COMM 482 Advanced Studies in Public Relations COMM 484 Studies in Rhetoric and Public Presentation COMM 498 Communication Seminar Relational and Organizational Studies: COMM 432 Advanced Organizational Communication COMM 471 Advanced Interpersonal Communication COMM 475 Advanced Studies in Communication Theory and Philosophy COMM 498 Communication Seminar	3
Upper-division electives to total 40 credits	10-16
Electives to total 120 credits	19-27
Total	120