ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Department of Communication Studies offers a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies in two major areas of concentration: Interpersonal Communication and Public Communication. The program promotes the growth of knowledge about communication and its uses to achieve individual, group and societal goals.  Students learn about the functions, processes, channels and influences of communication and can specialize in interpersonal or rhetorical communication.  Students in communication work to acquire proficiency in critical analysis, argumentation and presentation (oral and written), and research methods.

Major in Communication Studies
Minor in Communication Studies
Department Policies (Academic Policies, Outside Area of Interest, Change of Major)
Internships
Advisement
Degree Requirements
Courses in Communication Studies

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ADMISSION TO THE MAJOR 

Required GPA:  2.50.  Students will be assigned a Pre-Communication Major (PRE-COM) designation until they have completed the following pre-major requirements:

1.     Communication Core (9 credits) COM 101 or HON-190A, COM-102, and COM-216.

2.     UNLV General Education Core courses (16-18 credits total):  ENG 101 and 102; U.S. and Nevada Constitutions requirement; six credits chosen from the remaining General Education Core requirements.  All courses satisfying PRE-COM requirements must be completed with at least a C (2.0) grade (C- is unacceptable).  PRE-COM designates may not enroll in upper-division COM courses (300-400 level). Upon completion of the pre-major requirements, students may request admission to the major.

Transfer Policies: Transfer students will be assigned a PRE-COM designation until they have completed the pre-major requirements described above and must meet with an advisor in the college’s Student Advising Center for articulation of transfer credit.

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MINOR IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES (18 credits)

Pre-COM.  Before being admitted to a Minor in Communication Studies, students must complete the following with a minimum grade point average (in these courses) of 2.5 and no course grade below “C.”
(1) One of the following: COM-101, Oral Communication (3 credit hours), or  COM-102, Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3 credit hours), or HON-190A, Honors Public Speaking (3 credit hours).
(2) COM-216, Survey of Communication Studies (3 credit hours)
(3) Theory Requirement.  One of the following:  COM-400, Human Communication Theory (3 credit hours), or COM-409, The Rhetorical Tradition (3 credit hours).
(4) Elective Requirement.  Nine (9) credit hours of elective courses, six (6) of which must be upper-division (300- or 400-level) courses.  Elective courses may include 300- or 400-level HON courses taught by COM faculty.

DEPARTMENT POLICIES

Academic Policies: Students must be communication majors during the completion of the last 30 credits taken at UNLV in fulfillment of the residency requirement. Communication courses may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement, with the exception of international and multicultural requirements.  Only course work in the major for which a grade of C or above (C- is not acceptable) is received will count toward satisfaction of the degree requirements. Maintenance of a UNLV 2.50 GPA is required to remain in and graduate from the program.  Students must complete 42 upper-division (300-400) level credits, including 21 upper-division credits in communication.

Outside Area of Interest: Each communication degree plan includes an outside area of interest, which consists of 15 credits in a particular area of study in a university program other than Communication Studies to be determined in consultation with the undergraduate advisor.  Courses used to complete a minor or a dual major may be used to satisfy this requirement.

Change of Major: Change of status from pre-major to major requires the student to acquire a change of major form from the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Advising Center and follow the steps indicated.

INTERNSHIPS
Practical application of classroom experience is available to junior or senior students through internships.  A student is expected to have completed at least 12 credits appropriate to the internship and to have at least a 2.75 GPA.  A student may complete up to six credits of internship, but only three credits may be used to fulfill degree requirements in the major.

ADVISEMENT
Students should have all course work for the communication major approved in consultation with an academic advisor in the Urban Affairs Student Advising Center at (702) 895-1009.  Failure to seek academic advising may result in the delay of graduation.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS in COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Communication Studies
1. English Composition, 6 credits
    ENG 101 and ENG 102
2. English Literature, 3 credits
    ENG 231 or ENG 232
3. Constitution, 3-6 credits
4. Mathematics, 3 credits
5. Life & Physical Sciences & Analytical Thinking, 7 credits
6. PHI 102, 3 credits
7. Social Science, 9 credits
8. Multicultural (see note)
    International (see note)
9. Degree Requirements;
    Communication Pre: COM 101 or HON 190A, 3 credits
                                  COM 102, 3 credits
                                  COM 216, 3 credits
    Theory Requirement: COM 400, 3 credits and COM 409, 3 credits
    Methods: Either COM 408 or COM 435, 3 credits
    COM Electives:  Eighteen (18) credits, nine (9) of which must be
                upper-division (300-400) courses.  May include HON seminars
                taught by COM faculty, 18 credits
    Outside Area of Interest: 15 credits
    General Electives: 30-39 credits

Total: 124 credits

Note:
1. Every student must complete a three-credit multicultural course and a three-credit international course.  Courses satisfying other requirements may simultaneously satisfy the multicultural and international requirements if they appear on the approved lists.  However, one course cannot satisfy both the multicultural and the international requirements.

COURSES IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES

COM 100
Educational, Career, and Personal Development
(Same as EPY 101.) Provides students with skills, information, and experiences to improve their academic performance, assist in adapting to life’s vicissitudes, and help in the development of realistic academic and career planning.  Focuses on time management, study and learning skills, and career and decision making. 2 credits.

COM 101
Oral Communication
Theory and performance work in extemporaneous speaking and related speaking experiences. Emphasis placed on developing skills necessary for effective public speaking. 3 credits.

COM 102
Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
Examination of theories of effective interpersonal communication with in-class exercises designed to provide practical application of theory. 3 credits.

COM 105
Intercollegiate Debate and Forensics
Practical experience in debate and other forensics events.  For first- and second-year members of the UNLV forensics team.  May be repeated to a maximum of three credits. Prerequisite:  Consent of forensics administrator. 1 credit.

COM 211
Survey of Rhetorical Studies
Survey of historical development of various rhetorical canons, concepts, and perspectives, beginning with ancient Greek and Roman discourse and concluding with contemporary rhetoric. 3 credits.

COM 216
Survey of Communication Studies
Analysis of the contexts, principles, and values of human communication grounded in communication theory.  Focuses on developing competency in the areas of intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, organizational, and public communication. 3 credits.

COM 217
Argumentation and Debate
Study of the principles of argument analysis, critical thinking, evaluation and construction; inductive and deductive reasoning; and forms of support and fallacies of argument and language.  Study of the principles of organizing and writing argumentative essays. 3 credits.

COM 302 (Formerly COS 402)
Issues in Interpersonal Communication
Examination of the variables involved in interpersonal communication relationships.  Provides students with opportunities to examine their own communication behavior as it affects others.  Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 307
Rhetoric of Dissent
Description and analysis of public discourse by agitators and those opposed to agitation. Focus on significant movements for change in recent American history.  Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 312
Nonverbal Communication
Study of basic theory, concepts and analysis of nonverbal communication. Investigation of nonverbal cues (e.g., body language, space, eye contact, etc.) and their social functions.  Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits

COM 315
Small Group Communication
Principles of small group communication and problem solving; theory and practice.  Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 317
Organizational Communication
Examination of organizational communication from a general systems perspective.  Emphasis on the flow of messages as they affect the structure and function of an organization.  Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 330
Selected Topics in Communication Studies
Study of a specific topic related to communication studies.  May be repeated to a maximum of six credits. Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 400
Human Communication Theory
Reviews, compares, and applies contemporary behavioral theories of communication. Focus is upon interpersonal, cognitive, and influence theories as they apply to communication processes.  Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 401
Rhetoric of Women’s Rights
Examination of the rhetorical campaign for woman suffrage and women’s rights from the early nineteenth century up to passage of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920.  Emphasis on identifying, understanding, and evaluating major rhetorical strategies in their historical context.  Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits

COM 403
Public Communication
Examination of public communication in terms of form, context, people, messages, and delivery. Particular focus on the ethics of public communication.  Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 404
Principles of Persuasion
Examination of the principles involved in influencing groups and individuals. Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 405
Intercollegiate Forensics
Practical experience in debate and other forensics events.  Open only to members of the UNLV forensics team.  May be repeated to a maximum of three credits.  Prerequisites: COM 105, consent of forensics administrator, and junior or senior standing. 1 credit.

COM 407
Communication Between the Sexes
(Same as WMST 407.) Introduction to gender research in communication, studying ways in which language, interpersonal communication, the media, and various social institutions influence conceptions of gender. Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 408  Rhetorical Criticism
Investigation and analysis of public discourse.  Students introduced to a variety of critical methodologies used to analyze public messages. Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM-409
The Rhetorical Tradition
Historical and critical evaluation of western rhetorical theory from the classical era to the contemporary period.  Examines communication’s humanistic traditions on such issues as civic discourse, public advocacy, social interaction, message analysis, and political culture. Prerequisite:  COM 216. 3 credits

COM 412
Intercultural Communication
Understanding the relationship between communication and culture through the study of cultural variables (languages, traditions, rituals, roles/norms, values, etc.) and how this relationship impacts identity, behavior, expectations and knowledge.  Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 413
Argumentation
Study of basic principles of argumentation, the preparation and presentation of argumentative speeches. Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 414
Famous Speeches
Study of the role of public address in American history.  Emphasis on speeches that had a significant effect on American history. Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 416
Conflict Management
Examination of various types and sources of conflict in interpersonal relationships, the management and resolution of these conflicts through various decision-making models.  Practical application of theory emphasized in various classroom exercises.  Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 435
Quantitative Research Methods
Survey of empirical research methods in communication including laboratory, field, and survey methods and their applications. Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 464
Leadership: A Communication Perspective
Useful theories and practical experiences to make better leaders.  Studies specific leaders, their philosophy of leadership, their ethics and effectiveness. Includes interviewing leaders both in the community and nationally. Prerequisite: COM 216. 3 credits.

COM 484
Political Communication
Analysis of historical and contemporary political discourse. Addresses such topics as presidential rhetoric, electoral campaigns, ethics in political culture, institutional leadership, publics and public opinion, mediated political speech, legislative debates, political socialization. Prerequisite: COM 216.  3 credits.

COM 495
Independent Study
Supervised study and practical experience in subjects and projects to be determined in consultation with a communication studies faculty member.  Students wishing to register for this course must consult with the faculty member prior to registration.  May be repeated to a maximum of six credits.  Prerequisite: COM 216. 1-3 credits.

COM 499
Internship
Supervised intern experience in commercial, non-profit, public, or government organizations.  May be repeated to a maximum of six credits, three of which may be applied to the degree program. S/F grading. Prerequisites: Declared communication major, junior or senior standing, written consent of instructor and intern coordinator, appropriate previous course work, and 3.0 GPA. 3 credits.