Communication Major

Program Director: Leah Waks, Ph.D. 

Communication takes as its subject matter the history, processes, and effects of human communication through speech and its extensions. The departmental curriculum is designed to provide a liberal education in the arts and sciences of human communication as well as preparation for career opportunities in business, government, education, law, and related fields. Students pursue academic programs that emphasize many disciplinary areas, including intercultural communication, political communication, public relations, negotiation and conflict management, cognition and persuasion, rhetorical theory, risk communication, history of rhetoric, and criticism of public discourse  Departmental advising is mandatory for new majors, second semester sophomores, and seniors.

Admission to the Major

First-time Freshman

All first-time freshmen who designate Communication as a major prior to the end of the final exam period of their first semester will be admitted directly to the program. They must sign a Memorandum of Understanding that states that they understand that by the semester in which they attain 45 University of Maryland credits (excluding AP), they must meet the following gateway requirements:

  1. Complete one of the following courses with a grade of "C-" or better: BMGT230, CCJS200, EDMS451, PSYC200, SOCY201, STAT100, or equivalent.
  2. Complete COMM107, COMM200, or COMM230 with a grade of "C-" or better
  3. Complete COMM250 with a grade of "C-" or better and
  4. A GPA of 2.0 or better

Students may repeat only one of the gateway requirements and that requirement may be repeated only once in their attempt to meet the requirements. Students who fail to meet the gateway requirements by the semester in which they attain 45 credits will be dismissed from the program and cannot reapply.

Transfer Students

Internal and external transfer students who meet the gateway requirements specified above must also have a cumulative GPA of 2.70 in all college-level coursework to apply to the program.

Appeals

All students may appeal admission decisions. Students directly admitted as freshmen, who are dismissed because of failure to meet gateway requirements or a failure to be in good academic standing at 45 credits, may appeal directly to the undergraduate director in the Department of Communication. All other students who are denied admission may appeal to the university's Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the degree program in Communication, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge and skills:

  1. An ability to distinguish among a variety of theoretical approaches in the communication discipline and use them appropriately and effectively in academic and professional work.
  2. An ability to conduct research and write research reports employing social scientific and/or humanistic approaches in the communication discipline.
  3. An ability to argue clearly and effectively in a speech.

The course of study for a Communication major must satisfy all of the following requirements:

Course Title Credits
College Requirements
Oral Communication
Select one of the following:3
Oral Communication: Principles and Practices
Critical Thinking and Speaking
Argumentation and Debate
Modes of Communication Inquiry
COMM250Introduction to Communication Inquiry3
Fundamentals of Communication Skills
COMM130Professional Communication and Writing1
Select one of the following:3
Business Statistics
Elementary Statistics and Probability
Introduction to Educational Statistics
Statistics for Criminology and Criminal Justice
Statistical Methods in Psychology
Introductory Statistics for Sociology
Select one of the following specializations:36
Communication Studies
Health and Science Communication
Media and Digital Communication
Political Communication and Public Advocacy
Public Relations
Total Credits46

Communication Studies

Course Title Credits
Communication Theory & Principles
Select two of the following:6
Introduction to Public Relations
Rhetorical Theories
Communication Science Theories
Media Theory
Research Methods
COMM304Communication Research Literacy3
Select one of the following:3
Qualitative Communication Research Methods
Rhetorical Methods in Communication
Quantitative Methods in Communication
Communication & Society
Select one of the following Leadership & Social Change courses:3
Argumentation and Public Policy
Influence
Theories of Group Discussion
Communicating Leadership
Communication Management
Communication in Complex Organizations
Negotiation and Conflict Management
Special Topics Seminar in Dialogues and Deliberation
Interpersonal Arguing
Special Topics in Public Relations
Special Topics in Digital Communication
Speechwriting
Special Topics in Science Communication
Voices of Public Leadership in the Twentieth Century
Visual Communication
The Discourse of Social Movements
Listening
Persuasion
Select one of the following Diversity & Inclusion courses:3
Communication and Gender
The Rhetoric of Black America
Essentials of Intercultural Communication
Rhetoric of the 1960s
Public Life in American Communities, 1634-1900
Applied
Select one of the following:3
Peer Consulting in Oral Communication
Experiential Learning
Communication Practicum
Select one of the following:3
Peer Consulting in Oral Communication
Argumentation and Public Policy
News Writing and Reporting for Public Relations
Mediated Communication
Communication and Digital Media
Documentary Theory and Practice
Experiential Learning
Communication Practicum
Negotiation and Conflict Management
Conflict Management
Speechwriting
Electives
3xx or 4xx-Level COMM Electives12
Total Credits36

Health and Science Communication

Course Title Credits
Communication Theory & Principles
COMM302Communication Science Theories3
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Public Relations
Rhetorical Theories
Media Theory
Research Methods
COMM304Communication Research Literacy3
Select one of the following Research Methods courses:3
Qualitative Communication Research Methods
Rhetorical Methods in Communication
Quantitative Methods in Communication
Communication & Society
Select one of the following Leadership & Social Change courses:3
Argumentation and Public Policy
Influence
Theories of Group Discussion
Communicating Leadership
Communication Management
Communication in Complex Organizations
Negotiation and Conflict Management
Special Topics Seminar in Dialogues and Deliberation
Interpersonal Arguing
Special Topics in Public Relations
Special Topics in Digital Communication
Speechwriting
Special Topics in Science Communication
Voices of Public Leadership in the Twentieth Century
Visual Communication
The Discourse of Social Movements
Listening
Persuasion
Select one of the following Diversity & Inclusion courses:3
Communication and Gender
The Rhetoric of Black America
Essentials of Intercultural Communication
Rhetoric of the 1960s
Public Life in American Communities, 1634-1900
Applied
Select one of the following:3
Peer Consulting in Oral Communication
Experiential Learning
Communication Practicum
Select one of the following:3
Peer Consulting in Oral Communication
Argumentation and Public Policy
News Writing and Reporting for Public Relations
Mediated Communication
Communication and Digital Media
Documentary Theory and Practice
Experiential Learning
Communication Practicum
Negotiation and Conflict Management
Conflict Management
Speechwriting
Select four of the following specialization electives: 112
Specialization Electives
Health Communication
Special Topics in Health Communication
Communication Management
Communication in Complex Organizations
Conflict Management
Crisis Communication
Theories of Interpersonal Communication
Special Topics in Science Communication
Total Credits36
1

The same course cannot be used to fulfill more than one requirement.

Media and Digital Communication

Course Title Credits
Communication Theory & Principles
COMM303Media Theory3
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Public Relations
Rhetorical Theories
Communication Science Theories
Research Methods
COMM304Communication Research Literacy3
Select one of the following Research Methods courses:3
Qualitative Communication Research Methods
Rhetorical Methods in Communication
Quantitative Methods in Communication
Communication & Society
Select one of the following Leadership & Social Change courses:3
Argumentation and Public Policy
Influence
Theories of Group Discussion
Communicating Leadership
Communication Management
Communication in Complex Organizations
Negotiation and Conflict Management
Special Topics Seminar in Dialogues and Deliberation
Special Topics in Public Relations
Special Topics in Digital Communication
Speechwriting
Special Topics in Science Communication
Voices of Public Leadership in the Twentieth Century
Visual Communication
The Discourse of Social Movements
Listening
Persuasion
Select one of the following Diversity & Inclusion courses:3
Communication and Gender
The Rhetoric of Black America
Essentials of Intercultural Communication
Rhetoric of the 1960s
Public Life in American Communities, 1634-1900
Applied
Select one of the following:3
Peer Consulting in Oral Communication
Experiential Learning
Communication Practicum
Select one of the following:3
Peer Consulting in Oral Communication
Argumentation and Public Policy
News Writing and Reporting for Public Relations
Mediated Communication
Communication and Digital Media
Documentary Theory and Practice
Experiential Learning
Communication Practicum
Negotiation and Conflict Management
Conflict Management
Speechwriting
Specialization Electives
Select four of the following specialization electives: 112
Social Media & Digital Culture
Mediated Communication
Communication and Digital Media
Communication, Meaning, and Digital Media
Communication and Digital Visual Narrative
Communicating Visually: Message Production and Digital Media
Documentary Theory and Practice
Communication through Advocacy Short Film
Special Topics in Digital Communication
Seminar in Mediated Communication
Total Credits36
1

The same course cannot be used to fulfill more than one requirement.

Political Communication and Public Advocacy

Course Title Credits
Communication Theory & Principles
COMM301Rhetorical Theories3
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Public Relations
Communication Science Theories
Media Theory
Research Methods
COMM304Communication Research Literacy3
Select one of the following Research Methods courses:3
Qualitative Communication Research Methods
Rhetorical Methods in Communication
Quantitative Methods in Communication
Communication & Society
Select one of the following Leadership & Social Change courses:3
Argumentation and Public Policy
Influence
Theories of Group Discussion
Communicating Leadership
Communication Management
Communication in Complex Organizations
Negotiation and Conflict Management
Special Topics Seminar in Dialogues and Deliberation
Interpersonal Arguing
Special Topics in Public Relations
Special Topics in Digital Communication
Speechwriting
Special Topics in Science Communication
Voices of Public Leadership in the Twentieth Century
Visual Communication
The Discourse of Social Movements
Listening
Persuasion
Select one of the following Diversity & Inclusion courses:3
Communication and Gender
The Rhetoric of Black America
Essentials of Intercultural Communication
Rhetoric of the 1960s
Public Life in American Communities, 1634-1900
Applied
Select one of the following:3
Peer Consulting in Oral Communication
Experiential Learning
Communication Practicum
Select one of the following:3
Peer Consulting in Oral Communication
Argumentation and Public Policy
News Writing and Reporting for Public Relations
Mediated Communication
Communication and Digital Media
Documentary Theory and Practice
Experiential Learning
Communication Practicum
Negotiation and Conflict Management
Conflict Management
Speechwriting
Specialization Electives
Select four of the following specialization electives: 112
Argumentation and Public Policy
Communicating the Narrative
Environmental Communication
The Rhetoric of Black America
Special Topics Seminar in Dialogues and Deliberation
Ancient Worlds of Rhetoric
Rhetoric, Technology, and Culture
Freedom of Speech & the First Amendment
Seminar in Political Communication
Public Life in American Communities, 1634-1900
Voices of Public Leadership in the Twentieth Century
The Discourse of Social Movements
Total Credits36
1

The same course cannot be used to fulfill more than one requirement.

Public Relations

Course Title Credits
Communication Theory & Principles
COMM201Introduction to Public Relations3
Select one of the following:3
Rhetorical Theories
Communication Science Theories
Media Theory
Research Methods
COMM304Communication Research Literacy3
Select one of the following Research Methods courses:3
Qualitative Communication Research Methods
Rhetorical Methods in Communication
Quantitative Methods in Communication
Communication & Society
Select one of the following Leadership & Social Change courses:3
Argumentation and Public Policy
Influence
Theories of Group Discussion
Communicating Leadership
Communication Management
Communication in Complex Organizations
Negotiation and Conflict Management
Special Topics Seminar in Dialogues and Deliberation
Interpersonal Arguing
Special Topics in Public Relations
Special Topics in Digital Communication
Speechwriting
Special Topics in Science Communication
Voices of Public Leadership in the Twentieth Century
Visual Communication
The Discourse of Social Movements
Listening
Persuasion
Select one of the following Diversity & Inclusion courses:3
Communication and Gender
The Rhetoric of Black America
Essentials of Intercultural Communication
Rhetoric of the 1960s
Public Life in American Communities, 1634-1900
Applied
COMM331News Writing and Reporting for Public Relations3
COMM386Experiential Learning3-6
Specialization Electives
COMM351Public Relations Techniques3
COMM353New Media Writing for Public Relations3
COMM483Senior Seminar in Public Relations3
COMM476Language, Communication, and Action3
Total Credits36-39

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