The Communication Studies Major
The Communication Studies Program focuses on human communication, exploring the ways humans create and negotiate meaning. Communication Studies majors master a focused course of inquiry into interpersonal processes as they create and sustain relationships and impact individuals, groups, and organizations. The Communication Studies curriculum builds primarily on social science traditions in developing a liberal arts education emphasizing human communication. Students in the Communication Studies major study applied communication theory and research in interpersonal, small group, organizational, intercultural, and other contexts.
The Communication Studies (ComSt) major teaches students how to think critically, giving them the ability to examine complex communication issues, and develop and implement strategies grounded in evidence-based research. This prepares students for careers in business and industry and graduate education. Students majoring in ComSt will find their career opportunities enhanced in professions requiring applied communication expertise, e.g., human resource management, public relations, training and development, sales management, recruitment, event planning, sales, management, organizational development, business communication, law, and international and intercultural relations.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation Communication Studies majors will...
- Develop foundational knowledge of human communication
- Apply human communication strategies in a diverse world
- Evaluate and utilize evidence-based research
- Cultivate communication competence
University-wide Requirements
To meet the University’s Communication Proficiency requirement students are required to take:
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| or ENGL 250H | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors | |
| Plus one of the following: | 3 | |
| Business Communication | ||
| Proposal and Report Writing | ||
| Technical Communication | ||
| Business and Technical Editing | ||
| A grade of C or higher is required in ENGL 250 Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (or ENGL 250H Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition, Honors). | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Students in all majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. diversity and a three-credit course in international perspectives. (COMST 310 fulfills the international perspective requirement/COMST 210 and SP CM 323 fulfill the U.S. diversity requirement). Approved courses are listed at: http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html. Discuss with your advisor how the two courses that you select can be applied to to your graduation plan.
LAS College Requirements
As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Communication Studies students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated above for the major.
LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 300/400 level. Students must also complete the LAS world language requirement, career proficiency requirement and LAS general education requirements. In accordance with college requirements, an overall average in Communication Studies courses of C (2.0) or better is required. This means students need a 2.0 GPA in the 33 hours taken to fulfill the major requirements in Communication Studies.
The Communication Studies Major
Communication Studies majors must earn at least 120 credits, with 45 credits at the 300-400 levels, and a minimum of 33 credits in COMST.
Core Requirements (15 credits)
| COMST 101 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 3 |
| COMST 211 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMST 301 | Human Communication Theory | 3 |
| COMST 303 | Introduction to Communication Research Methods | 3 |
| Plus one of the following: | 3 | |
| Professional Communication | ||
| Conflict Management | ||
| Communication and U.S. Diversity | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Upper Division Requirements (15 credits). Select five courses from the following
| COMST 310 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMST 311 | Relational Communication | 3 |
| COMST 313 | Leadership Communication Theories | 3 |
| COMST 314 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| COMST 317 | Small Group Communication | 3 |
| COMST 319 | Communication Training and Development | 3 |
| COMST 325 | Nonverbal Communication | 3 |
| COMST 327 | Persuasion and Social Influence | 3 |
| COMST 330 | Computer Mediated Communication | 3 |
| COMST 450 | Special Topics in Communication Studies | 3 |
| SP CM 323 | Gender and Communication | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Capstone Course Requirement (3 credits)
| COMST 404 | Research Seminar | 3 |
Additional Recommended Course
| STAT 101 | Principles of Statistics | 4 |
Communication Studies, B.A.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| COMST 101 | 3 | Social Science Choice | 3 |
| Humanities Choice | 3 | Humanities Choice | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | International Perspectives Course | 3 |
| Natural Science Choice | 3 | COMST 211 | 3 |
| COMST 104 | 1 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| World Language/Elective | 3-4 | World Language/Elective | 3-4 |
| ENGL 250 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Humanities Choice | 3 | Math Choice (STAT 101 recommended) | 3-4 |
| Social Science Choice | 3 | COMST 303 | 3 |
| COMST 210, 214, 218, or SP CM 212 | 3 | Natural Science Choice | 2-3 |
| LAS 203 | 1 | ||
| 15-16 | 15-18 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| COMST 301 | 3 | Upper Division Comm. Requirement | 3 |
| U.S. Diversity Choice | 3 | Upper Division Comm. Requirement | 3 |
| Natural Science Choice | 3 | Humanities Choice | 3 |
| Elective 300+ | 3 | Elective - 300+ | 3 |
| Social Science Choice | 3 | Elective - 300+ | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Upper Division Comm Requirement | 3 | COMST 404 | 3 |
| Upper Division Comm Requirement | 3 | Upper Division Comm Requirement | 3 |
| Any Elective | 4 | Verbal Comm--ENGL 302, 309, or 314 | 3 |
| Electives 300+ | 3 | Elective 300+ | 3 |
| Elective 300+ | 3 | Elective 300+ | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120-124 | |||
The Communication Studies Minor (18 credits)
The requirements for a minor in ComSt may be fulfilled by credit in:
| COMST 101 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 3 |
| COMST 301 | Human Communication Theory | 3 |
| Select one (1) 200-Level course: | 3 | |
| Communication and U.S. Diversity | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Professional Communication | ||
| Conflict Management | ||
| Plus 3 300-level courses, (9) credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Relational Communication | ||
| Leadership Communication Theories | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Communication Training and Development | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | ||
| Persuasion and Social Influence | ||
| Computer Mediated Communication | ||
| Special Topics in Communication Studies | ||
| Students must earn an overall average of C (2.0) or better in all courses taken for the minor. | ||
| The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement. | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |