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    Mar 29, 2024  
2008-2009 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2008-2009 Undergraduate Bulletin [Archived Bulletin]

Communication Studies Major


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Communication Studies Major Program

The communication studies major involves students in critical inquiry and informed practice. Because communication pervades all human enterprise, communication professionals have a special responsibility to create and analyze messages with critical attention to the processes that shape them, the information that supports them, the arguments they make, and the effects they produce. Communication is central to our personal and social lives, enables us to participate meaningfully in civic life, and is valued highly by employers. Whether the messages are verbal or nonverbal, face-to-face or mediated, private or public, as a communication studies student you will be challenged to create, describe, analyze, explain, and evaluate them as a knowledgeable communicator. Your goal will be to understand:

  • the character of communication interaction processes,
  • the interaction of diversity and communication,
  • the impact of communication once enacted,
  • what constitutes effective communication in different contexts,
  • how to formulate questions related to communication problems and devise ways to answer those questions,
    and
  • how to develop your own communicative competence.

The communication studies major is composed of several required core courses and additional courses chosen in conjunction with the program advisor. Students choose additional courses depending upon their individual interests and the direction they wish to pursue in the field. Communication studies faculty work closely with students to direct them to coursework that will be most beneficial to them given their academic and career interests.

The communication studies major is appropriate for students pursuing a general liberal arts degree who desire a flexible preparation applicable to many contexts. It is a strong major for those who intend to go to law school, who want to go into teaching (particularly elementary education), and who are interested in sales, management training, social work, broadcasting, journalism, public relations, advertising, media analysis, graduate school in communication studies and related areas, and other careers.

The Communication Studies major also prepares students for careers and/or graduate study in several different specializations. Communication Studies faculty are prepared to support students who wish to specialize in areas such as communication in relational contexts (for example, interpersonal, group, and organizational communication), strategic communication processes (such as argumentation, public relations, and advertising), and media studies (including journalism and media production). Some students may also be interested in pursuing the certificate in international journalism in addition to the communication studies major. (See Hamline’s Certificate in International Journalism in this Bulletin.) Faculty members regularly advise students in designing a course plan to achieve the desired specialization.

Major Requirements: Communication Studies


The communication studies major consists of at least 11 courses chosen in consultation with your communication studies major advisor. For course descriptions, see communication studies courses.

One course chosen from:


At least three upper level courses in communication processes:


One additional elective:


In addition to the upper level courses listed above, the following courses in Communication Studies may be applied to the major as electives:

  • COMM 1980/3980 - Special Topics
  • COMM 5980 - Advanced Topics in Communication Studies
    or other ACTC communication studies courses selected in consultation with your communication studies major advisor

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