Communication Studies - Bachelor of Arts

In addition to completing the general education requirements of the university and the college, students majoring in communication studies are required to complete 21 credits of core COMM courses and 15 credits of COMM electives for a total of 36 credits. Any exception to these policies requires department head approval.

All COMM courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better.

Undergraduate Course Rotation:

Fall

COMM 3110 Communication Theory and Discovery             

COMM 3710 Communication and Culture           

COMM 3610 Interpersonal Communication            

Spring

COMM 3120 Persuasion Theory and Practice

COMM 3510 Organizational Communication

COMM 4998 Communication Internship

Requirements

Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.

Prefix Title Credits
General Education
Area I: Communications
English Composition - Level 1 14
English Composition - Level 2 13
Oral Communication
COMM 1115GIntroduction to Communication (Communication Core Course)3
Area II: Mathematics 13-4
Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences10-11
Area III: Laboratory Sciences Course (4 credits) 1
Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences Course (3 credits) 1
Either an Area III/IV: Laboratory Science Course or Social/Behavioral Science Course (4 or 3 credits) 1
Area V: Humanities 13
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts 13
General Education Elective 13-4
Viewing a Wider World 26
Departmental/College Requirements
Core Courses18
The department requires 21 total credits of Core Courses with the classes listed below and COMM 1115G from the General Education requirements
Communication Theory and Discovery3
Persuasion Theory and Practice3
Organizational Communication3
Communication and Culture3
Interpersonal Communication3
Communication Internship3
Departmental Elective Courses18
Second Language Requirement: (required- see below)0-8
Electives to bring total credits to 120 335-46
Total Credits120
1

 For Information regarding the General Education Course Requirements see the General Education section of the catalog.

2

See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses

3

Elective credit may vary based on prerequisites, dual credit, AP credit, double majors, and/or minor coursework. The amount indicated in the requirements list is the amount needed to bring the total to 120 credits and may appear in variable form based on the degree. However, students may end up needing to complete more or less on a case-by-case basis and students should discuss elective requirements with their advisor.

Second Language Requirement

For the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, there is a one-year second language requirement, the options to complete this requirement are listed below. The number of credits that a student needs to take may vary depending on what level they come in with. Please speak with an advisor for more information as to which courses you will need to take to fulfill the second language requirement for this degree.

Option 1:

Prefix Title Credits
Complete one of the following sequences:
FREN 1110
FREN 1120
French I
and French II
4-8
GRMN 1110
GRMN 1120
German I
and German II
4-8
JAPN 1110
JAPN 1120
Japanese I
and Japanese II
4-8
SPAN 1110
SPAN 1120
Spanish I
and Spanish II
4-8
PORT 1110
PORT 1120
Portuguese I
and Portuguese II
3-6
For Heritage Speakers:
SPAN 1210
SPAN 1220
Elementary Spanish for Heritage Learners I
and Spanish for Heritage Learners II
3-6
or SPAN 2210 Spanish for Heritage Learners III

Option 2:

Prefix Title Credits
Complete the following sequence for American Sign Language (with a C- or better):
SIGN 1110
SIGN 1120
American Sign Language I
and American Sign Language II
3-6

Option 3:

Prefix Title Credits
Challenge or complete the 1120 level for the following courses:
FREN 1120French II4
or GRMN 1120 German II
or JAPN 1120 Japanese II
or SPAN 1120 Spanish II
OR
Challenge or complete the 1120/1220/2210 level for the following courses:
PORT 1120Portuguese II3
or SPAN 1220 Spanish for Heritage Learners II
or SPAN 2210 Spanish for Heritage Learners III
or SIGN 1120 American Sign Language II

Option 4:

Participate in an experiential learning study abroad course sponsored by NMSU or an approved International Internship that enhances the students' cultural competency through cultural understanding and experience. Please meet with the head of the Department of Communication Studies for information. Students must pass the course with a C- or higher.

Option 5:

Pass (with a C-or higher) any three-credit, upper-division course (numbered 300 or above) taught in a second language by the department of Languages and Linguistics.

Option 6:

Obtain college certification of completion of two years of a second language at the high school level with a grade of C- or higher in the second-year level.

Option 7:

By obtaining certification of a working knowledge of a Native American language from the American Indian program director.

Option 8:

By obtaining, from the head of the Department of Languages and Linguistics, certification of a working knowledge of a second language if such language is not taught at NMSU.

Option 9:

In the case of a foreign student who is required to take the TOEFL exam admission, the dean will automatically waive the second language requirement.

A Suggested Plan of Study for Students

This roadmap assumes student placement in MATH 1130G Survey of Mathematics and ENGL 1110G Composition I. The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.

Plan of Study Grid
FreshmanCredits
Choose one from the following: 1 4
Composition I
Composition I Honors
Composition I
COMM 1115G Introduction to Communication 3
MATH 1130G Survey of Mathematics 3
FYEX 1112 The Freshman Year Experience 3
Choose one from the following: 2 3
Advanced Composition
Professional and Technical Communication Honors
Advanced Technical and Professional Communication
Writing in the Humanities and Social Science
Area IV: Social/Behavioral Science Course 2 3
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts Course 2 3
Area III: Laboratory Science Course 2 4
Area V: Humanities Course 2 3
Elective Course 1
 Credits30
Sophomore
COMM 3110 Communication Theory and Discovery (offered Fall only) 3
COMM 3710
Communication and Culture (offered Fall only)
or Interpersonal Communication
3
Area III: Laboratory Science Course OR Area IV: Social/Behavioral Science Course 2 3-4
First Course in Second Language Requirement 2 3-4
Second Course in Secound Language Requirements 2 3-4
COMM 3120 Persuasion Theory and Practice (offered Spring only) 3
COMM Elective Course 3
Elective Course(s) 9
 Credits30-33
Junior
COMM 3610
Interpersonal Communication (offered Fall only)
or Communication and Culture
3
COMM Elective Course(s) 6
VWW - Viewing a Wider World Courses(s) 3 6
COMM 3510 Organizational Communication (offered Spring only) 3
Elective Course(s) 9
Upper-Division Elective Course(s) 3
 Credits30
Senior
COMM Elective Course 3
Upper-Division Elective Course(s) 24
Choose one from the following: 3
Communication Internship (offered Spring only)
COMM Elective Course (3 credits)
 Credits30
 Total Credits120-123
1

These courses may have prerequisites and/or co-requisites, and it is the student's responsibility to fulfill all requirements.

2

See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.

3

See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.