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 1 | 4 | |
| English Composition - Level 2 1 | 3 | |
| Oral Communication | ||
| COMM 1115G | Introduction to Communication (Communication Core Course) | 3 |
| Area II: Mathematics 1 | 3-4 | |
| Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences | 10-11 | |
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 1 | 3 | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts 1 | 3 | |
| General Education Elective 1 | 3-4 | |
| Viewing a Wider World 2 | 6 | |
| Departmental/College Requirements | ||
| Core Courses | 18 | |
| 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 Discovery | 3 | |
| Persuasion Theory and Practice | 3 | |
| Organizational Communication | 3 | |
| Communication and Culture | 3 | |
| Interpersonal Communication | 3 | |
| Communication Internship | 3 | |
| Departmental Elective Courses | 18 | |
| Second Language Requirement: (required- see below) | 0-8 | |
| Electives to bring total credits to 120 3 | 35-46 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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For Information regarding the General Education Course Requirements see the General Education section of the catalog.
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See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses
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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 1120 | French II | 4 |
| 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 1120 | Portuguese II | 3 |
| 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.
| Freshman | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| COMM 3110 | Communication Theory and Discovery (offered Fall only) | 3 |
| COMM 3710 or COMM 3610 | 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 | |
| Credits | 30-33 | |
| Junior | ||
| COMM 3610 or COMM 3710 | 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 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| 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) | ||
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 120-123 | |
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These courses may have prerequisites and/or co-requisites, and it is the student's responsibility to fulfill all requirements.
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See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
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See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.