You are in the official 2001-2002 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.

Department of Communication

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Communication Major

The communication major is designed to develop broad-based competencies not only in oral and written communication, in critical analysis, and in statistics and research methods, but also emphasizes how to employ these skills in specific contexts such as business management, political persuasion, or public relations.

Major requirements (42 units)
Fundamental communication processes and skills (6 units)
Select two from COMM 3, 4, 5, 7, 8

Core competencies (12 units)
COMM 100, 140, 142, 166

Personal and professional communication (18 units)
Select two courses in each area

• Personal and relational settings: COMM 108, 120, 150, 162, 164
• Advocacy in public settings: COMM 15/115, 103, 105, 146, 148, 149, 163, 170
• Organizational and professional settings: COMM 165, 167, 168, 171, 176, 179

Electives in major (6 units)
Select two upper-division courses from settings above and/or COMM 106, 107, 114, 115, 116, 160, 169, 188T, 189, 190

General Education (51 units)

Electives and remaining degree requirements (31-37 units)*

Total (124 units)

__________

See Advising Note 1.

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Advising Notes

1. This total indicates that 6 units of COMM 3, 5, 7 and/or 8 also may be applied to fulfill General Education Foundation A1 and A3 requirements.
2. No more than 3 units from COMM 15 and 115 can count toward fulfillment of the communication major.
3. CR/NC grading is not permitted in the communication major with the exception of COMM 179 (Internship).
4. No more than 6 units of COMM 179 (Internship) may be applied toward completion of the communication major.
5. Students are allowed only 3 units of COMM 190 and no more than 6 units toward the baccalaureate degree.
6. No General Education Multicultural/International course offered by the Communication Department may be used to satisfy the General Education requirements for majors in the department.

Teaching Credential Program
Speech/English*

The following 52-unit course of study, referred to as the Speech/English Single Subject Waiver Program, will be accepted by the department as a major in communication. Teacher education students will take the following courses:

Lower Division Core**
COMM 3, 4, 8; DRAMA 22 (12 units)

Core Courses
COMM 5, 7, and 114 (CTET 158); ENGL 189, 183T or 193T; LING 100, 146 (23 units)

Electives
ENGL 161, 163, or 164; ENGL 154 or 155; ENGL 112, 113, 114, 146, 147, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 167, 168, 169, 183T, 193T, or 194; LING 138, DRAMA 131 or 136 (15 units)

Breadth Courses
COMM 100 or 115; COMM 160 or 164; COMM 108 or 162; and any upper-division speech course not used not used in previous electives (12 units)

_________

*This program of study is recognized as the Single Subject Waiver for a Speech/English credential. Total units may vary from 55-61 depending on General Education courses.

** Since COMM 3, 5, 7 and/or 8 also may be applied to fulfill General Education Breadth A1 and A3 requirements, the number of elective units for the degree will vary from 31-37 units. Consult the credential adviser for additional details.

 

See School of Education and Human Development for additional professional education requirements for a credential.

Students wishing to pursue a course of study leading to a teaching credential should see the departmental director of teacher education for advising early in their programs as state requirements change frequently.

Communication Minor

Increasingly, oral and written communication, problem solving and decision making, leadership, and conflict resolution skills are being recognized as vital skills for professionals in all fields of work. The Communication Minor is designed to develop these competencies in order to help students better meet their particular career goals. While a specific minor is recommended, you may wish to consult with your department adviser about designing a minor to suit your special objectives.

Core requirements (15 units)
COMM 5, 7, 8, 100, 140

Electives (6 units)
Approved upper-division communication courses

Total (21 units)

Note: The Communication Minor also requires a 2.0 GPA and 6 upper-division units in residence.

Communication Skills for Professionals Certificate

Proficiency in communication skills is essential in virtually any professional career. The Communication Program offers a structured sequence of courses leading to a certificate of special study recognizing the focused development of professional communication skills in such areas as presentational speaking, problem solving and decision making, leadership, and interpersonal communication. Upon completion of the certificate requirements, the department will award a certificate.

Certificate Prerequisites: upper-division standing and completion of the General Education basic speech requirement.

Certificate Requirements. Check with department prior to beginning certificate requirements regarding program status.

Communication Theory: COMM 100 (3 units)
Professional Writing Skills: IS 105W, ENGL 164, 166, MCJ 10 (3-4 units)
Business and Professional Speaking: COMM 170 (3 units)
Communication Training and Development: COMM 176 (3 units)
Elect 6 units from COMM 103, 108, 162, 167, 168, 169 (6 units)
Total (18-19 units)

The new Communication Skills for Professionals Certificate Program is designed to enable students to achieve recognition of development in such areas as presentational speaking, problem solving and decision making, leadership, and interpersonal communication.

Graduate Program

The Master of Arts degree program in Communication is designed to be a comprehensive program reflecting the history and breadth of the communication discipline. Four objectives serve as measures for competent M.A. graduates of the program. First, all graduates will have a comprehensive understanding of the historical and philosophical assumptions of the communication discipline, as well as the various theoretical perspectives underlying scholarship in the discipline. Second, all graduates will recognize and be able to use appropriate communication strategies in formal, informal, professional, and personal contexts. Third, all graduates will understand quantitative and qualitative methods of research in communication. Fourth, all graduates will understand various communication perspectives and will have a clear understanding of their own personal perspective and ideologies.

 

Master of Arts Degree Requirements

The graduate program in communication is designed to extend the competencies of students in the study of human communication. Graduate assistantships in forensics and a teaching assistantship program for teaching provide students with opportunities for financial assistance and additional educational experiences.

The graduate program in communication assumes undergraduate preparation equivalent to a California State University, Fresno major or minor in communication. The Communication Department offers a 30 unit Master of Arts degree with coursework in three areas of human communication: rhetoric and public address, communication, and applied communication. Coursework in these areas provides preparation for a variety of career opportunities including teaching and doctoral work in communication and rhetoric,* business and industry, public service, law, and government.**

 

Program Requirements

Admission Requirements for Classified Standing. See Admission to Graduate Degree Programs with Graduate Standing in the Division of Graduate Studies of this catalog.

COMM 241 and 262 (6 units)

COMM 205, 214, 215, 242M, 243, 244, 262, 263, 264M, 265, 266, 268, 276, 290 (12 units)

Electives (3-9 units)

Culminating experiences (3-6 units)
Select one of the following:
A. Comprehensive Examination (take at least 3 units of approved communication electives)
B. COMM 298: Graduate Project (3-6 units; additional approved communication electives if needed)
C. COMM 299: Thesis (3-6 units; additional approved communication electives if needed)

Minimum total (30 units)

__________

* For those individuals pursuing careers in teaching and doctoral work, the Communication Department highly recommends selecting 12 units from among the following core requirements: COMM 205, 215, 242M, 243, 244, 214, 263, 264M, 265, and 266.

** For those individuals pursuing professional careers such as business and industry, public service, law, and government, the Communication Department highly recommends selecting 12 units from among the following core requirements: COMM 214, 215, 263, 264M, 265, 266, 268, and 276.

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Advising Notes

1. At least 21 units in the student's program of study must be in 200-level (seminar) courses.
2. One methods seminar (COMM 242M or 264M) is required in every program. Successful completion of one of these classes also fulfills the graduate writing skills requirement.
3. At least 3 units of electives must be an upper-division or seminar course in a department other than communication. Any other elective requirements can be met by any approved communication seminar, upper-division communication course, or appropriate course outside the department. Elective requirements are approved by the graduate student's graduate committee.
   

 

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