Communication
Contact Information
Phone: 325-674-2136
Majors:Communication (BA)
Minor: Communication | Faculty Carley Dodd, Professor Course Descriptions Please see the Course Descriptions section of this catalog. Course offered by the Department of Communication include those with the following designations: COMS. |
The Department of Communication offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication, and a Bachelor of Science degree in communication. A minor in communication may be added to other majors.
The Master of Arts degree in communication is available. The interdisciplinary Master of Science degree in organizational and human resource development (OHRD) combining business and communication is available and coordinated by the department. See the Graduate School section of this catalog.
A Master of Science degree in Global IT and Leadership is available combing Information Technology, Management Sciences, and Communication. See the Graduate School section of this catalog.
Introduction
The Department of Communication recognizes the increasingly vital role of communication in modern society. Communication permeates all social, corporate, civic, educational and religious situations, and the demand for individuals skilled in its use continues to grow. A basic course in communication is required for most degrees at ACU.
Instructional facilities are located in the Sherrod Building of the Don Morris Center and include well-equipped classrooms, videotaping equipment, multimedia presentation equipment and access to computers. Highly-qualified Christian faculty, many known nationally and internationally, are dedicated to teaching, research and helpful interaction with their students.
The department staffs and operates the ACU Speaking Center housed in the campus library. It provides expertise in all aspects of the creation and delivery of presentations. The services are available to all students, faculty, staff, and community members who may require assistance.
The focus of communication is on information management and interaction. Students successfully completing a major in communication prepare themselves for a variety of careers where people and information come together. It also provides preparatory training for law school, public relations, human resources, sales, management, government work and many other fields that require competence in information management and human interaction. Graduates are especially prepared in such essential areas as team building, the analysis and organization of information, and critical thinking. Communication graduates are successful in careers as diverse as business, ministry, training, insurance, and social and government service.
The program also prepares students who plan to do graduate work in communication and become college communication/speech teachers.
Students interested in pulpit ministry should see the College of Biblical Studies for a degree in Christian ministry.
Study Abroad Expectations
All students are encouraged to participate in ACU’s Study Abroad program. Classes offered at Study Abroad sites vary depending on the site. Academic advisors can assist students in planning ahead for their Study Abroad experience and should be consulted during the freshman year.
Admission Requirements
Before being admitted to the program in communication, a student must satisfy the requirements listed in the ACT/SAT Placement Information section of this catalog.
| BA: COMMUNICATION DEGREE PLAN (COMS) ______________________________________________________________________ | |
|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY CORE | |
| Bible | |
BIBL 101 Life and Teachings of Jesus .................................................................... BIBL 102 Acts-Revelation ..................................................................................... BIBL 211 Message of the Old Testament ................................................................ BIBL 212 Christianity in Culture ............................................................................ Advanced Bible ................................................................................................... | 3 3 3 3 3 |
| English | |
ENGL 111 Composition and Rhetoric ..................................................................... Sophomore Literature .......................................................................................... | 3 3 |
| Speech | |
| COMS 111 Fundamentals of Communication .......................................................... | 3 |
| History | |
| HIST 100-299 ..................................................................................................... | 3 |
| Science | |
Choose from (must include two different fields): biology, chemistry, geology, physics, AENV 130, ANSC 111, ANSC 235, ENVR 112, NUTR 120 ....................... |
6 |
| Mathematics | |
| MATH 120, MATH 123, MATW 120/020 or higher (except MATH 147) ......................... | 3 |
| Exercise Science | |
| EXSC 100 + 3 activities ....................................................................................... | 4 |
| University Seminar | |
| UNIV 100 ........................................................................................................... | 1 |
| TOTAL UNIVERSITY CORE ...................................................................................... | 41 |
| BA DEGREE CORE | |
| English | |
ENGL 112 Composition and Literature ................................................................... Sophomore Literature .......................................................................................... | 3 3 |
| Social Sciences/Humanities | |
| Choose from: anthropology, economics (also AGRB 261), geography, history, philosophy, political science, psychology (also EDUC 221), sociology (maximum one course per area) ..................................................................... |
9 |
| Foreign Language | |
| FLFR, FLGE, FLLA, FLSP 221, 222 ........................................................................... | 6 |
| Fine Arts | |
| Choose one: ART 101, 221, 222, MUSM 230, MUSM 231, MUSM 232, MUSM 233, THEA 220 or THEA 250 ..................................................................... | 3 |
| TOTAL BA CORE ..................................................................................................... | 24 |
| MAJOR REQUIREMENTS | |
| Communication | |
Choose one: COMS 222, 228 or 343 ..................................................................... COMS 236 General Communication Theory ........................................................... COMS 331 Small Group Communication ................................................................ COMS 407 Communication in Society (writing-intensive course) or COMS 491 Rhetorical Theory (writing-intensive course) ..................................... COMS 483 Advanced Public Speaking ................................................................... COMS 499 Communication Internship ................................................................... | 3 3 3
3 3 3 |
| Area of Emphasis | |
Selected from one communication track: Intercultural recommendations: COMS 341, 345, 376, 383, 436, 485 ....................... Interpersonal recommendations: COMS 341, 345, 375, 376, 384, 430, 436 .............. Organizational recommendations: COMS 375, 383, 384, 408, 421, 430, 485, 486 ...... Public and corporate advocacy: COMS 222, 343, 375, 408, 421, 485, 491 ................ |
18 18 18 18 |
| TOTAL .................................................................................................................... | 36 |
| ELECTIVES | |
Recommended minors: Intercultural track: business, missions, psychology Interpersonal track: Bible, English, psychology, sociology Organizational track: business, digital media, integrated marketing communication Public and corporate advocacy track: business, integrated marketing communication |
|
| Minimum .............................................................................................................. | 27 |
| OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS | |
Minimum grade for each course in major ............................................................... Minimum GPA for graduation ................................................................................ Minimum advanced hours .................................................................................... Minimum total hours ............................................................................................ | C 2.00 33 128 |
Courses numbered 0** do not count in minimum hours required for degree. | |
BS: COMMUNICATION DEGREE PLAN (COMS) ______________________________________________________________________ | |
|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY CORE | |
| Bible | |
BIBL 101 Life and Teachings of Jesus .................................................................... BIBL 102 Acts-Revelation ..................................................................................... BIBL 211 Message of the Old Testament ................................................................ BIBL 212 Christianity in Culture ............................................................................ Advanced Bible ................................................................................................... | 3 3 3 3 3 |
| English | |
ENGL 111 Composition and Rhetoric ...................................................................... Sophomore Literature .......................................................................................... | 3 3 |
| Speech | |
| COMS 111 Fundamentals of Communication ........................................................... | 3 |
| History | |
| HIST 100-299 ...................................................................................................... | 3 |
| Science | |
Choose from (must include two different fields): biology, chemistry, geology, physics, AENV 130, ANSC 111, ANSC 235, ENVR 112, NUTR 120 ....................... |
6 |
| Mathematics | |
| MATH 120, MATH 123, MATW 120/020 or higher (except MATH 147) ......................... | 3 |
| Exercise Science | |
| EXSC 100 + 3 activities ........................................................................................ | 4 |
| University Seminar | |
| UNIV 100 ............................................................................................................ | 1 |
| TOTAL UNIVERSITY CORE ...................................................................................... | 41 |
| BS DEGREE CORE | |
| English | |
| ENGL 112 Composition and Literature .................................................................... | 3 |
| Social Sciences/Humanities | |
| Choose from: anthropology, economics (also AGRB 261), geography, history, philosophy, political science, psychology (also EDUC 221), sociology (maximum one course per area) ...................................................................... |
9 |
| Fine Arts | |
| Choose one: ART 101, 221, 222, MUSM 230, MUSM 231, MUSM 232, MUSM 233, THEA 220 or THEA 250 ..................................................................... | 3 |
| TOTAL BS CORE ...................................................................................................... | 15 |
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS | |
| Communication | |
| COMS 222 Debate: Theory and Practice or COMS 228 Oral Interpretation or COMS 343 Business and Professional Communication ........................................ COMS 236 General Communication Theory ........................................................... COMS 331 Small Group Communication ................................................................ COMS 407 Communication in Society (writing-intensive course) or COMS 491 Rhetorical Theory (writing-intensive course) ..................................... COMS 483 Advanced Public Speaking ................................................................... COMS 485 Organizational Communication ............................................................. COMS 499 Communication Internship ................................................................... |
3 3 3
3 3 3 3 |
| Area of Emphasis | |
Selected from one communication track: Intercultural recommendations: COMS 341, 345, 376, 383, 436, 485 ........................ Interpersonal recommendations: COMS 341, 345, 375, 376, 384, 430, 436 ............... Organizational recommendations: COMS 375, 383, 384, 408, 421, 430, 485, 486 ...... Public and corporate advocacy: COMS 222, 343, 375, 408, 421, 485, 491 ................. |
18 18 18 18 |
| TOTAL .................................................................................................................... | 39 |
| SUPPLEMENT FOR MAJOR | |
One Research Tool Choose from: IS 322; SOCI 415, 416; PSYC 311 ................................................... |
3-4 |
| TOTAL .................................................................................................................... | 3-4 |
| ELECTIVES | |
Minimum ............................................................................................................. | 29-30 |
OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS | |
Minimum grade for each course in major ............................................................... Minimum GPA for graduation ................................................................................ Minimum advanced hours ..................................................................................... Minimum total hours ............................................................................................ | C 2.00 33 128 |
Courses numbered 0** do not count in minimum hours required for degree. | |
| MINOR: COMMUNICATION (COMS) | |
|---|---|
COMS 111 Fundamentals of Communication .......................................................... COMS 100-499 ................................................................................................... COMS 300-499 ................................................................................................... | 3 3 12 |
| TOTAL .................................................................................................................... | 18 |
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