THE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units
See "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in The University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major adviser or view it and other current advising information on the CSU, Chico Web.
General Education Requirements: 48 units
See "General Education Requirements" in The University Catalog and The Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings. The course requirements marked below with an asterisk (*) may also be applied toward General Education.
Cultural Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
See "Cultural Diversity" in The University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
American Institutions Requirement: 6 units
See the "American Institutions Requirement" under "Bachelor's Degree Requirements." This requirement is normally fulfilled by completing HIST 130 and POLS 155. Courses used to satisfy this requirement do not apply to General Education.
Literacy Requirement:
See "Mathematics and Writing Requirements" in The University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or better to receive WP credit. See The Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a C- or better before you may register for a WP course.
Course Requirements for the Major: 42-45 units
The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, depending upon the selected option or advising pattern, are outlined following the degree core program requirements.
Communication Studies majors must pass the four specified required courses (three for the core, one for the option) with a C- or better prior to enrolling in 400-level CMST courses. These courses are designated in the following core and option requirements. Students should plan to enroll in these courses to begin their program of study.
DEGREE CORE PROGRAM: 18 units
Communication Studies students must pass CMST 131, CMST 233, and CMST 331 with a C- or better prior to enrolling in any 400-level CMST courses.
4 courses required:
| CMST | 233 | Found of Interpersonal Com | 3.0 | FS |
| CMST | 330 | Theory/Principles Communictn | 3.0 | FS |
| CMST | 331 | Iss in Communication Studies | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or better.
| CMST | 332 | Communication Research | 3.0 | FS |
1 course selected from:
| CMST | 131 | Speech Comm Fundamentals | 3.0 | FS * |
| CMST | 131H | Speech Communication: Honors | 3.0 | FA * |
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the Honors Program.
1 course selected from:
| CMST | 334 | Gender and Communication | 3.0 | FS * |
| CMST | 335 | Intercult Comm Theory/Pract | 3.0 | FS Eth |
Major Option Course Requirements: 24-27 units
The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.
Prior to enrolling in any 400-level courses, all students must complete CMST 131, CMST 233, and CMST 331 with a C- or better. Students selecting the Organizational Communication Option must also complete CMST 370 with a C- or better before enrolling in any 400-level courses. Students selecting the Human Communication Option must complete CMST 255 or CMST 354 with a C- or better before enrolling in any 400-level courses.
THE OPTION IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION: 24 units
5 courses required:
| CMST | 132 | Small Group Communication | 3.0 | FS * |
| CMST | 370 | Intro to Organizational Comm | 3.0 | FS |
| CMST | 470 | Organizational Comm Theories | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors or by faculty permission for non-majors.
| CMST | 472 | Org Ldrshp & Decsn Making | 3.0 | FS WP |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher; CMST 132 for CMST majors or by faculty permission for non-majors.
| CMST | 489 | Internship Program | 1.0 | 10.0FS |
Prerequisites: Completion of 18 units within either the Degree Core, Organizational Communication Option, or Human Communication Option.
CMST 489 must be taken for 3 units.
2 courses selected from:
| CMST | 480 | Mnging Intprs Conflct Thru Com | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher.
| CMST | 482 | Advanced Comm & Career Skills | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher; CMST 132.
| CMST | 484 | Advanced Interviewing Skills | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher; CMST 132 for CMST majors or by faculty permission for non-majors.
3 units selected from:
Upper-division communication elective units (CMST) selected in consultation with your adviser.
NOTE: No more than 8 units of Forensics (CMST 139 and CMST 339) may be counted toward total university requirements.
Formal Minor Requirement
Communication Studies majors with an option in Organizational Communication must complete a formal minor or a second major in a department outside of Communication Studies. Students must obtain their major adviser's approval on their selection of a minor and courses for the minor.
THE OPTION IN HUMAN COMMUNICATION: 27 units
Option Core: 12 units
4 courses required:
| CMST | 251 | Adv Presentational Speaking | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CMST 131.
| CMST | 255 | Argumentation and Debate | 3.0 | FS * |
Prerequisites: CMST 131 or CMST 132.
Prerequisites: CMST 131.
| CMST | 451 | Rhetorical Communicatn Theory | 3.0 | FA WP |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 255 or CMST 354 with a grade of C- or higher.
Option Breadth: 9 units
Students must choose one course from each of the following categories.
Cultural Context
1 course selected from:
| CMST | 132 | Small Group Communication | 3.0 | FS * |
| CMST | 334 | Gender and Communication | 3.0 | FS * |
| CMST | 335 | Intercult Comm Theory/Pract | 3.0 | FS Eth |
| CMST | 356 | Genocide and Mass Persuasion | 3.0 | FS *NW |
| CMST | 455 | Israeli Public Address | 3.0 | F2 |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 255 or CMST 354 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only.
| CMST | 459 | Health Communication | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 331; CMST 233 and CMST 354 or CMST 255 or CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher; either CMST 334 or CMST 335.
Public Advocacy
1 course selected from:
| CMST | 424 | Public Opinion and Propaganda | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 354, or CMST 255, or CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only.
| CMST | 428 | Politics and the Media | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 354, or CMST 255, or CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only.
| CMST | 458 | Social Movement Communication | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 255 or CMST 354 with a grade of C- or higher.
Rhetoric
1 course selected from:
| CMST | 350 | Rhetorical Criticism | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 331, or faculty permission.
| CMST | 454 | Jewish Rhetoric | 3.0 | F1 WP |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher (MJIS majors). CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 255 or CMST 354 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only.
| CMST | 457 | Adv Study of Public Address | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 255 or CMST 354 with a grade of C- or higher.
Option Electives: 6 units
Select two courses from the following that have not been taken for any other requirement.
2 courses selected from:
| CMST | 132 | Small Group Communication | 3.0 | FS * |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| CMST | 334 | Gender and Communication | 3.0 | FS * |
| CMST | 335 | Intercult Comm Theory/Pract | 3.0 | FS Eth |
| CMST | 350 | Rhetorical Criticism | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 331, or faculty permission.
| CMST | 356 | Genocide and Mass Persuasion | 3.0 | FS *NW |
| CMST | 424 | Public Opinion and Propaganda | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 354, or CMST 255, or CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only.
| CMST | 428 | Politics and the Media | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 354, or CMST 255, or CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only.
| CMST | 454 | Jewish Rhetoric | 3.0 | F1 WP |
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher (MJIS majors). CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 255 or CMST 354 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only.
| CMST | 455 | Israeli Public Address | 3.0 | F2 |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 255 or CMST 354 with a grade of C- or higher for CMST majors only.
| CMST | 457 | Adv Study of Public Address | 3.0 | FA |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 255 or CMST 354 with a grade of C- or higher.
| CMST | 458 | Social Movement Communication | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 233, CMST 331, and CMST 255 or CMST 354 with a grade of C- or higher.
| CMST | 459 | Health Communication | 3.0 | FS |
Prerequisites: CMST 131, CMST 331; CMST 233 and CMST 354 or CMST 255 or CMST 370 with a grade of C- or higher; either CMST 334 or CMST 335.
| CMST | 489 | Internship Program | 1.0 | 10.0FS |
Prerequisites: Completion of 18 units within either the Degree Core, Organizational Communication Option, or Human Communication Option.
| CMST | 498 | Special Topics1.0 | 3.0 | FS |
NOTE: No more than 8 units of Forensics (CMST 139 and CMST 339) may be counted toward university requirements.
Electives Requirement:
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total university offerings. You should consult with an adviser regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your university experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.
Grading Requirement:
All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.
Advising Requirement:
Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate adviser for specific information.
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It involves 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.
Your Honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair. Most importantly, however, the Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the university for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or competition in shows; such experience is valuable for graduate school and later professional life.
Some common features of Honors in the Major program are
1. You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. At least 3 of these 6 units are independent study (499H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B. 2. You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units. 3. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5 percent of majors in your department. 4. Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5 percent of majors in your department. 5. Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year. 6. Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your Honors project.
While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major adviser for further information.
Students may apply for admission to the Honors in the Major Program in the College of Communication and Education. In addition to other specific requirements, each Honors student will conduct and publicly present an original research project. Consult the honors adviser in the College of Communication and Education for specific details.