Communication, B.S.

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Communication Studies
Public Relations

The Communication Major is designed to prepare undergraduate students for the future in two ways. First, students are prepared to become professional communicators. The professional communicator role involves, but is not limited to, public relations, training, investor relations, human resources, community relations, crisis management, and governmental or legislative relations. Second, students are prepared to make contributions to a variety of organizations from a communication perspective. Students have the opportunity to develop special knowledge and skill with regard to conflict, groups, leadership, relationships, public relations, political campaigns, organizations, etc. Whichever path students choose, they can be assured that communication knowledge and skills are highly valued.

Communication majors choose one of two concentrations leading to the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree. The concentrations are Public Relations and Communication Studies.

All majors in Communication must complete: 1) 43-45 hours of Core Curriculum requirements; 2) the 6 to 8-hour B.S. requirement or the 6 to 8-hour B.A. requirement; 3) 6 hours of the School of Communication Core Requirements and 36 hours of a concentration in Public Relations or Communication Studies for a total of 42 hours in the School of Communication; and 4) elective courses for a total of 120 hours. A minor or a 15-hour concentration of conceptually related courses is strongly recommended.

Core Curriculum Requirements (43-45 credits)

In College Core B , all majors in programs in the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences are required to pass a second course in Social and Behavioral Sciences; i.e., CHBS majors cannot fulfill College Core B requirements with a Health and Wellness course.

B.S. Requirements (6-8 credits)

The Bachelor of Science degree requires six semester hours, in addition to Core Curriculum requirements, selected from any of the following areas: Math, statistics, computer science, or natural science (including GEOS 130 , GEOS 336 , GEOS 335 and GEOS 350 ). In addition, the following courses may be used to meet the B.S. requirement:

Note(s):

*denotes prerequisites exist for these courses

School of Communication Core (6 credits)

Students in the School of Communication must complete these two courses with a grade of “C” or higher.

Concentrations

Communication Studies

The concentration in Communication Studies prepares students for positions in both the private and public sectors as well as providing a solid foundation in the Communication discipline for those desiring to continue their education in graduate school. Courses in communication studies combine material from the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences in order to explain how and why people interact in the ways they do. Students in the Communication Studies concentration will study the ways that people use communication in public life, politics, and social movements. Students will learn how to analyze and evaluate communication practices in a wide variety of settings and be able to apply practical, oral, written and visual communication skills and knowledge necessary for success in the 21st century marketplace.

Total required hours for the concentration: (36 credits)

Required Courses: (24 credits)

(STAT 130 or STAT 200 is a required course but can be counted toward College Core B, Additional Mathematical or Natural Science, or the BS degree requirements).

Choose three of the following: (9 credits)

Electives in COMS (3 credits)

Public Relations

The concentration in Public Relations prepares students for positions as professional communicators by providing a combination of technical communication skills and theoretic knowledge necessary to make them competitive for entry-level public relations positions.

Total required hours for the major 36

Required Courses (27 credits)

(STAT 130 or STAT 200 is a required course but can be counted toward College Core B, Additional Mathematical or Natural Science, or the BS degree requirements).

Note(s):

*Students must earn a “C” or better in COMS 235 .

**Students wishing to complete an internship must have a 2.0 GPA in the major and must apply and interview for the privilege of participating in an internship experience.

Electives (9 credits)

Choose 9 credit hours of elective credits from School of Communication courses. Six (6) credit hours must be at the 300 or 400 level. No more than 6 hours of internship credit (including the 3 required hours) may be used to meet requirements for the major.

Suggested electives include:

Internships

Internships are available at approved agencies for qualified students. Students work under departmental supervision in private corporations, public organizations, advertising and public relations agencies, lobbying groups, and other organizations that will provide a suitable environment for learning. To qualify for an internship, a student must be a major in Communication and must be in good academic standing with 75 hours of credit completed. Communication majors have interned at Burson-Marsteller Public Relations, Frankfurt, Germany; Edelman Public Relations, Washington, D.C.; Gray and Rice Public Relations, Boston, Massachusetts; Stanton Communications, Washington, D.C.; United Way, Roanoke, Virginia; Pulaski Rangers Minor League Baseball, Pulaski, Virginia; Police Department, Roanoke, Virginia; Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles; Virginia Tourism; Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Spartanburg, South Carolina; Blue Ridge Hospice, Winchester, Virginia; The Children’s Museum, Washington, D. C.; Carilion Health Care System; Crawford Long Medical Center; United Network for Organ Sharing, Richmond, Virginia; and the International Association of Travel Agencies.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a major in Communication, a student must have a grade point average of 2.25 or higher for all courses taken with a COMS prefix.