CanvasProgram Description
Communication Studies majors learn human interactions and skills including: public speaking, academic writing, relationship maintenance and ethical strategies. This scholarship results in an environment in which lifelong learners thrive. We offer 5 different degree emphases, and a degree completion program. Come learn alongside our award-winning faculty as we prepare you to enter the workforce upon graduation. Dixie State University Communication Studies graduates are skilled, knowledgeable, and prepared to create their own path for success. Join us in our pursuit to understand how human interaction affects the world we live in today.
Admission Requirements
Students must be admitted to Dixie State University including submitting previous college transcripts to the Registrar’s Office before they will be considered for admission to the Communication Studies program. Departmental approval is required prior to formally declaring communication as a major. Students are admitted to the Communication Studies baccalaureate program upon completion of the following admission requirements:
1. Cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C) or higher
2. Completion of a Communication Studies Program admission application
3. Consultation with a Communication Studies Advisor
Students may self-declare “pre-Communication Studies” (BS-CMST-P) as their major before completing the consultation with a Communication Advisor.
Advisement
Students will consult with the Communication Department advisor who will review the student's current academic status, explain degree requirements, and assist in creating a degree completion plan. Students must submit a program admission application with their advisor to declare a major. Upon nearing degree completion, the student must again meet with the advisor to go over the graduation checklist and sign the graduation audit. Advisors provide an important resource in helping to stay on track toward academic goals throughout the Communication course of study.
Academic Requirements
To remain in the Communication baccalaureate program, students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 (C) or better. Students are also required to achieve not less than a C in each lower- and upper-division core communication class. If a student does not achieve this level in any core class, s/he will be required to take it again until the standard is met.
Program Curriculum
120 credits
Utah Tech General Education Requirements
All Utah Tech General Education requirements must be fulfilled. A previously earned degree may fulfill those requirements, but courses must be equivalent to Utah Tech's minimum General Education standards in American Institutions, English, and Mathematics.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Core Requirements | ||
| English | 3-7 | |
| Mathematics | 3-5 | |
| American Institutions | 3-6 | |
| Life Sciences | 3-10 | |
| Physical Sciences | 3-5 | |
| Laboratory Science | 0-1 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Literature/Humanities | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Exploration | 3-5 | |
Communication Studies Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 1010 | Elements of Effective Communication | 3 |
| COMM 1020 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM 1270 | Critical Thinking and Communicating (SS) | 3 |
| COMM 2060 | Introduction to Communication Theory (SS, GC) | 3 |
| COMM 2110 | Interpersonal Communication (SS, GC) | 3 |
| COMM 2120 | Small Group Communication | 3 |
| COMM 3190 | Intercultural Communication (SS, GC) | 3 |
| COMM 4450 | Communication Research | 3 |
| COMM 4900R | Communication Internship | 3 |
| COMM 4980 | Senior Seminar (Capstone) | 3 |
Human Communication Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 3010 | Nonverbal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 3120 | Family Communication | 3 |
| or COMM 3400 | Gender Communication | |
| COMM 3290 | Globalization, Culture, and Identity | 3 |
| COMM 4115 | Communicating in Close Relationships | 3 |
| COMM 4500 | Communication and Conflict | 3 |
Human Communication Emphasis Elective Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete nine (9) credits from the following: | ||
| COMM 3120 | Family Communication | 3 |
| or COMM 3400 | Gender Communication | |
| COMM 3230 | Health Communication | 3 |
| COMM 3460 | Critical and Rhetorical Analysis | 3 |
| COMM 3510 | Ethics in Communication | 3 |
| COMM 3550 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| COMM 4010 | Persuasion | 3 |
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits (1000 and above).
- Complete at least 40 upper-division credits (3000 and above).
- Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at Utah Tech for institutional residency.
- Cumulative GPA 2.5 or higher.
- Grade C or higher in each Core Discipline Requirement course.
Graduation Plan
| 1st Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| First Year Recommended Elective | 2 | COMM 1020 | 3 |
| ENGL 1010 | 3 | ENGL 2010 | 3 |
| General Education (Mathematics - MATH 1040 recommended) | 3 | General Education (Literature/Humanities) | 3 |
| General Education (Fine Arts) | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| COMM 1010 | 3 | COMM 2110 | 3 |
| Milestones & Notes: Meet with your program advisor. | Milestones & Notes: Meet with your program advisor. | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| 2nd Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| COMM 1270 | 3 | COMM 2060 | 3 |
| COMM 2120 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Education (American Institutions) | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Education (Life Sciences) | 3 | General Education (Exploration) | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Education (Physical Sciences and Lab) | 4 |
| Milestones & Notes: Meet with your program advisor. | Milestones & Notes: Meet with your program advisor. | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| 3rd Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| COMM 3190 | 3 | COMM 4900R | 3 |
| COMM 3010 | 3 | COMM 3120 | 3 |
| COMM 3290 | 3 | COMM 4450 | 3 |
| Human Communication Elective | 3 | COMM 4500 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | Human Communication Emphasis Elective | 3 |
| Milestones & Notes: Meet with your program advisor. | General Elective | 3 | |
| Milestones & Notes: Meet with your program advisor. | |||
| 15 | 18 | ||
| 4th Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| COMM 4115 | 3 | COMM 4980 | 3 |
| Human Communication Emphasis Elective | 3 | Upper Division Elective | 3 |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | Upper Division Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| Milestones & Notes: Meet with your program advisor. | General Elective | 3 | |
| Milestones & Notes: Meet with your program advisor. | |||
| 12 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
| * | Communication Studies Electives are courses that are prerequisites to upper division Communication or Media Studies coursework. These courses may be used to explore Communication Studies disciplines. |
BS Communication Studies Program Learning Outcomes
At the successful conclusion of this program, students will be able to:
- Apply and demonstrate the importance of foundations and contributions of communication in both historical and contemporary contexts.
- Identify and evaluate ethical communication in personal, professional, and societal contexts.
- Illustrate how communication concepts and theories are used to understand communication behaviors in a variety of contexts, including small groups, organizations, interpersonal and professional relationships, and public discourse.
- Synthesize and apply communication theory and skills to solve problems, manage personal and professional relationships, and overcome communication barriers.
- Integrate critical reasoning into the formulation and delivery of effective and ethical personal, social, professional, and public oral and written messages for a variety of audience compositions in numerous contexts.
- Analyze and critique messages from personal, social, professional, and public sources to determine message effectiveness, ethics, appropriateness, and strategies utilized by the message designer.
- Apply effective and appropriate written and oral communication skills when exposed to intercultural settings, and cross-cultural environments to achieve a cultural sensitivity to diversity, as well as to navigate and overcome potential communication differences.