Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

• Oral and written communication competence.
• The development of critical thinking skills.
• The development of both social and professional skills.

The Department of Communication Studies offers a variety of program areas, including interpersonal communication, public communication, print and electronic journalism, advertising, public relations, media theory and history, as well as radio, television, and film/video production. While each of these program areas have distinct outcomes in regard to professional competence, the faculty makes a strong effort to work collaboratively to assure that the measure of success in earning a degree in Communication Studies is defined in three departmental outcome goals which we seek to make one in the learning process:

1. Oral and written communication competence.
2. The development of critical thinking skills.
3. The development of both social and professional skills.

We recognize that the development of "professional skills" involve both general and specific outcomes. General outcomes include producing students who display professional standards in regard to interpersonal, intercultural, and organizational communication skills, as well as professional work habits (punctuality, reliability, ethical discernment, teambuilding, etc.). Specific professional skills taught in the Department prepare students to succeed in the professional areas of business communication, health communication, advertising, public relations, film, broadcasting, and journalism.

The Department makes a conscious effort to assess our curricula, teaching, as well as learning processes, and student/faculty competence, on the basis of student learning outcomes. We take pride in our reputation as a "teaching" department.

These outcome goals must equally serve students who will be immediately entering the workplace following the attainment of their undergraduate degree, as well as those who will be entering graduate school programs in a wide variety of academic areas (law, business, interpersonal and public communication, journalism, film, among others).

In every departmental course/lab, we consciously seek to employ specific learning process options that reinforce the three goals above.

A minor in communication studies may be earned by completing two required courses (COMM-ST 110 and COMM-ST 308), plus another 12 credit hours in any 300- or 400-level courses within the department, with the exception of those courses listed below. Students may declare their minor by meeting with the undergraduate advisor and filing a completed Declaration of Major Form (available in 202 Haag Hall) with a current copy of their transcript. Only minor courses with a grade of C- or higher will be accepted for credit in the minor.

COMM-ST 390 does not count toward the minor in Communication Studies.

Minimum GPA: 2.0