Communication

[ major | graduate program | courses | faculty ]

127 Media Center Communication Building, Marshall College
(858) 534-4410
http://communication.ucsd.edu

Communication at UC San Diego is a field of study that emphasizes the role of technologies and institutions of communication, from language to television, to the Internet and beyond, in mediating human experience. It draws from such social science disciplines as anthropology, psychology, sociology, and political science, and from the humanities and fine arts, including theatre, literature, and visual arts. Communication students will develop a critical awareness of the communicative forces that affect their everyday lives.

The communication major is not designed as a training program in advertising, journalism, production, or public relations. It provides students with a solid liberal arts background necessary for graduate studies in communication and other disciplines, and for professional work in a number of communication-related fields, including primary and secondary education.

Though the emphasis of the major is not a technical one, the faculty in the Department of Communication believe that students will develop a deeper understanding of how communication works by exploring firsthand the capabilities and limitations of a variety of media; students, therefore, will have the opportunity to conduct part of their studies in video, computer communication, or other forms of media practice.

The Communication Major

Degree offered: Bachelor of Arts

Effective fall 2012, the major consists of one lower-division course and twelve upper-division courses. None of the major courses may be taken on a Pass/Not Pass basis.

Lower Division

*COMM 10. Introduction to Communication

Upper Division

*COMM 100A. Situated Practices

*COMM 100B. Interpretive Strategies

*COMM 100C. Social Formations

*COMM 190. Junior Seminar in Communication

Eight upper-division communication electives. No more than four may be taken at the COMM 101-119 level, and at least four must be taken at the COMM 120-189 level. No more than two courses with the same course number (e.g. COMM 101D and COMM 101E) may count toward this requirement.

*These courses must be taken at UC San Diego.

Note: If students choose to do a 198, 199, or 197 note the following. COMM 198, 199, 197 grading option is Pass/Not Pass and only ONE may be applied to the major to satisfy an upper-division elective. AIP 197 must be petitioned for approval for the major.

Residency Requirement

Students are required to complete at least ten classes of their overall work in the major at UC San Diego. Following are the communication classes required to be taken at UC San Diego. See your college adviser for further residency requirements.

COMM 10. Introduction to Communication

COMM 100A. Situated Practices

COMM 100B. Interpretive Strategies

COMM 100C. Social Formations

COMM 190. Junior Seminar in Communication

Five upper-division electives in communication

Requirements for the Communication Minor

The communication minor at UC San Diego is a social science minor. None of the courses may be taken on a Pass/Not Pass basis. Students are required to take seven courses in communication as follows:

*COMM 10. Introduction to Communication

Two courses of your choice from the following 100s:

*COMM 100A. Situated Practices

*COMM 100B. Interpretive Strategies

*COMM 100C. Social Formations

*Four upper-division communication electives. No more than one may be taken at the COMM 101-119 level, and at least three must be taken at the COMM 120-189 level. No more than two courses with the same course number (e.g. COMM 101D and COMM 101E) may count toward this requirement.

*These courses must be taken at UC San Diego within the Department of Communication.

Note: COMM 195, 197, 198, and 199, and courses outside of the department may not be used as electives within the minor.

The Honors Program

The Department of Communication offers an honors program to those students who have demonstrated excellence in the communication major. Successful completion of the honors program enables the student to graduate With Highest Distinction, With High Distinction, or With Distinction, depending on performance in the program. The honors program requires an application. Students wishing to be considered need to include the following in their application: one faculty adviser who supports their admission to the program, a verified overall GPA of 3.0 and a major GPA of 3.5, and a brief but detailed description of the proposed research or creative project.

Applications will be reviewed by a faculty committee, accepting students who meet these criteria. Once accepted into the honors program, students are required to complete a two-quarter course sequence, COMM 196A/196B in the fall and winter quarters of their senior year. At the end of the fall quarter, students will receive an IP grade report. This grade will change to the final letter grade at the completion of the course sequence in the winter quarter. This grade is based on attendance in the seminars and successful completion of the research paper or creative production. Upon completion of the honors seminar honors will be determined as follows: