Jun 30, 2024

OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25

Communication Studies Major (B.S.)

Major code BS5392*

Scripps College of Communication
School of Communication Studies
Schoonover Center
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4828
www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/comm-studies

Candice Rios Wenmoth, Associate School Director for Undergraduate Studies/contact person
rioswenmoth@ohio.edu

Program Overview

The School of Communication Studies (COMS) offers a liberal arts education, emphasizing the scientific and artistic bases of communication. The School is committed to providing quality instruction in the theoretical understanding of human communication and the application of theory in specific contexts. The core courses combine theory and practice as students study the historical and conceptual foundations of the field of communication. An historical understanding of communication theory is useful but insufficient in a globally competitive world, so the major in communication studies also equips students with the competencies most prized by employers including strong oral and written communication, effective interpersonal and group communication skills, critical thinking, meeting planning, and problem-solving/decision-making.

The faculty and staff of the School of Communication Studies are committed to scholarship, teaching, and service in ways that improve the community and offer directions for change in the world. Accordingly, we seek students who want to challenge themselves to develop their potential in and out of the classroom.

All of our undergraduate students are communication studies majors, but each pursues a concentration in one of four areas:

Health Communication

Health communication graduates are concerned with meeting people’s communication and knowledge needs in such areas as the relationships between patients and their health care providers, family dynamics, dissemination of health information, and cultural and gender influences on communication. Recent graduates are employed in health care organizations as patient advocates or in human resources, national nonprofit health agencies, and as pharmaceutical company sales representatives.

Interpersonal and Cross-Cultural Communication

Communication plays a central role in the development and care of human relationships from families to organizations and communities. Students learn how cultural diversity, such as race, nationality, ethnicity, class, social identity, gender, sexuality, and age, shapes relationships and communication dynamics in a variety of contexts.

Organizational Communication

Students focused on organizational communication are aiming for professional careers in business, education, government, industry, or the nonprofit sector. The skills and competencies acquired through this concentration enable students to understand the dynamics of, and function more effectively in, organizational structures. Recent graduates are employed in major consulting firms, national financial service providers, conference planning companies, and information management organizations.

Public Communication and Advocacy

Students concentrating their studies in communication and public advocacy focus on the integration of political and legal communication theory and practice emphasizing the role of communication in argument, debate, and politics, including the ethical and rhetorical implications of constitutional guarantees and persuasive strategies characteristic of contemporary political communication. Recent graduates are attending nationally-ranked law schools, working as state legislative staff, lobbying in Washington, D.C., and managing political campaigns.

Elective courses in the School complement the required courses and expand the student’s repertoire of competencies and skills. Enhancing the core and classes in the concentration are courses in a related area. Students identify the means of completing the related area by working one-on-one with their academic advisors. The related area is an opportunity for students to “customize” their academic interest in ways that set them apart from their peers when undertaking internships or job searches.

*This program was previously BC5363 which awarded the Bachelor of Science in Communication. Pending Board of Trustees approval (anticipated June 2024), the new program code will be BS5392 and will award the Bachelor of Science effective the 2024-25 catalog year.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy

Students who are currently enrolled at Ohio University are required to apply to the School of Communication Studies and encouraged to read the information on the COMS website (www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/comm-studies). If there are specific questions that are unanswered after reviewing the website, students should make an appointment to meet with the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies. Appointments are scheduled by speaking with the administrative assistant at 740.539.4842.

The School of Communication Studies reviews applications as follows:

Students should be in good academic standing at the time of application, prepare a 300-word essay explaining how a degree in Communication Studies would be beneficial to them, and complete the online application.
Applications are accepted throughout the academic year and processed the first week of each month. Applications submitted between May 1 and Sept. 30 are processed the first week of August.

External Transfer Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

Students completing the Communication Studies program in the School of Communication Studies are prepared with transferable competency sets that enable them to work in a variety of organizations. The degree is perfect preparation for a career in corporate training, foreign service, law, politics, labor relations, human services, campaign management, event planning, account representation, sales, management, or survey research, to name just a few careers. All told, the major is designed to augment students’ lives and careers through a clearer understanding of the effects of communication and messages in their professional and personal lives.

Requirements

University-wide Graduation Requirements

Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University-wide page.

College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication

View the College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication .

COMS Core Requirement

Complete the following courses with a grade of C or better:

COMS 1020 - Introduction to Undergraduate Communication Studies Credit Hours: 1
COMS 1030 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
COMS 1100 - Communication Among Cultures Credit Hours: 3
COMS 2050 - Techniques of Group Discussion Credit Hours: 3
COMS 2060 - Communication in Interpersonal Relationships Credit Hours: 3
COMS 2150 - Argumentative Analysis and Advocacy Credit Hours: 3

COMS Theory Requirement

Complete the following course with a grade of C or better:

COMS 2350 - Introduction to Communication Theory Credit Hours: 3

Capstone & Professional Development

Complete the following courses with a grade of C or better:

COMS 4020 - Communication Career Readiness Credit Hours: 2
COMS 4800 - Capstone Seminar in Communication Credit Hours: 3

COMS Research Methods

Complete two of the following courses:

COMS 3420 - Qualitative Inquiry in Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3520 - Quantitative Inquiry in Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3620 - Rhetorical Inquiry and Criticism Credit Hours: 3

Major Emphasis

Complete three courses from one of the following four concentrations:

Communication Electives

Select at least three additional COMS courses from the list below with at least one course coming from the Communication and Engagement category.

Note: Only three credit hours from each of the following courses count toward the major program: COMS 2170 , 2900 , 3920 , 4900 , 4910 , 4920

Breadth of Communication Study

COMS 2020 - Communication and Persuasion Credit Hours: 3
COMS 2040 - Principles and Techniques of Interviewing Credit Hours: 3
COMS 2400 - Communication for Innovation Credit Hours: 3
COMS 2900 - Special Topics in Communication Studies Credit Hours: 1 - 15
COMS 3060 - Interpersonal Conflict Management Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3200 - Communication and New Technology Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3250 - Communication Technology and Organizing Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3300 - Environmental Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3350 - Managing Risk and Crisis Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3400 - Introduction to Health Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3410 - Women and Health Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3500 - Introduction to Organizational Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3501 - Advanced Organizational Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3600 - Introduction to Communication in Public Advocacy Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3602 - Political Rhetoric Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3603 - Contemporary Culture and Rhetoric Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3660 - Cultural Studies and Beer Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4060 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4061 - Communication, Dialogue, and Creativity Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4080 - The Dark Side of Organizational Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4082 - Communication Ethics and Leadership Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4085 - Diversity and Inclusion in Organizational Life Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4100 - Cross-Cultural Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4110 - Communicating with People with Disabilities Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4200 - Gender and Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4410 - Communication in the Family Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4501 - Communication & Nonproft Organizing Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4630 - Rhetoric and Electronic Media Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4900 - Topics in Communication Studies Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4930 - Independent Study Credit Hours: 1 - 3

Communication Engagement

COMS 2170 - Advanced Forensics Credit Hours: 1 - 3
COMS 3920 - Practicum in Communication Education Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4030 - Advanced Presentations Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4050 - Meeting and Conference Planning Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4300 - Health Communication in Neglected Tropical Disease Contexts Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4510 - Instructional Training and Development in Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4530 - Communication and the Campaign Credit Hours: 3
COMS 4910 - Communication Studies Internship Credit Hours: 1 - 15
COMS 4920 - Practicum in Communication Studies Credit Hours: 3

Minor, Certificate, or Related Area Requirement

Students must complete an advisor-approved minor, certificate, or related area with a minimum of 15 hours of coursework that complements your major and supports your career goals.

Please note that COMS courses cannot be used to fulfill a related area requirement. Additionally, COMS courses cannot be used to fulfill both the COMS major and a minor or certificate requirement. Students may choose which program any duplicated COMS courses fulfill.