Communication Studies
Undergraduate Programs
Description
Communication Studies is the exploration of how people generate shared meaning through the use of verbal and nonverbal symbols. Students develop confidence and effectiveness in their public speaking, interpersonal, and intercultural communication abilities. The focus is on helping students to develop effective communication skills to enhance the quality of their lives across a variety of contexts, including work, family, civic, and social situations.
Majors |
Program | Locations | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication Studies BS | BS - Bachelor of Science |
|
120 |
Minors |
Program | Locations | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advocacy Minor | 20 | ||
| Communication Studies Minor | 19 | ||
| Interdisciplinary Communications Minor | 18 |
Policies & Faculty
Policies
Admission to Major is granted by the department. Minimum university admission requirements are:
- a minimum of 30 earned semester credit hours.
- a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Contact the department for application process. In
Waiver of CMST 102: Students who take CMST 100 and CMST 333 will have CMST 102 waived for the BS major in Communication Studies.
CMST 100 does not count toward major requirements.
CMST 485W Limits: Students in CMST 485W are limited to no more than 8 credits in Communication Studies taken concurrently with CMST 485W. All other coursework for the major must be completed before taking CMST 485W.
CMST 498 and CMST 499 Limits:
- Communication Studies minors may apply no more than 4 credits of CMST 498 and 4 credits of CMST 499 to fulfillment of the minor. Additional credits may be applied for graduation requirements.
- Communication Studies majors may apply no more than 8 credits of CMST 498 and 4 credits of CMST 499 to fulfillment of the major. Additional credits may be applied for graduation requirements.
Internship Requirements (CMST 497, CMST 498): In compliance with federal policy, standard expectations are 45 hours of on-site internship experience for each credit hour earned.
GPA in Major: Students must maintain a minimum of 2.2 GPA for courses in the major.
P/N Grading: Total credits in the department must not exceed 25 percent P/N for a major or a minor. Internships are P/N option only.
Course Repeat Policy: Students with a major/minor in Communication Studies may repeat any course in the department in an effort to improve grades. A student may repeat a specific course only once. In exceptional circumstances, a student may appeal to the department chair for a second repeat of a course. The official grade for the course, listings on a student’s transcript, and other matters related to course repeats will adhere to appropriate university policies.
Academic Probation Advising: Refer to the information listed in the College of Arts and Humanities section of the catalog.
ADVOCACY MINOR POLICIES
Admission: Successful completion of ENG 101W and MASS 110.
Double-Counting Credits: Students majoring in Mass Media or Communication Studies may not double-count courses within the Advocacy minor.
Internships. Internships are P/N option only.
GPA Policy. Students must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all coursework for the minor.
Internship and Individual Study: Students are limited to a total of four credits among the following courses: CMST 498, CMST 499, MASS 498, and MASS 499. Any Internship or individual study must have an advocacy focus approved by their advisor.
Contact Information
230 Armstrong Hall
Main Office (507) 389-2213http://www.mnsu.edu/cmst/
Faculty
Chair
- Christopher Brown, Ph.D.
Director of Forensics
- Katie Brunner, MFA
Director of Graduate Teaching Assistants
- Laura Jacobi, Ph.D.
Ass't Director of Forensics
- Justin Rudnick, Ph.D.
Office Manager
- Kaori Seavey
Faculty
100 Level
Credits: 3
A course designed to improve students' understanding in communication, including the areas of interpersonal, nonverbal, listening, small group and public speaking.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-1B
Credits: 4
A course blending theory and practice to help individuals build effective relationships through improved communication.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-02
Credits: 3
A course in communication principles to develop skills in the analysis and presentation of speeches.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-1B
200 Level
Credits: 2-4
Development of communication skills for working with others in small group situations.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Investigation of the concepts and theories of nonverbal communication. Designed to assist students in increasing their awareness and understanding of their nonverbal communication and in analyzing and understanding the nonverbal communication of others.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
The course explores communication with people from other cultures, why misunderstandings occur and how to build clearer and more productive cross-cultural relationships.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-07, GE-08
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 2
This course is designed to provide students with skills of effective listening, and the ability to apply that knowledge in a variety of educational and professional settings.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Activity course involving participation in intercollegiate speech tournaments. Course can be repeated for credit.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-11
Credits: 4
A course designed to help students learn effective communication using a variety of contemporary technologies. Students will be better equipped to use communication technologies to communicate personal, professional, and public messages.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Special interest courses devoted to specific topics within the field of communication studies. Topics vary, and course may be retaken for credit under different topic headings.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Introduction to advocacy through communication and mass media, including principles, theories, practices, and ethics.Prerequisites: none
300 Level
Credits: 4
Course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the history, scholarly writing, and academic journals in the communication discipline, thus preparing the student for more advanced courses in the Department of Communication Studies.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
An exploration of the field of argument, addressing structure, types and critical analysis. Students will learn to identify types of reasoning, argument fallacies and pseudo-reasoning. Students will apply concepts in the construction and refutation of argument positions.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
An introduction to the theory and practice of research in communication studies, including the critical evaluation of contemporary communication research.Prerequisites: CMST 301
Credits: 4
This course is designed to develop the skills to complete the artistic process of studying literature through performance and sharing that study with an audience.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-11
Credits: 4
Designed to help students improve oral communication skills in the workplace. The emphasis is on the preparation and presentation of public messages in formats commonly used in business and professional settings. Listening as an oral communication skill in the workplace will be explored, as will the role of intercultural communication in the workplace. Individual speeches, group presentations, and interviews are the major presentations.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-1B
Credits: 1-4
Activity course involving participation in intercollegiate forensics with primary emphasis on applying communication theories to forensic practice. Students may not enroll concurrently with CMST 220. Course may be repeated for an overall total of 4 credits.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Development of skills in the analysis, application and evaluation of argumentative communication.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This course is divided into two sections. First, the class explores ethical parameters involved in communication from a variety of social and cultural perspectives. Second, the class investigates current standards and issues involving freedom of speech.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-09
Credits: 4
This is an advanced course in public presentation focused on improving presentational skills of speech delivery and language choice.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Students examine everyday communication practices (rituals, stories, symbols) analyzing what discursive practices turn individuals into a community. Students explore the meaning of community through experiential learning by experiencing and reflecting upon the way communication creates, maintains, transforms, and repairs community.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Special interest courses devoted to specific topics within the field of communication studies. Topics vary, and course may be retaken for credit under different topic headings.Prerequisites: none
400 Level
Credits: 4
This course is designed to develop an understanding of how gender and communication interact. Students learn the basic theories and principles of communication as it applies to gender and develop skills to enhance communication between and among gender groups.Prerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 4
This course is an overview of key performance studies concepts, including cultural performance, performance of everyday life, theories of play, social influence, and identity performance. Students will develop and present performances as a means to understand theoretical concepts.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Special interest courses devoted to specific topics within relationship communication. Topics vary, and course may be retaken for credit under different topic headings.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This course is designed to develop an understanding of communication studies in the organizational context. The course will aid each individual in working more effectively within any type of organization through exposure to major theories and works in the area of organizational communication.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Special interest courses devoted to specific topics within the intersecting fields of rhetoric and culture. Topics vary, and course may be retaken for credit under different topic headings.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Special interest courses devoted to specific topics within field of American Public Address. Topics vary, and course may be retaken for credit under different topic headings.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
his is a special interest course devoted to the development of students¿ understanding of the strategies and practices of communication in cultural contexts. The course is an experiential course involving travel, typically outside the United States.Prerequisites: none
Diverse Cultures: Gold
Credits: 1-4
The course fulfills secondary licensure requirements for Communication Arts and Literature. First, the course covers teaching methods and materials needed to develop units for communication courses in grades 5-12. Second, the course covers methods and techniques in the development of competitive speech programs in grades 5-12.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Course is designed to give students a theoretical understanding of competitive speech and debate.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
A course designed for students who have a general interest in communication studies. Content of each special topics course will be different. May be retaken for credit.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This theory and research-oriented course examines the relationship between communication and conflict, and is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills in dealing with conflict situations.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This course is designed to provide students with the theoretical foundations necessary to both participate and critique arguments. Students will engage contemporary theories of argumentation and apply those theories in discussion and formal debate.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
This is a required capstone course of all Communication Studies majors and involves the completion and presentation of a senior level research project. Teaching majors are excluded from this requirement.Prerequisites: CMST 301, CMST 302, CMST 306
Credits: 1-4
Topics vary as announced in class schedules.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-12
First-hand experience in the classroom assisting a faculty member.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-12
Provides first-hand experience in applying communication theories in the workplace under the direction of an on-site supervisor.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-4
Independent study under the supervision of an instructor.Prerequisites: none
