Office & Contact Information

The Major Program

The program of study in communication examines communication processes at several different levels of analysis. Courses dealing with communication at the individual, interpersonal, organizational and societal levels of analysis are offered. The emphasis in the program reflects the changing focus in the discipline and society toward computer-mediated communication, quantitative behavioral science and cognitive science. Classes addressing such topics as communication and cognition, message systems, interpersonal communication, nonverbal communication, persuasion, organizational communication, mass media effects, computer-mediated communication and public communication campaigns explore communication at these levels of analysis. Related social science courses are also part of the major.

Major Advisors

Contact department.

Career Alternatives

Communication graduates have found careers in such fields as broadcast and print journalism, administration, sales, management, politics and government, education, social work, social media, and public relations. A communication degree is also excellent preparation for law school or other graduate programs.

Grading Recommendation

Although not required, it is recommended that all courses offered in satisfaction of the major, except variable-unit courses, be taken for a letter grade.

Graduate Study

The Department of Communication offers programs of study and research leading to M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Communication. Detailed information may be obtained from the Graduate Advisor, Department of Communication.

The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Degree Requirements & College Degree Requirements; unless otherwise noted. The minimum number of units required for the Communication Bachelor of Arts is 69.

Note: Many of the upper division courses offered by other College of Letters & Science departments have their own prerequisites not accounted for by lower division Communication courses. To the degree that students elect to take those courses having "hidden prerequisites," the number of units necessary to complete the major increases above the stated minimum.