The Bachelor of Science in Communication program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of communication principles and practices. This program focuses on developing strong communication skills across various mediums, including oral, written, and visual formats. Students will learn to effectively convey messages to diverse audiences and adapt communication strategies to different contexts.
Requirements
Students must complete 32 units of credit (128 semester hours) to earn a B.S. degree. The requirements for the B.S. degree fall into four categories:
- Major area courses
- Courses meeting Distribution Requirements
- Elective courses
- A capstone course
Visit the Catalog for full program requirements.
The Major
Through the study of a major, a student specializes and deepens academic and professional knowledge in a subject area. Students pursuing a bachelor of science degree must meet with an academic advisor for information about degree requirements.
Transfer students may transfer up to 16 course units toward the bachelor’s degree.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Proficiency in Communication: Students will display competence in oral, written, and visual communication, effectively tailoring messages to diverse audiences and contexts.
- Interpersonal Competence: Students will exhibit strong interpersonal communication skills and demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups, showing sensitivity to cultural nuances.
- Ethical Communication: Students will make ethical and responsible communication choices, understanding the impact of their messages on different audiences and contexts
- Professional Preparedness: Students will gain practical experience through internships, projects, and other hands-on opportunities, preparing them for professional roles in various communication fields
- Critical Thinking and Analysis: Students will critically analyze communication processes and contexts, integrating knowledge from all courses to evaluate and improve communication practices.
Capstone Course
The Capstone project is the culminating experience for bachelor of science degree programs. The final deliverable demonstrates the student’s professional competencies and evidence of a foundation of theoretical knowledge applied to “real-world” issues. SPS offers students various options for completing their capstone requirement. Each option involves practicing their skills in collaboration, analysis, problem solving, research, writing and professional presentations. Students work with their advisor to determine the Capstone option that works best for their professional and academic development.
Distribution Requirements
All B.S. candidates are required to complete 11 course units to meet the liberal arts distribution requirement. This requirement is designed to give you perspectives on human affairs that are essential to becoming a contributing citizen of the world. Required major courses may also satisfy a distribution requirement; consult with your academic advisor if you have questions. The 11 units must be distributed as follows:
- English/Verbal Expression — two units, ENG 1000 – Introduction to Composition and ENG 1150 – Intermediate Composition
- Humanities — three units. These courses must be distributed among at least two disciplines. One unit must be a course on ethics. Course subject prefixes that satisfy this category include ASL, ART, ARTH, ARTS, ENG (not ENG 1000 or ENG 1150), FILM, GERM, HEBR, JAPN, MUSC, PHIL, and TA. You may also take COMM 1210: Effective Speaking and Presenting.
- Science/Mathematics — two units. One in math; one in science.
- Social Sciences — three units. These courses must be distributed among at least two disciplines. Course subject prefixes that satisfy this category include CJ, COMM, ECON, GOVT, HIST, LEAD, PSYC, and SOC.
- Technology — one unit. Course subject prefix that satisfies this category is CSEC.
Distribution Requirement Student Learning Outcomes
- Analyze a variety of professional rhetorical situations and produce appropriate texts in response.
- Formulate appropriate and ethical communication choices in presentations based on audience and situation.
- Articulate the different sides of ethical issues and defend their views in discussion and writing.
- Analyze human experience by examining similarities and differences in a global or international context.
- Apply appropriate mathematical, statistical, or computational strategies to solve problems.
- Discuss the role of science in society and its ethical conduct.
- Recognize how social, political, historical, and economic institutions shape societal and individual behavior.