COM Requirements

SC&I offers an undergraduate major in Communication (COM). The program consists of 36 credits:

• Seven required courses (21 credits)
• Five upper-level electives (15 credits)

The electives give you the opportunity to focus on an area of concentration. A GPA of 2.0 in Communication is required for completion of the Communication major. You may use this sheet to document the completion of your Communication courses as you proceed through the major.

Upon completion of the 36-credit hours student will meet the following Program Learning Objectives:

1. Competency in written communication in varied settings (including interpersonal, family, group, health, organizational or mediated settings).
2. Ability to use communication theories and concepts to analyze human behavior (including interpersonal, family, group, health, organizational or mediated settings)
3. Ability to apply communication theories and concepts to social and professional life (including issues of diversity, ethics and civic engagement)
4. Understanding of fundamental communication perspectives, theories and concepts
5. Proficiency in gathering and using evidence to study and understand communication processes and consequences (including asking questions and systematically attempting to answer them, understanding the value and limitations of the research processes and conclusions)
6. Competency in oral communication in varied settings (including interpersonal, family, group, health, organizational or mediated settings)

We seek dynamic, engaged students who wish to learn how to evaluate, implement, use and manage information technologies. To be considered for acceptance, you must complete:

• 01:355:101 Expository Writing or an equivalent course or placement, with a grade of C or better.
• A minimum of 15 credits, either at Rutgers or transfer credits to Rutgers, with at least a 2.0 grade point average.
• The COM major introductory course 04:189:101 Introduction to Communication & Information Processes, with a grade of C or better.

Students who are accepted into the COM major complete three sets of requirements: one SC&I interdisciplinary course, four core courses and seven electives. You can access complete course descriptions for these and all SC&I undergraduate courses online.

Required Courses (21 credits):

• 04:189:101 Introduction to Communication & Information Processes (This is the prerequisite course for 04:192:200, 04:192:201 and 04:192:300)
• Choose one of the following:
  • 04:189:102 Introduction to Media
    OR
  • 04:189:103 Information Technology and Informatics
• 04:192:200 Communication Theory
• 04:192:201 Communication in Relationships
• 04:192:300 Communication Research
• 04:192:380 Public Speaking
• Choose one of the following: (Prerequisite: 04:192:200 Communication Theory)
  • 04:192:354 Communication Technology
  • 04:192: 355 Interpersonal Communication
  • 04:192:357 Organizational Communication
    OR
  • 04:192:359 Persuasive Communication

Upper Level Communication Electives (15 credits):
These electives are exclusively available to Communication majors except 04:192:380 Public Speaking, which is open to the general student population as well.

• 04:192:3xx or 4xx
• 04:192:3xx or 4xx
• 04:192:3xx or 4xx
• 04:192:4xx
• 04:192:4xx

NOTE: Students admitted to COM before Fall 2017, please see separate program requirements.

The COM major offers four specializations to help you stand out in today’s competitive job market.

• Health and Wellness Communication
• Leadership in Organizations and Community
• Relationship and Family Communication
• Strategic Public Communication and Public Relations

If you’re looking to gain a wider perspective, you may elect to combine specializations. Not sure what specialization works best? View all specializations at once with our "At-a-Glance Chart". With careful planning, a specialization shouldn’t take any more credits that the major—contact an advisor in the Office of Student Services for expert advice.

Want to earn a COM bachelor’s degree and a Master of Communication and Media degree? Check out our dual degree BA and MCM program option.

• Apply in your junior or senior year.
• Save money by paying undergraduate tuition rates for MCM courses (taken in Fall or Spring semesters only).
• Complete your MCM degree within 12 months of full-time study or at your own pace.
• Most MCM students complete their degree within 24 months and 60 percent complete their degree while working full-time.