California State University, Fresno
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Fresno, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* students outside the U.S; August 1 - students in the U.S.
Key Summary
Our aim is to prepare students to understand and provide leadership in a competitive communication-oriented society. We offer a balance of humanistic and scientific instruction in communication skills people need to function effectively in teaching, business, law, nonprofit organizations, public service and administration, public relations, government, and management. Outside the workplace, these skills will also enhance students' ability to be active in civic engagement and community service.
Our program requires a comprehensive understanding of the breadth and depth of the communication discipline, as well as its major theoretical frameworks and research methodologies. The major and minor emphasize how this theoretical knowledge is applied in specific contexts ranging from personal relationships to professional organizations to public advocacy. Students investigate problems in diverse cultural settings, which makes the San Joaquin Valley - with its tremendous ethnic diversity - an ideal location for study.
What You Can Learn
- Various theories of interpersonal communication
- The role of culture, race, gender, and other aspects of identity in human communication
- Communication and problem-solving in group settings and organizational settings
- The use of persuasion as a social tool for advocacy, resolving a controversy and shaping opinions from the perspectives of both the persuader and the persuaded
- The nature of communication and its relationship to learning and instruction
The communication major is designed to provide broad-based competencies in oral and written communication, critical analysis of human discourse, and social scientific and humanistic research methods. The major also emphasizes how this theoretical knowledge is applied in specific contexts ranging from personal relationships to business management to public advocacy.
1. Major requirements (42 units)
Fundamental communication processes and skills (6 units)
Select two from COMM 3, COMM 4, COMM 5, COMM 6H, COMM 7, COMM 8, and COMM 15 (see note 2)
Core competencies (12 units) (see note 6)
COMM 100, COMM 140, COMM 142, COMM 166
Personal and professional communication (18 units)
Select a minimum of two courses in each area
- Personal and relational settings: COMM 108, COMM 120, COMM 150, COMM 161, COMM 162, COMM 164, COMM 169
- Advocacy in public settings: COMM 103, COMM 105, COMM 115 (see note 2), COMM 148, COMM 149, COMM 160, COMM 163
- Organizational and professional settings: COMM 114, COMM 165, COMM 167, COMM 168, COMM 170, COMM 171, COMM 176, COMM 179i, COMM 189
Electives in major (6 units)
Select an additional 6 units of upper-division communication coursework.
2. General Education requirements (48 units)
3. Other requirements (9 units)
American Government and Institutions (PLSI 2), Multicultural and International (MI), and Upper-division writing
4. Sufficient elective units to meet required total units (varies)
5. Total units (120)**
* G.E. and MI courses can be double-counted with major requirements. See advisor for details.
What You Can Earn
- Marketing Communication Specialist
$70,334 (in our region) - Employee Communication Manager
$106,157 (in our region) - Internal Corporate Communication Coordinator, Internal/External Communication Representative (entry-level)
$55,982 (in our region) - Speech Writer
$135,450 (in our region)
Source: HR Reported data on salary.com as of February 2021
