Each year over 300 students graduate with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Purdue's undergraduate program in communication. Purdue's Department of Communication has long been regarded as one of the finest communication departments in the country with a strong commitment to undergraduate students. Precisely because of this dedication to insure the best education possible, the department is enforcing a grade point requirement in order to decrease class size and to increase student contact with faculty.

All undergraduates begin their studies as pre-communication students and remain in this "major" until completion of the prerequisite courses. No other communication class may be taken until students are admitted as a communication major.

COM Prerequisite

In order to be admitted as a communication major, students need to earn a 2.67 in COM 102, COM 204, and either COM 250 or COM 318, and can repeat ONE course, ONE time. If you have questions the GPA requirement you need to meet, please speak with your advisor.

Majors

All communications students receive a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the College of Liberal Arts. Opportunities for study in the Department of Communication include both a self-contained, General Communication Major of 27 credit hours, and a series of concentrations of 45 credit hours. After completing the communication prerequisite, students choose from 5 programs of study. These include:

• General Communication
• Human Relations
• Mass Communication
  (includes professional & journalistic writing; media & society, and media production)
• Organizational Communication
• Public Relations & Rhetorical Advocacy
  (includes PR, advertising, argumentation, & campaigns)
  

General Communication

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Instead of focusing on a particular area, like the other concentrations, students may choose to study communication in general.

Human Relations (New!)

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The Human Relations concentration develops students' ability to analyze communication contexts, solve communication difficulties, and build productive relationships—both personal and professional. Courses include those focused on managing conflict, providing support, leading and influencing others, and presenting oneself effectively. Students learn to apply theory to practical problems through their coursework and a capstone internship or research experience. The concentration will help students prepare for a range of career options that require communication and “people” skills, including management, human resources, training and development, sales, social services, and counseling. It is also excellent preparation for law school or other graduate education. View/download short PowerPoint presentation of new concentration in Human Relations.

Mass Communication

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Courses available in:

• Professional & Journalistic Writing
  Journalistic Communication includes writing for mass communication, public affairs reporting, advanced reporting, and copy editing. The study of journalism not only stresses reporting and writing skills, but also examines news as strategic communication.
• Media & Society
  Mass Communication classes analyze the mass media and the ways in which they influence individuals and societies through the creation of symbols. Through their studies, students investigate the role of mass media in society.
• Media Production
  Telecommunications includes courses in video, digital and multi-media production. Courses translate theory of mass communication into practice.

Organizational Communication

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Organizational Communication focuses on the theory, concepts, and skills necessary to understand how communication functions in and between organizations. Coursework provides a background in organizational development, communication training, personnel placement and assessment, supervision and management, labor relations, or internal communication systems development.

Public Relations & Rhetorical Advocacy

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Courses available in:

• Public Relations
  PR includes instruction in persuasion, campaigns, writing, and image repair. The study of public relations provides a useful background for PR agencies, a company's PR division, or as a PR specialist or consultant.
• Advertising
  Courses give undergraduates an understanding of the theory and practice of mass media advertising. This area emphasizes the planning, creation, and evaluation of advertising messages.
• Argumentation
  This area includes courses aimed toward the understanding of communication in public contexts. Students develop skills in reasoning, persuasion, and controversy.
• Campaigns
  Courses give students an understanding of specialized communication campaigns. This area emphasizes all areas of public communication which includes both public relations and advertising.
• Public Relations & Advertising
  Students will gain a background in the inter-related areas of public relations and advertising.

Core

The College of Liberal Arts requires all students in the school to complete a core body of classes along with thier major required courses.

Required Core

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Minor

The Department of Communication offers a minor in Communication to students of other schools.

Communication Minor

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