Majors and Minors
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 September 2006 , the CLA Faculty Senate approved a change to the pre-communication GPA requirement. Until this semester, students needed to earn a 3.0 GPA in COM 102, COM 204, and either COM 250 or COM 318 and could repeat each course one time to improve their grade. The new policy states that students need to earn a 2.67 in the same three classes, but can only repeat ONE course ONE time.
Students who have earned a grade in at least one pre-communication course by December of 2006 are allowed to stay on the old GPA requirement, but if they are eligible, they may choose to follow the new requirement. If they have already repeated more than one pre-communication course, they are not eligible for the new requirement.
Students who will take their first pre-communication course this spring will have to follow the new GPA requirement.
If you have questions about this change or are not sure which 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. Though, after completing the communication prerequisite, students choose from 5 concentrations of study. These include
General Communication
Download bingo sheet
Instead of focusing on a particular area, like the other concentrations, students may choose to study communication in general.
Interpersonal Communication
Download bingo sheet
Courses include advanced classes exploring various dynamics of human inter-relationships. Classes emphasize understanding communication in human relations and provide an understanding of communication processes and effects. Coursework cover the nature, function, and outcomes of communication behavior in dyads and small groups.
Mass Communication
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
Download bingo sheet
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
Courses available in:
Public Relations
PR includes courses in persuasion, problems, 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
Download the bingo sheet for more information.
Minor
The Department of Communication offers a minor in Communication to students of other schools.
Communication Minor
Download the bingo sheet for more information.