About the Program

This major allows students much flexibility to tailor a program of theory-based and applied courses. It meets the needs of students preferring a generalist approach to communication, as well as for students seeking a more academic, less applied approach. Compare this major with journalism, media production, and public relations and advertising.

Career Opportunities

Students in Communication Studies prepare for careers in corporate communication, social media management, consulting, government careers, research, media analysis, lobbying, speechwriting, fundraising, event management, and other fields that require a liberal arts education enhanced with communication expertise. The major also provides a base for graduate education in communication, law, management, and other professional areas.

The profile of a successful communication studies graduate is a person with strong writing and speaking proficiency, keen ethical insight, competence in analyzing and thinking critically, and skill in working effectively both independently and in teams.

Academic Standards

Only grades of C or higher may be applied toward requirements for any communication degree; courses with lower grades must be repeated. Consistent with standards of the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, the number of communication courses that students may take is capped, encouraging a broad-based liberal arts education. The department encourages students to take minors or second majors and requires evidence of an academic concentration or area of expertise outside the Communication Department.

About the Communication Department

B112 Buckham Hall
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-6008
Fax: (716) 878-4697
https://communication.buffalostate.edu/

Admission Requirements

Incoming freshman and transfer students can declare the major.

See communication.buffalostate.edu for application forms and additional information, including a list of equivalent core courses at community colleges. Transfer students from two-year schools may apply only core courses toward this major for a maximum of 12 credits. Students generally require four semesters of study after completing communication core courses.

Career Information

Students will:

1. understand and apply First Amendment principles and the law appropriate to professional practice relevant to the major
2. demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communication relevant to the major
3. demonstrate an understanding of gender and gender identity, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity, equity, and inclusion in domestic and global societies and their significance in the major
4. understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information relevant to the major
5. demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity
6. think critically, creatively and independently
7. conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communication professions in which they work
8. write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communication professions, audiences and purposes they serve
9. critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy, fairness, clarity, creativity, effective storytelling and/or professional style as appropriate to the major
10. apply basic numerical and statistical concepts appropriate to the major
11. apply tools and technologies appropriate to the major
12. demonstrate competence in professional speaking and presentational skills appropriate to the major

Program Requirements

General Education 23 Requirements

33 credit hours 33

Communication Major Requirements (42 credit hours)
Communication Core (12 credit hours)
COM 100 MEDIA LITERACY 3
or SPC 103 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION
COM 210 INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA WRITING 3
COM 215 INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL COMMUNICATION 3
SPC 205 INTRODUCTION TO ORAL COMMUNICATION 3

Upper-Level Oral Communication Course (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following: 3
SPC 306 PUBLIC SPEAKING
SPC 307 GROUP COMMUNICATION
SPC 315 MEDIA PERFORMANCE

Upper-Level Written Communication Course (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following: 3
COM 303 WRITING FOR PRINT AND ONLINE JOURNALISM
COM 304 WRITING FOR BROADCAST (TV, RADIO, FILM)
COM 308 PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING
COM 325 FEATURE WRITING
COM 347 ELECTRONIC NEWS PRODUCING
COM 390 SPECIAL TOPICS: JOURNALISTIC WRITING

Upper-Level Visual Communication Course (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following: 3
COM 312 BASIC MEDIA PRODUCTION
COM 322 COMMUNICATION GRAPHICS
COM 336 WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRODUCTION

Communication Theory and Criticism (6 credit hours)
Select two from the following: 6
COM 310 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION
COM 327 LITERARY JOURNALISM
COM 400 COMMUNICATION LAW
COM 401 APPLIED COMMUNICATION RESEARCH
COM 410 MASS COMMUNICATION HISTORY
SPC 309 PERSUASION AND PROPAGANDA
SPC 311 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
SPC 321 RHETORICAL CRITICISM
SPC 326 FILM ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
SPC 333 RACE, CLASS AND GENDER IN THE MEDIA
SPC 407 ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
SPC 422 MEDIA CRITICISM
SPC 424 SPECIAL TOPICS IN MEDIA CRITICISM
SPC 426 DOCUMENTARY FILM ANALYSIS

Senior Seminar (3 credit hours)
COM 450 COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY 3

Communication Electives (12 credit hours)
Select 12 credit hours: 12
COM 495 SPECIAL PROJECT (1-3)
or COM 499 INDEPENDENT STUDY
Or 300/400-level COM or SPC electives by advisement

All College Electives
39-45 credit hours 39-45

Total Credit Hours 120