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Communication Studies

There is virtually no field of employment or social interaction in which the ability to communicate effectively is not an asset. The Communication Studies Department offers courses dealing with the nature and methods of human communication. The content of the courses is drawn from the development and use of language and symbolic process, and theories of rhetoric and communication.

The Speech Communication major includes a firm grounding in rhetorical and communication theory and research methods, and substantial study in interpersonal communication, persuasion and other basic areas, such as argumentation and language study. Elective courses are also available in interesting new areas, such as environmental discourse, intercultural communication, media criticism, nonverbal communication, organizational communication, conflict communication and Internet communication. Elementary and secondary teaching emphases are also available; we share a Single Subject Credential with the English Department.

Special Activities and Programs

BA - Speech Communication

Communication Studies Department offers BA - Communication Studies, and BA - Communication Studies, Preparation for Teaching.

The general BA - Communication Studies major has no lower division course requirements or prerequisites, beyond completion of Lower Division General Education. The department will accept, as electives in the major, up to 9 semester units of Speech Communication courses that are not also used to satisfy Lower Division General Education requirements (i.e., no transfer courses may be double-counted for both GE and major electives). Community College students should meet with a counselor as soon as possible to determine baccalaureate level courses offered at your institution that are articulated with SJSU.

No specific courses are required. However, potential majors should satisfy their CSU GE Area A 1-Oral Communication requirement with a public speaking course. Only courses that are approved baccalaureate level lower division Speech Communication courses will be accepted for transfer.

Students may select up to 9 semester units of electives for transfer from courses articulated with the following courses:

COMM 010 Communication and Human Relationships
COMM 020 Public Speaking
COMM 040 Argumentation and Advocacy
COMM 041 Critical Decision Making
COMM 045 Communication Criticism
COMM 074 Fundamentals of Intercultural Communication

Lower Divison support courses required for Preparation for Teaching select:

ENGL 056A English Literature to the Late 18th Century
   OR
ENGL 056B English Literature Late 18th Century to Present
ENGL 068A American Literature to 1865
   OR
ENGL 068B American Literature 1865 to Present

All students must satisfy the following prerequisite (or equivalent) prior to registering for the WST and 100W courses at SJSU {Academic Senate policy S05-8}:

ENGL 001B Composition 2
A "C" or better is required in English 1B (a "C-" is not acceptable).
or
Second Semester English Composition Equivalent Course
A course articulated to SJSU's English 1B is recommended, however any course approved for the IGETC second semester composition area would be accepted to meet this requirement (a grade of "C" or better is required).