Communication Studies, BA/BS

Curriculum

The communication studies major leads to either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science. It requires 128 hours of coursework:

• BELL core requirements: 53 hours
• Major requirements (including 12 hours of electives): 30 hours
• Minor requirements: 18 hours
• General electives: 27 hours

See All Program Requirements

Courses You'll Take

• COM 1930 Interpersonal Communication

  Students explore theories of interpersonal communication and learn how to better manage their interpersonal behavior in work, family, romance, friendship and everyday interaction.

  • COM 2200 Persuasion

  Provides advanced skills in the development of messages that aim to influence human behavior, attitudes and values.

  • COM 2340 Business and Professional Communication

  This course enables students to improve their professional communication skills, including business writing, interviewing and professional decorum.

  • COM 3150 Intercultural Communication

  The course involves studying the basic communication elements of cultural systems, the research and literature in the field, and the interpersonal interaction characteristics of specific cultures.

  • COM 3920 Theories of Public Communication

  Provides an overview of historical and contemporary theories regarding the functioning of rhetorical discourse in public settings. Classical readings and oral projects focus on rhetoric as a persuasive tool by which orators sway audiences and emerge as leaders in the public realm. Contemporary readings and oral projects focus on rhetoric as a means of creating and sharing a social reality via a variety of channels: public speaking, electronic media and acts of public display.

  In addition, students choose 12 credit hours from the following elective courses:

  • COM 1940 Communication Tools

  This course is an introduction to software and technology used for creating, understanding and presenting messages used by communicators in professional environments.

  • COM 2020 Argumentation and Debate

  This course focuses on argumentation and critical thinking skills with emphasis on analysis, evidence, reasoning, constructing and refuting claims. Students will receive both theoretical background and practice in debate.

  • COM 2140 Family Communication

  Family relationships are often the most intense and personal of all human connections. This course invites students to explore the nature of communication in these complex webs of involuntary relationships. Through research, film, music and self-analysis, students will have the opportunity to study family communication in a variety of cultural and socio-economic contexts and make practical applications to their own experience.

  • COM 2010 Forensics

  Students may earn 1 credit hour per semester (up to 3 total) of participation with Belmont Speech and Debate Team. Students may enroll each semester. Participation includes regular attendance at practice sessions and participation in forensic tournaments and will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis.

  • COM 3000 Internship

  This course provides practical training and experience that enhances students’ vocational objectives.

  • COM 3210 The Rhetoric of Social Movements

  This course will analyze the persuasive strategies and tactics employed by agitators and the establishment they seek to change. It explores the nature and types of social movements and the rhetorical requirements, obstacles and needs of leaders and followers within the movement. Activists from social movements, both past and present, will visit the class to answer questions about their participation in social protest.

  • COM 3220 Environmental Communication

  This course explores communication about the environment as it occurs in public discourse, primarily in the United States. Students will explain, analyze, critically judge and generate environmental messages which take into account the complexity and challenges of contemporary communication settings.

  • COM 3250 Gender & Communication

  This course examines the mutually influential relationship of gender and communication. Students learn theoretical, historical and cultural understandings of gender before exploring the ways gender influences interpersonal communication in family, work, friendship and romance.

  • COM 3340 Organizational Communication

  This course explores the role of communication in organizations. Students learn prominent theories of organizational communication and use them to analyze real-world organizational contexts. Technology, corporate culture, leadership, teamwork, ethics and diversity are among the topics examined.

  • COM 4140 Crisis Communication

  This course examines how organizations strategically communicate to internal and external audiences during crises and their aftermath. Additionally, the course will explore how effective issues management can avert future crises.

  • COM 4300 Corporate Social Responsibility

  This course explores the key concepts, issues and challenges of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a growing field of organizational study and critically examines the discourse and practices or companies engaged in CSR efforts.

• Tower Creative Communications is the nationally affiliated, student-run strategic communication agency at Belmont University. Established in 2006 as a professional development initiative of Belmont’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Tower Creative strives to deliver excellent communication strategies and tactics to meet actual needs, solve real problems and, ultimately, advance their clients’ missions. The agency welcomes a diverse group of student associates—from any major or minor—with knowledge and skills in public relations, marketing, management, audio/video production, graphic design, photography, social media management, web design and writing. Working together, associates sharpen their skills, build their portfolios and bolster their confidence while serving the communication needs of on- and off-campus clients.
• Speech and Debate Team: Join this team of students with varying majors and interests: future lawyers, aspiring broadcasters, theatre enthusiasts, people seeking to conquer their fear of public speaking and people looking for a fun and challenging extra curricular activity. Our students travel to weekend tournaments and participate in rounds of competition with students from colleges and universities all over the United States.
  
  
• Belmont University Volunteers for Literacy: BU Volunteers for Literacy sponsors one of the largest community service projects for Belmont every year. This event is called Family Literacy Day and is the culmination of a year's worth of promoting literacy in local elementary schools and the local community. We host anywhere from around 300-500 kids and 150-200 Belmont Students at Rose Park in Nashville for the actual date of the event. Volunteers for Literacy is unique because it gives members hands-on experience in promoting a large scale event. With the full backing of the Office of Service-Learning, BUVL members can be assured that their participation will reap considerable experience in event planning as well as fulfill your call to serve.