Communication, Personal and Professional Communication Track, B.A.

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The Academic Program in Communication

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication requires a minimum of 36 credits of coursework, completed in one of three academic tracks of study. All students at SUNY Geneseo who enroll in the program complete a common 12 credit hour sequence of required courses in public address, interpersonal communication, mass communication, and a required course specific to the track. Students also formally select one of three tracks of study in Personal and Professional Communication, Journalism and Media, or Intercultural and Critical Studies. Grounded in the humanistic tradition and in contemporary social science, the three tracks of study combine skills development with advanced coursework applying theory to communication contexts impacted by culture and technology.

Total credits required to complete major: 36

Basic Requirements (9 Credit Hours)

COMN 102 - Principles of Public Speaking Credit(s): 3
COMN 103 - S/Introduction to Interpersonal Communication Credit(s): 3
COMN 160 - S/Introduction to Mass Communication Credit(s): 3

Personal and Professional Communication Track (27 Credit Hours)

Required course (3 Credit Hours)

COMN 248 - Perspectives on Organizational Communication Credit(s): 3

Select 5 track courses (15 Credit Hours)

COMN 200 - Theory and Practice of Public Relations Credit(s): 3
COMN 203 - Professional Public Speaking Credit(s): 3
COMN 211 - Discussion and Group Dynamics Credit(s): 3
COMN 212 - Theory and Practice of Argument Credit(s): 3
COMN 213 - Persuasion and Social Influence Credit(s): 3
COMN 317 - Intercultural Communication Credit(s): 3
COMN 341 - Public Relations Case Problems Credit(s): 3
COMN 345 - Theories of Interpersonal Communication Credit(s): 3
COMN 346 - Conflict, Negotiation, and Mediation Credit(s): 3
COMN 349 - Advanced Issues in Personal and Professional Communication: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
COMN 380 - Communication Research Credit(s): 3

Elective Courses (9 Credit Hours)

Three additional COMN courses at the 200 level or above must be selected in consultation with your advisor

Department Notes

Students must achieve minimum competency of C- in COMN 102 , COMN 103 , COMN 107 , COMN 160 , COMN 248 , ANTH 120 .
- Students may not enroll in any subsequent courses having any minimum competence requirements as prerequisites unless the minimum grade of C- has been earned in the prerequisites.
- If a student does not earn at least a C- on the second taking of the class, she, he, or they will not be permitted to continue the major.
- For important details, please see the Minimum Competence section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for further information regarding minimum competence and prerequisites for upper-level courses.
With the exception of slot courses with different course subtitles, courses count only once for credit toward the major.
A minimum of 12 credits (4 courses) must be at the 300-level. Courses may be chosen from track or elective categories.
Students wishing to complete two tracks must choose a minimum of 9 credits of coursework (three courses) exclusive to the second track, and meet all requirements of the track. A maximum of two tracks of study may be pursued.
Students must complete the departmental writing requirement by successfully completing designated writing assignments in COMN 103 and COMN 160 .
A minimum of 36 credits is required for the degree program and a maximum of 51 credits in Communication may be applied to the 120 credit hour requirement of the College.
A maximum of 15 credits may be earned in COMN 395 and INTD 395 .
Up to a maximum of 3 credits of COMN 395 may be applied to the communication elective category and a maximum of 15 credits of COMN 395 may be applied to the 120 credit hour requirement of the College.

Department Writing Requirement

The following writing requirement applies to COMN 103 and COMN 160 . All communication majors must complete the departmental writing requirement by successfully completing with at least a C- the designated writing assignments identified in course syllabi. Those students who do not earn at least a C- must revise and resubmit the work until the minimal requirement is achieved. The grade for a revised paper will not replace the original paper’s grade when determining the final grade for the class. Failure to meet the C- minimum on all the designated writing assignments will result in an incomplete for the course grade. Upon completing the necessary work, the grade will be changed to the appropriate grade for the work done by the student. All rules and deadlines regarding incomplete grades are in effect during this time.

Career Opportunities

Graduates in communication often attend excellent graduate programs or pursue careers in the media and corporate settings. Graduates can be found as sales representatives, in the legal profession, as television newspersons, in management settings, on the radio, practicing public relations, conducting market research, or in academics. Ethical and skillful communication is important to success in all organizational settings; hence, communication graduates find diverse opportunities available to them after graduation.

Outline/Advising Guide

First Year

Fall (16 Credit Hours)

COMN 100-level requirement Credit(s): 3
or
INTD 105 - Writing Seminar: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
N/ Credit(s): 4
S/ Credit(s): 3
F/ Credit(s): 3
Foreign Language Credit(s): 3

Spring (16 Credit Hours)

COMN 100-level requirement Credit(s): 3
or
INTD 105 - Writing Seminar: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
N/ Credit(s): 4
U/ Credit(s): 3
Foreign Language Credit(s): 3
F/ Credit(s): 3

Second Year

Fall (15 Credit Hours)

COMN 100-level requirement or track requirement Credit(s): 3
COMN track course Credit(s): 3
Foreign Language Credit(s): 3
R/ Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3

Spring (16 Credit Hours)

COMN 100-level or track requirement Credit(s): 3
COMN track course Credit(s): 3
S/ Credit(s): 3
M/ Credit(s): 3
HUMN 220 - W/H/Western Humanities I Credit(s): 4
or
HUMN 221 - W/H/Western Humanities II Credit(s): 4

Third Year

Fall (15 Credit Hours)

COMN track-requirement or Elective Credit(s): 3
COMN track course Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3

Spring (15 Credit Hours)

COMN track course Credit(s): 3
COMN 300-level track-or Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3

Fourth Year

Fall (15 Credit Hours)

COMN 300-level track or Elective course Credit(s): 3
COMN 300-level track or Elective course Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3

Spring (12 Credit Hours)

COMN 300-level track or Elective course Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3

Total Credit Hours: 120

All Communication elective courses should be selected under advisement.

Note: Where no prerequisites apply, some variation in the order or semester in which courses are taken is possible. Students should consult with their academic advisors for additional information and guidance.