Communication Studies, Health Communication Studies Concentration, B.S.

Degree and Major Requirements

The School of Communication Studies offers the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees with a major in communication studies. Students must take at least 39 hours of work in communication studies beyond the General Education requirement.

All programs must include at least five elements:

12 hours of required courses.
Successful completion of the milestone, Core Assessment in Communication Studies, upon completion of the core requirements
15 hours of courses within distribution areas to meet the school depth requirement.
Nine hours of free elective courses in communication studies at the 300 or 400 level and three hours at the 200, 300 or 400 level.
12 hours of course work at the 300 level or above outside of the major program of study; or a second major or minor.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

General Education 41 Credit Hours ¹
Quantitative requirement 3 Credit Hours ²
Scientific Literacy requirement 3-4 Credit Hours ²
University electives 21-46 Credit Hours ³
Major requirements (listed below) 39 Credit Hours

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Footnotes

¹ The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
² In addition to course work taken to fulfill General Education requirement.
³ A minimum of 12 credit hours of university electives must be at the 300 level or above, or students must earn a second major or minor.

Additional Information

In addition, students pursuing a B.S. in communication studies must complete MATH 220. Elementary Statistics [C3QR] or a school-approved statistics course. School-approved statistics courses include, but are not limited to, COB 191. Business Analytics I . MATH 220 can count as either a General Education or a B.S. quantitative requirement, but not both.

Major Requirements

Core Requirements

SCOM 240. Introduction to Communication Theory 2.00
SCOM 241. Communication Theory Lab 1.00
SCOM 242. Presentational Speaking 3.00
SCOM 280. Introduction to Communication Research 3.00 ¹
SCOM 341. Persuasion 3.00
Completion of Core Assessment in Communication Studies Milestone 0 Credit Hours
Additional communication studies elective at the 200, 300 or 400 level 3 Credit Hours
Additional communication studies electives at the 300-400 levels 9 Credit Hours

Footnote

¹ This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major.

Depth Requirement: (15 hours required from the depth areas below)

Communication Skills (choose one): 3 Credit Hours

SCOM 247. Small Group Communication 3.00
SCOM 261. Public Relations Techniques I: Written 3.00
SCOM 301. Feminist Blogging: Writing for Shout Out! JMU 3.00
or
WGSS 301. Feminist Blogging: Writing for Shout Out! JMU 3.00
SCOM 332. Mediation 3.00
SCOM 333. Negotiations 3.00
SCOM 335. Communication Consulting 3.00
SCOM 340. Principles and Processes of Interviewing 3.00
SCOM 342. Argument and Advocacy 3.00
SCOM 344. Oral Interpretation 3.00
SCOM 358. Business and Professional Communication Studies 3.00
SCOM 361. Public Relations Techniques II: Visual 3.00
SCOM 367. Advanced Public Relations Writing 3.00
SCOM 447. Facilitating Public and Organizational Engagement Processes 3.00
SCOM 449. Communication Training 3.00

Communication Research (choose one): 3 Credit Hours

SCOM 381. Rhetorical Research Methods 3.00
SCOM 383. Quantitative Experimental Research Methods 3.00
SCOM 385. Qualitative Research Methods 3.00
SCOM 386. Survey Research Methods 3.00
SCOM 388. Campaign Research Methods 3.00

Communication Theory and Context (choose three): 9 Credit Hours

At least one theory and context course requirement must be at the 400-level.

SCOM 248. Intercultural Communication 3.00
SCOM 260. Introduction to Public Relations 3.00
SCOM 301. Feminist Blogging: Writing for Shout Out! JMU 3.00
or
WGSS 301. Feminist Blogging: Writing for Shout Out! JMU 3.00
SCOM 305. Language and Culture 3.00
or
ANTH 305. Language and Culture 3.00
SCOM 313. Topics in Communication Studies 1.00 - 3.00
SCOM 314. Communication in Romantic Relationships 3.00
SCOM 320. Introduction to Interpersonal Communication 3.00
SCOM 330. Special Topics in Interpersonal Communication 3.00
SCOM 331. Communication and Conflict 3.00
SCOM 334. Alternative Dispute Resolution 3.00
SCOM 345. Nonverbal Communication 3.00
SCOM 346. Free Speech in America 3.00
SCOM 347. Communication, Diversity and Popular Culture 3.00
SCOM 348. Communication and Gender 3.00
or
WGSS 348. Communication & Gender 3.00
SCOM 349. Ethnographic Approaches to Communication Studies 3.00
SCOM 350. Organizational Communication 3.00
SCOM 351. Visual Rhetoric 3.00
or
WRTC 351. Visual Rhetoric 3.00
SCOM 352. Communication and Social Movements 3.00
SCOM 353. American Political Culture and Communication 3.00
SCOM 354. Environmental Communication and Advocacy 3.00
or
WRTC 326. Environmental Communication and Advocacy 3.00
SCOM 355. Food as Communication 3.00
SCOM 357. Youth, Communication and Culture 3.00
SCOM 365. Sports Public Relations 3.00
SCOM 369. Topics in Engaged Public Relations 3.00
SCOM 370. Introduction to Health Communication 3.00
SCOM 395. Study Abroad Seminar 3.00 - 6.00
SCOM 413. Advanced Topics in Communication Studies 1.00 - 6.00, repeatable to 6 credits
SCOM 420. Feminist Rhetorics 3.00
or
WGSS 420. Feminist Rhetorics 3.00
or
WRTC 420. Feminist Rhetorics 3.00
SCOM 425. Leadership Communication 3.00
SCOM 431. Legal Communication 3.00
SCOM 432. Senior Seminar in Conflict Analysis and Intervention 3.00
SCOM 440. Family Communication 3.00
SCOM 441. Oral History 3.00
HIST 441. Oral History 3.00
SCOM 442. Advanced Topics in Advocacy Studies 3.00
SCOM 448. Communication, Culture and Identity 3.00
SCOM 450. Advanced Studies in Organizational Communication 3.00
SCOM 453. Political Campaign Communication 3.00
SCOM 460. Public Relations Management 3.00
SCOM 461. Public Relations Campaigns 3.00
SCOM 363. International Public Relations 3.00
SCOM 464. Communication, Culture and Sports 3.00
SCOM 470. Health Communication Campaigns 3.00
SCOM 471. Culture and Health Communication 3.00
SCOM 472. Media and Politics 3.00
or
SMAD 472. Media and Politics 3.00
or
POSC 472. Media and Politics 3.00

Total: 39 Credit Hours

Health Communication Studies Concentration Courses

This concentration prepares students for careers in a variety of areas including: patient advocacy, patient experience coaching, health educator, wellness coordinator, health policy advocacy and health-related writing. Students will gain strong writing and research skills, project management expertise, leadership, team building and gain knowledge in the areas of: doctor-patient communication, interpersonal health communication, health campaigns, culture and health, public health and current topics in health communication.

In addition to the 12 hours of required communication studies courses, students studying health communication must complete the following hours from among the depth requirements. Students are encouraged to enroll in an internship during their junior or senior years.

SCOM 370. Introduction to Health Communication 3.00
SCOM 468. Patient-Provider Communication 3.00
SCOM 470. Health Communication Campaigns 3.00
SCOM 471. Culture and Health Communication 3.00

Advanced Methods

Choose two of the following: 6 Credit Hours

SCOM 303. Special Topics in Health Communication 3.00
SCOM 495. Internship in Communication Studies 3.00-6.00, repeatable to 6 credits ¹
SCOM 300/400 Elective 3 Credit Hours

Total: 18 Credit Hours

Footnote

¹ We strongly suggest that the internship option, if selected, be in the area of health communication.