Communication Studies, Advocacy Studies Concentration, B.A.

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:

• Twelve hours of required courses.
• Successful completion of the milestone, Core Assessment in Communication Studies, upon completion of the core requirements
• Fifteen 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.
• Twelve hours of course work at the 300 level or above outside of the major program of study; or a second major or minor.

Advocacy Studies Concentration

This concentration prepares students to understand, critically evaluate and engage the communication theories, processes, media institutions and communication technologies that citizens, political leaders, government officials, public administrators, interest groups and community service organizations use to campaign, deliberate, adjudicate, govern and advocate for social change. Skilled advocates adopt, develop and implement diverse sets of communication strategies that help clients articulate interests and goals, determine social systems and audiences most likely to achieve goals, identify effective media and appropriate goal oriented messages, and develop plans for implementing change.

In addition to the 12 hours of required communication studies courses, students studying advocacy must complete the following 18 hours from among the depth requirements. The school also recommends that students enroll in an internship during their junior or senior year.