Communication Studies, Advocacy Studies Concentration, B.A.

Communication Studies Requirements for B.A. degree

Required Courses

General Education 41 Credit Hours ¹
Foreign language classes (intermediate level required) 0-14 Credit Hours ²
Philosophy course (in addition to General Education courses) 3 Credit Hours
University electives 11-49 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 The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures’ placement test.
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.

Major Requirements

Core Requirements

SCOM 240. Introduction to Communication Theory Credits: 2.00
SCOM 241. Communication Theory Lab Credits: 1.00
SCOM 242. Presentational Speaking Credits: 3.00
SCOM 280. Introduction to Communication Research Credits: 3.00 ¹
SCOM 341. Persuasion Credits: 3.00
Completion of Core Assessment in Communication Studies Milestone Credits / Units: 0.00
Additional communication studies elective at the 200, 300 or 400 level Credits / Units: 3.00
Additional communication studies electives at the 300-400 levels Credits / Units: 9.00

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

Communication Research (choose one): 3 Credit Hours

SCOM 381. Rhetorical Research Methods Credits: 3.00
SCOM 383. Quantitative Experimental Research Methods Credits: 3.00
SCOM 385. Qualitative Research Methods Credits: 3.00
SCOM 386. Survey Research Methods Credits: 3.00
SCOM 388. Campaign Research Methods Credits: 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 Credits: 3.00
SCOM 260. Introduction to Public Relations Credits: 3.00
SCOM 302. Third Wave Ecofeminism Credits: 3.00
or
WGSS 302. Third Wave Ecofeminism Credits: 3.00
SCOM 305. Language and Culture Credits: 3.00
or
ANTH 305. Language and Culture Credits: 3.00
SCOM 313. Topics in Communication Studies Credits: 1.00 - 3.00
SCOM 314. Communication in Romantic Relationships Credits: 3.00
SCOM 320. Introduction to Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 330. Special Topics in Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 331. Communication and Conflict Credits: 3.00
SCOM 334. Alternative Dispute Resolution Credits: 3.00
SCOM 345. Nonverbal Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 346. Free Speech in America Credits: 3.00
SCOM 347. Communication, Diversity and Popular Culture Credits: 3.00
SCOM 348. Communication and Gender Credits: 3.00
or
WGSS 348. Communication and Gender Credits: 3.00
SCOM 349. Ethnographic Approaches to Communication Studies Credits: 3.00
SCOM 350. Organizational Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 351. Visual Rhetoric Credits: 3.00
or
WRTC 351. Visual Rhetoric Credits: 3.00
SCOM 352. Communication and Social Movements Credits: 3.00
SCOM 353. American Political Culture and Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 354. Environmental Communication and Advocacy Credits: 3.00
or
WRTC 326. Environmental Communication and Advocacy Credits: 3.00
SCOM 355. Food as Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 357. Youth, Communication and Culture Credits: 3.00
SCOM 363. International Public Relations Credits: 3.00
SCOM 365. Sports Public Relations Credits: 3.00
SCOM 369. Topics in Engaged Public Relations Credits: 3.00
SCOM 370. Introduction to Health Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 395. Study Abroad Seminar Credits: 3.00 - 6.00
SCOM 413. Advanced Topics in Communication Studies Credits: 1.00 - 6.00, repeatable to 6 credits
SCOM 420. Feminist Rhetorics Credits: 3.00
or
WGSS 420. Feminist Rhetorics Credits: 3.00
or
WRTC 420. Feminist Rhetorics Credits: 3.00
SCOM 425. Leadership Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 431. Legal Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 432. Senior Seminar in Conflict Analysis and Intervention Credits: 3.00
SCOM 440. Family Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 441. Oral History Credits: 3.00
or
HIST 441. Oral History Credits: 3.00
SCOM 442. Advanced Topics in Advocacy Studies Credits: 3.00
SCOM 448. Communication, Culture and Identity Credits: 3.00
SCOM 450. Advanced Studies in Organizational Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 453. Political Campaign Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 460. Public Relations Management Credits: 3.00
SCOM 461. Public Relations Campaigns Credits: 3.00
SCOM 464. Communication, Culture and Sports Credits: 3.00
SCOM 470. Health Communication Campaigns Credits: 3.00
SCOM 471. Culture and Health Communication Credits: 3.00
SCOM 472. Media and Politics Credits: 3.00
or
SMAD 472. Media and Politics Credits: 3.00
or
POSC 472. Media and Politics Credits: 3.00

Total: 39 Credit Hours

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.