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Communication Major Requirements

A.  Core Courses (15 Credits)
B.  Focus Area Introductory Courses (6 Credits)
C.  Focus Area Upper Level Courses (6 Credits)
D.  Upper-Level Electives (9 Credits)
E.  Communication Practica (3 Credits)
F.  Outside Concentration (12 Credits)

A. Core Courses  (15 credits)

COMM 1101 - Introduction to Communication (fall only)
COMM 1300 - Visual Communication (spring only)
COMM 2010 - Oral Communication (fall, spring summer)
COMM 2310 - Writing About Communication (fall & Spring)
COMM 2820 - Research Methods in Communication Studies (fall only)

B. Focus Area (6 credits)

COMM 2200 - Media Communication (fall & summer)
COMM 2450 - Communication and Technology (fall & summer)
COMM 2760 - Persuasion and Social Influence (spring)
COMM 2850 - Communication, Environment, Science and Health (spring)

C. Focus Area Upper Level (6 credits)

Students must take six credits (two courses) of coursework within their declared Focus Area at the 3000-4000 level.

D. Upper-Level COMM (9 credits)

Students must complete 9 additional credit hours at the 3100+ level. Electives can come from any of the focus area lists. A student may elect to fulfill 3 of these credit hours by taking a third focus area introductory course.  A maximum of 3 credits can be counted for 4970, 4990, or 4991 (Combined). Refer to the Course and Time Roster for the most up-to-date offerings. 

MUSIC/PMA/COML/ENG 2703  Thinking Media - CMS
COMM  3100  Communication and Decision Making in Groups - CSI            
COMM  3110  Educational Psychology - CSI                    
COMM  3150  Organizational Communication: Theory and Practice - CSI        
COMM  3189  Taking America’s Pulse - CSI
COMM  3200  New Media and Society - CAT, CMS
COMM  3210  Communication and the Environment - CESH, CMS
COMM  3300  Media and Human Development  - CESH, CAT, CMS, CSI
COMM  3400  Personal Relationships and Technology - CAT, CSI
COMM  3450  Human Computer Interaction Design - CAT
COMM  3460  Crowds, Communities, and Technology - CAT, CSI
COMM  3560  Computing Cultures - CSI, CAT
COMM  3710   Crossing Cultures Through Film - CSI
COMM  3720   Intercultural Communication - CSI
COMM  3760   Planning Communication Campaigns - CSI, CMS, CESH
COMM  4200  Public Opinion and Social Processes  - CMS, CSI, CESH
COMM  4201  Information Policy: Research, Analysis, and Design - CSI
COMM  4220  Psychology of Entertainment Media - CAT, CESH, CMS
COMM  4250  Sports and the Media - CMS
COMM  4260  Gender & the Media - CMS
COMM  4280  Communication Law - CMS, CSI 
COMM  4292  Sexual Identities and the Media - CMS
COMM  4300  Ethics in New Media, Technology and Communication - CESH, CAT, CMS, CSI
COMM  4350  Communicating Leadership and Ethics - CSI
COMM  4360  Communication Networks and Social Capital - CAT, CMS
COMM  4380  Communication in Virtual Worlds - CAT
COMM  4400  Advanced Human-Computer Interaction Design - CAT
COMM  4410  Communicating Self in Social Media - CAT
COMM  4450  Computer-Mediated Communication - CAT
COMM  4560  Community Involvement in Decision Making - CESH
COMM  4650  Mobile Communication in Public Life - CAT, CMS
COMM  4660  Public Communication of Science and Technology - CESH
COMM  4760  Population Health Communication - CESH, CSI
COMM  4860  Risk Communication - CESH, CSI
COMM 4940  COMM Special Topics count ONLY if they are 3 credits (may be repeated if different topics)
COMM 4970  COMM Individual Study 
COMM 4990  COMM Independent Research

* More 31XX+ courses may be added.

Students may not use the following courses to complete this area:

  • COMM 2990 (Research – Freshman/Sophomore level)
  • Courses ranging from COMM 3000 through 3099
  • COMM 4580 (The Science of Behavior)
  • COMM 4950-4952 (NYCOMM and SiliCOMM) 
  • COMM 4960 (Communication Internship - only 2 credits, one per internship, may count towards graduation)
  • COMM 4980 (TA - only 6 credits may count towards graduation)
  • COMM 4940 NYCOMM/LACOMM will only count as electives towards graduation.

E. Communication Practica (3 credits)

COMM 3010: Narrative for Digital Media
COMM 3020: Science Writing for the Media 
COMM 3030: Organizational Writing
COMM 3040: Writing and Editing for the Media 
COMM 3060: Creating a Personal Brand 
COMM 3070: Communicating for Impact: Developing Strategic Messages
COMM 3080: Environmental & Sustainability Communication
COMM 3090: Experiential Writing in the Yucatan
* All courses in the 30XX range count as a Practica

E. Outside of COMM Concentration (12 credits)

In consultation with advisors, students will develop a concentration of 12 credits of related courses outside of the major requirements listed above. 

Option 1: 
Construct Your Own Concentration (12 credits)
This option allows for students, in consultation with their advisor, to develop a coherent set of related courses outside of the Department of Communication.  A formal minor or double major satisfies the outside concentration, but is not required; the concentration may be composed of courses from more than one major, or even college, as long as it maintains thematic or disciplinary consistency.

Option 2:
Professional Development Concentration (12 credits)
This option allows students to take additional courses that focus on Professional Development in Communication.  Students can choose from the approved list of Professional Development courses in Communication, as well as closely related courses across campus.  Students must work with their advisors to verify that they are choosing a satisfactory combination of courses. Students choosing the Professional Development Concentration to fulfill their Outside Concentration are exempt from the Communication Practica requirement, since they will have taken 4 practica classes to fulfill the concentration. 
COMM 3010: Narrative for Digital Media
COMM 3020: Science Writing for the Media 
COMM 3030: Organizational Writing
COMM 3040: Writing and Editing for the Media 
COMM 3060: Creating a Personal Brand 
COMM 3070: Communicating for Impact: Developing Strategic Messages
COMM 3080 - Environmental & Sustainability Communication
* additional 3000 level courses at the discretion of the advisory.

Special Notes Regarding Transfer Credits

All courses must be approved by CALS for transfer to the College before they can be considered for counting toward the Communication major. The following only applies to the Communication major:

  • Up to 12 credits of coursework may be counted towards Cornell Communication major, if approved, from transfer coursework.
    • Students may transfer communication credits that are course equivalencies; that is, courses which are taught in our department. 
    • Students may transfer in one 3-credit communication practica course. 
    • Students may transfer in one 3-credit upper level elective (from a study abroad or an institution of higher education) that is communication-related, even if it is not necessarily equivalent. This must be approved by the advisor.
    • Petitions for coursework outside of these parameters should be sent to the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Heather Crespin.
       

  • In addition to the 12 Communication credits, students may also transfer up to 12 credits toward their Outside Concentration, and 3 statistics credits, which are required for the Communication major.

All questions regarding communication transfer credits should be sent to the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Heather Crespin. For students looking to transfer Communication courses toward the major, please include a copy of the syllabus (which includes required readings, assignments, and course work) in your email to Heather. 

 

Other Notes
 

  • All COMM courses must be taken for a letter grade, unless otherwise offered.
     
  • COMM 4940 (Special Topics) maybe be repeated for credits when the topics are different.
     
  • COMM 4950/4951 - NYCOMM/LACOMM will only count as electives towards graduation.|
     
  • Students must take an introductory statistics class, such as PAM 2100, AEM 2100, ILRST 2100, etc.
    A transfer credit or a score of 5 in AP statistics is also acceptable as credit for this requirement. Students should consult with CALS Student Services to ensure they have the appropriate credit for this requirement.