COMMU-BA - Communication (BA)
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Program Overview
The undergraduate curriculum is intended for liberal arts students who wish to develop an understanding of communication in society, drawing on the perspective of the social sciences. You are expected to become familiar with the fundamental concerns, theoretical approaches, and methods of the field and to acquire advanced knowledge in one or both of the sub-areas of communication: Area I: Processes and Effects and Area II: Systems and Institutions. Several levels of study accomplish this:
A core curriculum
Intermediate-level electives
Optional internships
Optional advanced research projects
The Department of Communication offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication. Eligible students may pursue a BA with Honors. The department also offers a minor in Communication (program).
While the department does not attempt to provide comprehensive practical training at the undergraduate level, the curriculum offers a diverse range of internship opportunities, including professional print journalism, some of which are funded by the department’s Rebele Internship Program. The department is committed to providing students with analytical and critical skills for future success in graduate programs, professional schools, or immediate career entry.
Preparing for the Major
How to Declare the Major in Communication
To declare the Communication major, students must have completed or be currently enrolled in one of the core courses:
COMM1 - Introduction to Communication
OR COMM1B - Media, Culture, and SocietyCOMM106 - Communication Research Methods
COMM108 - Media Processes and Effects
Students interested in declaring the major should apply via Axess and set up a meeting with the student services administrator in Building 120, Room 110A, or via Zoom.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
The department requires completion of or concurrent registration in an introductory statistics course (course Introduction to Statistical Methods: Precalculus) when registering for course Communication Research Methods in preparation for courses in methodology and advanced courses in communication processes and effects. It is recommended that this be done as soon as possible so as not to prevent registration in a course requiring statistical understanding.
course does not count toward the total required major units.
Core courses are usually offered only once each year.
Area Courses
In addition to the core courses and the statistics requirement, undergraduate majors select courses from the two areas described below. Many of the courses require core courses as prerequisites. Majors choose four area courses, taking at least one from each area. The Writing in the Major (WIM) course also fulfills one of the area course requirements.
Area I: Communication Processes and Effects
Area I emphasizes how communication scholars conduct research in — and consider the issues of — human communication. These studies aim to provide expert guidance for social policymakers and media professionals.
Area II: Communication Systems and Institutions
Area II considers the roles and interactions of institutions such as broadcasting, journalism, constitutional law, and business within communication and mass communication contexts.
Select a total of four courses, at least one from each area.
The remainder of the 60 required units may be fulfilled with any elective Communication courses, or a combination of communication courses and up to 10 units from a list of pre-approved courses in other departments (list below).
Communication majors can petition for approval of courses that are not currently listed.
To be recommended for the BA degree in Communication, you must complete at least 60 units (approximately 12 courses) toward the Communication major.
Communication majors must receive a letter grade for all Communication courses unless they are offered only for satisfactory/no credit (S/NC) and must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (C) in courses towards the major. Only courses with a C- or above grade count towards the major. Therefore, majors who receive a D+ or below grade in one of the core courses must repeat the course.
Students may complete an honors thesis in Communication (COMM 195).
With written approval from the COMM DUS, an honors thesis in one of the following interdisciplinary programs may also fulfill the COMM capstone requirement: Arts; Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity; Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL); Education; Ethics in Society; Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; International Security Studies (CISAC); Science, Technology, and Society (STS). To receive approval, students should submit their honors thesis proposal to the Student Services Manager.
With written approval from the COMM DUS, students pursuing a double major may satisfy the COMM capstone requirement by writing an honors thesis in their other major if the work has significant COMM content. To receive approval, students should submit their honors thesis proposals to the Student Services Manager. To satisfy the capstone requirements of both majors with the same honors thesis, DUS approval of both majors is required.
Students may undertake a quarter of supervised research with a faculty member (COMM 199C). Written proposal and permission of instructor and Director of Undergraduate Studies required before enrollment.
Students may complete the Department of Communication’s capstone seminar.
The honors program allows Communication majors to undertake a significant research program in an individual professor/student mentoring relationship. The aim is to guide students through the process of research, analysis, drafting, rethinking, and redrafting, which is essential to excellence in scholarship. Working one-on-one with a faculty advisor, seniors earn 15 Communication units culminating in an honors thesis.
The designation “with honors” is awarded by the Department of Communication to those graduating seniors who, in addition to having completed all requirements for the Communication major:
Complete an honors thesis;
Maintain a distinguished GPA in all communication coursework;
Are recommended by the Communication faculty.
To be eligible for the honors program, interested majors complete the following requirements:
Achieve a GPA of 3.3 in Communication courses
Complete the core communication courses for the Communication major, including the statistics requirement
Receive a grade of B+ or better in course Communication Research Methods (see Core Program Requirements > Core Courses)
Select an advisor; only tenured or tenure-track faculty can be advisors for an honors thesis in Communication
Submit an application to the department by the end of their junior year; see the department’s honors website to download an application form
Students are expected to progress steadily on their honors thesis throughout the year.
A final copy of the honors thesis must be submitted to the thesis advisor for review and grading, and a second copy must be uploaded to the Stanford Digital Repository by the end of week eight of spring quarter of the student’s senior year (exact date to be arranged).
Honors work may be used to fulfill Communication elective credit but must be completed and a letter grade submitted before graduation. A student failing to meet all honors requirements may still receive independent study credit for work completed, which may be applied toward fulfilling major requirements.
Completing an honors thesis in Communication fulfills the capstone requirement.