Minor in Communication
The minor is structured to provide a foundation for advanced course work in communication through a broad-based understanding of communication theory and research.
Declaration Process
In order to be eligible to declare the Communication minor, students must have completed, or be currently enrolled in, one of the following:
1. Comm 1A – Media Technologies, People, and Society, or Comm 1B - Media, Culture, and Society
2. Comm 106 – Communication Research Methods
3. Comm 108 – Media Processes and Effects
Prospective minors should declare via Axess and then email the Student Services Administrator to set up an appointment to complete the minimal paperwork, to be assigned an advisor and to discuss any questions they may have.
Minor Curriculum
To be recommended for the Bachelor of Arts minor in Communication, a student must complete at least 35 units (typically 7 courses) within the Communication Department. The minor consists of the 3 Communication core courses, requirements in two areas, two elective classes, and a course in statistics. Minors must be declared no later than spring quarter of the junior year.
The statistics prerequisite (typically Stats 60/Psych 10) does not count toward the 35 units needed to complete the Communication minor, and may be taken for a letter grade or credit. This introductory statistics course should be taken either prior to or concurrent with registration in COMM 106, Communication Research Methods, in preparation for courses in methodology and advanced courses in communication processes and effects.
1. Four core courses
1. Communication 1A: Media Technologies, People, and Society, or Communication 1B: Media, Culture, and Society
2. Communication 106: Communication Research Methods
3. Communication 108: Media Process and Effects
4. Statistics 60 (does not count towards the 35 units in the minor)
2. Students must take courses in the following two areas as specified below
Area I: Communication Processes and Effects
(A minimum of one course must be taken)
Communication 122: Content Analysis
Communication 123: Argumentation and Persuasion
Communication 135: Deliberative Democracy and its Critics
Communication 137W: The Dialogue of Democracy
Communication 160: The Press and the Political Process
Communication 162: Campaigns, Voting, Media and Elections
Communication 164: The Psychology of Communication About Politics in America
Communication 166: Virtual People
Communication 168: Experimental Research in Advanced User Interfaces
Communication 169: Computers and Interfaces: Psychology and Design
Communication 172: Media Psychology
Communication 183: Social Media Literacies
Communication 326: Advanced Topics in Human Virtual Representation
Area II: Communication Systems/Institutions
(A minimum of one course must be taken)
Communication 104W: Reporting, Writing, and Understanding the News
Communication 116: Journalism Law
Communication 117: Digital Journalism
Communication 120W: Digital Media in Society
Communication 125: Perspectives on American Journalism
Communication 131: Media Ethics and Responsibility
Communication 140: New Media Entrepreneurship
Communication 147: The Modern History and Future of Journalism
Communication 182: Virtual Communities and Social Media
Communication 212: Models of Democracy
3. Elective credit
The remainder of the 35 required units may be fulfilled with any elective communication courses, or a combination of communication courses and up to 5 units of pre-approved courses in other departments.
Approved Outside Electives for Communication Majors/Minors
Communication majors may take 10 units outside of the department. Minors may take 5 units outside of the department. All outside electives must be taken for a letter grade if offered. If a course also meets a GER requirement, it may still be used towards the major or minor. However, a course may not be used for two majors or a major and a minor. It is the student’s responsibility to determine scheduling of these courses. Not all of the listed courses are offered every year.
Effective 2012-13, taking Soc 180A instead of Comm 106 will count towards the units outside of the department.
Majors and minors have the option to petition for approval of a course that is not listed, but are restricted to one petition for the duration of their undergraduate career. To petition, please email the syllabus to the Student Services Administrator.