Minor in Communication
The minor is structured to provide a foundation for advanced coursework 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 1 – Introduction to Communication
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 (do not worry about listing specific courses as the online declaration form suggests) and then email the Student Services Manager to set up an appointment to go over the minor requirements, to be assigned an advisor and to discuss any questions they may have.
You must declare your minor no later than the deadline for your application to graduate.
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 three Communication core courses, requirements in two areas, two elective classes, and a course in statistics.
Communication minors must register for all Communication courses for a letter grade if offered and must maintain a C average (2.0) in courses towards the minor. Only courses with a grade of C- or above will be counted towards the minor.
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. COMM 1: Introduction to Communication
or COMM 1B: Media, Culture, and Society
2. COMM 106: Communication Research Methods
3. COMM 108: Media Process and Effects
4. Statistics 60 (does not count towards the 35 units in the minor)
2. Area courses
Students must take a minimum of two courses in the following two areas as specified below:
Area I: Communication Processes and Effects
(A minimum of one course must be taken)
COMM 124: Lies, Trust, and Tech
COMM 135W: Deliberative Democracy and its Critics
COMM 137W: The Dialogue of Democracy
COMM 145: Personality and Digital Media
COMM 162: Campaigns, Voting, Media and Elections
COMM 164: The Psychology of Communication About Politics in America
COMM 166: Virtual People
COMM 172: Media Psychology
COMM 326: Advanced Topics in Human Virtual Representation
Area II: Communication Systems & Institutions
(A minimum of one course must be taken)
COMM 104W: Reporting, Writing, and Understanding the News
COMM 116: Journalism Law
COMM 120W: The Rise of Digital Culture
COMM 125: Perspectives on American Journalism
COMM 132: Just Algorithms? Race, Regressions, and Resistance
COMM 142W: Media Economics
COMM 143W: Communication Policy and Regulation
COMM 151: The First Amendment: Freedom of Speech and Press
COMM 154: The Politics of Algorithms
COMM 158: Censorship and Propoganda
COMM 177A: Advanced Data Journalism
COMM 177B: Big Local Journalism
COMM 177C: Health and Science Journalism
COMM 177D: Narrative Journalism
COMM 177E: Telling True Stories
COMM 177I: Becoming a Watchdog
COMM 177SW: Sports Journalism
COMM 177T: Building News Applications
COMM 177Y: Foreign Correspondence
COMM 184: Race and Media
COMM 186W: Media, Technology, and the Body
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 minors may take up to 5 units outside of the department. All outside electives must be taken for a letter grade if offered. If a course also meets a WAYS requirement, it may still be used towards the 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.
Taking SOC 180A instead of COMM 106 will count towards the units outside of the department.
Minors have the option to petition for approval of a course that is not on the list of pre-approved courses in other departments. To petition, please email the syllabus to the Student Services Manager.