Marietta’s communication studies major is one of the most flexible, student-driven majors on campus. Tailor it to health communication, sports management or any other career field by adding another major or minor. Take advantage of opportunities from consulting to internships, and you will graduate from Marietta with a portfolio that will impress any employer.
Here you will work closely with award-winning professors throughout the college to gain a practical blend of communication skills and in-depth knowledge of another field. You will study areas such as communication ethics, argumentation and debate, and intercultural communication. As you apply communication theory to real-world situations, you will gain a strong foundation for work or for graduate study in law, business, medicine and many other areas.
Skills you acquire with this Major
Communication Studies majors develop skills that are applicable to a wide variety of careers, including:
- Strong verbal and written communications skills
- Ability to assess and interpret communications, media theory, and public discourse
- Ability to formulate clear and persuasive messages
- Strong critical-thinking and analysis skills
- Listening, clarifying, questioning and responding skills
- Intercultural communication and the ability to work well with diverse groups
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Sample Four-Year Schedule
First Year (Fall Semester)
| Mass Media 101 | Media and Society (General Education Social Analysis) | 3 credit hours |
| Communication 110 | Human Communication (General Education Social Analysis) | 3 credit hours |
| Writing 102 | College Composition | 3 credit hours |
| General Education | Civilization & Culture | 3 credit hours |
| PIO 101 | Pioneer Path I | 2 credit hours |
| PIO 102 | Student Engagement | 1 credit hour |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 credit hours |
First Year (Spring Semester)
| Media Skills course | 3 credit hours | |
| Communication 230 | Communication Theory & Research I | 3 credit hours |
| Communication 203 | Fundamentals of Communication | 3 credit hours |
| General Education | Quantitative Reasoning | 3 credit hours |
| General Education | Science Inquiry (with lab) | 4 credit hours |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 credit hours |
Second Year (Fall Semester)
| Writing & Message Creation course | 3 credit hours | |
| Communication/Mass Media elective | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective or Language Proficiency Course | Diversity & Global | 3 credit hours |
| PIO 201 | Pioneer Path II | 3 credit hours |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 credit hours |
Second Year (Spring Semester)
| Communication/Mass Media Elective | 3 credit hours | |
| General Education | Science with or without Lab | 3 or 4 credit hours |
| General Education | Artistic Expression | 3 credit hours |
| Elective or Language Proficiency Course | 3 credit hours | |
| Cognate course | 3 credit hours | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 or 16 credit hours |
Third Year (Fall Semester)
| Communication/Mass Media Elective | 3 credit hours | |
| General Education | Artistic Expression | 3 credit hours |
| Elective or Secondary Concentration Course | 3 credit hours | |
| Cognate course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective course | 3 credit hours | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 credit hours |
Third Year (Spring Semester)
| Communication/Mass Media Elective | 3 credit hours | |
| Communication 397 | Internship Capstone | 3 credit hours |
| Mass Media 420 | Media Law and Ethics | 3 credit hours |
| Cognate course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective or Secondary Concentration course | 3 credit hours | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 credit hours |
Fourth Year (Fall Semester)
| General Education | Civilization & Culture | 3 credit hours |
| Elective or Secondary Concentration course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective or Secondary Concentration course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective course | 3 credit hours | |
| Communication 499 | Post-Internship Seminar Capstone | 1 credit hour |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 credit hours |
Fourth Year (Spring Semester)
| Elective or Secondary Concentration Course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective or Secondary Concentration Course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective course | 3 credit hours | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 credit hours |
* Remember that this schedule should just be seen as a guide toward your Advertising/Public Relations degree. Your schedule can be adjusted to accommodate a second major and/or minors at the College. You will work with your academic advisor to ensure that you graduate on schedule and with classes that most interest you and lead you toward the career path that you are working to achieve.
