Communication Studies

Description:

The Communication Studies program leads to the Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree. The program gives students a concentration in the field of communication studies with a liberal arts foundation. The program is primarily intended for students seeking transfer to a four-year institution, although some graduates may plan on immediately entering the work force as communications professionals.

Surveys of employers conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the federal report, 21st Century Skills for 21st Century Jobs, both stress the importance of interpersonal and professional communication competence as critical to success in virtually all fields.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this program graduates will be able to:

  • Demonstrate critical thinking and communication competence by recognizing multiple choices in a given communication situation and making choices that lead to achieving specific goals.
  • Apply the basic theories and principles of communication to one’s lived experience in various contexts.
  • Utilize proficient oral communication skills of multiple forms, including one-on-one conversation, small group communication, and public speaking. 
  • Demonstrate an understanding of ethical communication, with an ability to communicate in ways that promote dialogue within a context of diversity.

Program Entry Requirements:

The program is open to interested students. Students are required to satisfy placement at the time of admission. Students who are identified as needing developmental course work must complete satisfactorily the appropriate English and mathematics courses as a part of their degree program.

Program of Study and Graduation Requirements:

A minimum of 61 credits and a grade point average of 2.0 ("C" average) are required for graduation.

Course Sequence:

Semester 1

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 101 - English Composition I   3 credits Writing/Research/Info Lit 1
ENGL 116 - Interpersonal Communication ENGL 101, may be taken concurrently 3 credits Oral Communication/Creative Expression
FNMT 101 - Quantitative Reasoning or
FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra or
MATH 150 - Introductory Data Analysis or
MATH 161 - Precalculus I or
other MATH course *		 For FNMT 101, FNMT 118, and MATH 150: FNMT 017 or FNMT 019 completed or FNMT 118 (or higher) placement
For MATH 161: FNMT 118 with a grade of "C" or better		 3 credits Quantitative Reasoning
CIS 103 - Computer Applications & Concepts   3 credits Technological Competency
FYE 101 - First Year Experience or
other General Elective**		   3 credits  

Semester 2

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better 3 credits Writing/Research/Info Lit 2

BIOL 106 - General Biology I or
BIOL 108 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology or
CHEM 105 - Inquiry into Chemistry or
CHEM 110 - Introductory Chemistry or
other Lab Science

For BIOL 108: FNMT 118 (or higher) placement

 4 credits Scientific Reasoning
ENGL 107 - Society and Mass Communications ENGL 101 which may be taken concurrently 3 credits  
ENGL 115 - Public Speaking ENGL 101 which may be taken concurrently 3 credits  
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology or
PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology or
ANTH 112 - Cultural Anthropology		   3 credits Cultural Analysis & Interpretation

Semester 3

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 117 - Group and Team Communication ENGL 101 which may be taken concurrently 3 credits  
ENGL 118 - Intercultural Communication ENGL 101 which may be taken concurrently 3 credits  
ENGL 221 - Survey of American Literature: From the Beginnings to the Civil War or
ENGL 222 - Survey of American Literature: From the Civil War to the Present or
ENGL 245 - World Literature: From Antiquity to 1500 or
ENGL 246 - World Literature: From 1500 to the Present or
ENGL 250 - Survey of African American Literature: From Colonization to the Harlem Renaissance or
ENGL 251 - Survey of African American Literature: From the Harlem Renaissance to the Present or
ENGL 260 - Women in Literature		 ENGL 101, with a grade of "C" or better 3 credits  
MATH 150 - Introductory Data Analysis or
MATH 161 - Precalculus I or
ECON 112 - Statistics I or 
Other General Elective **		 For MATH 150: FNMT 017 or FNMT 019 completed or FNMT 118 (or higher) placement
For MATH 161: FNMT 118 with a grade of "C" or better, or placement in MATH 161 or higher
For ECON 112: FNMT 118 or placement in MATH 161 or higher		 3 or 4 credits  
ENGL 119 - Rhetoric & The Public Sphere ENGL 101 which may be taken concurrently 3 credits  

Semester 4

Course Number and Name Prerequisites and Corequisites Credits Gen Ed Req.
ENGL 214 - Communication Theory ENGL 115 with a grade of "C" or better and ENGL 107 or ENGL 116 with a grade of "C" or better 3 credits  
Directed Elective (choose two)**:
ENGL 114 - Introduction to Speech Communication or
ENGL 120 - Voice and Articulation or
ENGL 122 - Writing for Mass Media or
ENGL 131 - Acting I or
ENGL 132 - Acting II or
ENGL 137 - Introduction to Theater or
ENGL 205 - Creative Writing or
ENGL 219 - Black Rhetoric or
ENGL 271 - The Language of Film or
ENGL 272 - Topics in Film Study or
ENGL 282 - Scriptwriting or
ENGL 283 - Nonfiction Writing: Memoir and Literary Journalism **		 For ENGL 114: ENGL 101, which may be taken concurrently
For ENGL 122, ENGL 219, ENGL 271, and ENGL 272: ENGL 101
For ENGL 132: ENGL 131, or permission of the department head

For ENGL 282: ENGL 205
For ENGL 283: ENGL 102 or ENGL 205

 6 credits  
General Elective**   3 credits  
General Elective**   3 credits  

Minimum Credits Needed to Graduate:

61

* For appropriate transfer credit, math courses should be chosen in consultation with an advisor. Second math course recommended for transfer. Students who are FNMT 118-ready who wish to transfer to Temple University should take FNMT 118 in the first semester and MATH 161 in the third semester.
** General electives and directed electives should be chosen in consultation with an advisor based on student's academic and career goals, as well as specific requirements of transfer institutions. Students planning to transfer should strongly consider taking a Math class above FNMT 118 as a general elective.

General Education Requirements:

All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College’s general education requirements is also available.

For More Information, Contact:

The Division of Liberal Studies, Room BR-21, 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, Telephone (215) 751-8450; or the College Information Center (215) 751-8010.