Communication Studies Major, Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Students graduating with a degree in Communication Studies are highly sought after due to their ability to effectively communicate with diverse audiences, critically analyze messages, and perform research. The curriculum in this major prepares students for employment in a diverse array of fields including social media, public relations, marketing, recruiting, grant writing, teaching, law, consulting, and more.
There are two options to declare this program:
In-Person: most of the classes will be in person with some occasional online classes.
Online: all of the classes will be online. Note that the online option operates using a different tuition model.
Note:
- CMST 200 cannot be taken for credit towards the Communication Studies Major;
-
two years of a single high school world language or one year of a single college-level world language is required.
Grade Requirements: a minimum cumulative GPA ≥2.0 by graduation.
| Section A–Required Communication Foundation Credits | ||
| CMST 201 | PUBLIC SPEAKING | 5 |
| CMST 208 | MASS MEDIA AND THE INFORMATION SOCIETY | 5 |
| CMST 309 | COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION | 5 |
| CMST 330 | INTEGRATED METHODS FOR COMMUNICATION RESEARCH | 5 |
| or CSBS 320 | STATISTICS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES | |
| Section B–Required Upper Division Core Credits–choose three 5-credit 400-level CMST courses. | 15 | |
Note: any course used in Section B cannot count in Section C. | ||
| Section C–Electives | 20 | |
Any Communication Studies course can count in this area with the exception of CMST 200. | ||
Note: any course used in Section C cannot count in Section B. | ||
| Section D–The STAR Component (STudy/Act/Reflect)–please see STAR Component Coordinator, Dr. Shields, for any additional information. | ||
Note: A minimum of 15 credits of CMST coursework at EWU must be taken before beginning the STAR component. Written and oral reports on the STAR experience must be completed successfully. | ||
This requirement can be satisfied by: • A CMST or required JRNM class that has a built-in engagement component; • An internship; • Employment or volunteer activities. | ||
| Senior Capstone Requirement | ||
| CMST 490 | SENIOR CAPSTONE | 5 |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Plan of Study
The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.
Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.
This major requires the completion of the World Language requirement. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete two years of a single language in high school or one year of a single language in college.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| CMST 201 | 5 | CMST 208 (Social Science BACR 1) | 5 | MATH 107 | 5 |
| ENGL 101 | 5 | ENGL 201 | 5 | Diversity - graduation requirement1 | 5 |
| Humanities & Arts BACR 11 | 5 | Humanities & Arts BACR 21 | 5 | Social Science BACR 21 | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| CMST 309 | 5 | Communications Studies Section B Elective2 | 5 | CMST 330 or CSBS 320 | 5 |
| Global Studies - graduation requirement1 | 5 | Communications Studies Section C Elective3 | 5 | Communications Studies Section B Elective2 | 5 |
| Natural Science BACR 11 | 5 | Natural Science BACR 21 | 5 | Communications Studies Section C Elective3 | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| Communications Studies Section B Elective2 | 5 | Communications Studies Section C Elective3 | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| Communications Studies Section C Elective3 | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | CMST 490 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement) | 5 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 | Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Total Credits 180 | |||||
- 1
University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
- 2
Section B–Required Upper Division Core Credits–choose three 5-credit 400-level CMST courses. The following classes cannot count in this section (B): CMST 480, CMST 481 or CMST 495, CMST 499. Any course used in Section B cannot count in Section C.
- 3
Section C–Electives- choose 20 credits, any CMST course can count in this area with the exception of CMST 200. Any course used in Section C cannot count in Section B.
University Competencies and Proficiencies
English
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB
General Education Requirements (GER)
- Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours
- 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
- 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
- Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0
Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)
Humanities and Arts
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
University Graduation Requirements (UGR)
Diversity Course List
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List
Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term you expect to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).
Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.
Requirements in Degree Works are based on these two catalog years:
- The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Credit Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
- The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.
Students who earn a BA in Communication Studies from EWU should be able to:
- apply ethical communication principles to message composition or analysis;
- craft compelling written messages;
- deliver an effective public speech;
- demonstrate the ability to design or conduct sound communication research;
- use communication theories to critically analyze the characteristics of mediated messages.