Program Description

Communication Studies examines how people use messages to generate meanings within and across various contexts, cultures, channels and media. As an interdisciplinary field, coursework in communication also includes contributions of the social sciences, humanities, philosophy and cultural studies. Some of the topics explored in this field include rhetoric and public address, debate, gender differences, interpersonal and cross-cultural communication, the art of effective persuasion, leadership and professional skills, group interaction and decision-making and forensic speech. This degree provides excellent preparation for careers in the fields of mass media, human resources, business, government, social services, and/or education in such areas as teaching, consulting, law, broadcast announcing, public relations or any field in which communication skills are highly relevant.

The Associate in Arts in Communication Studies for Transfer degree prepares students for transfer to California State Universities (CSUs). Students who complete the Associate in Arts in Communication Studies for Transfer degree will be ensured preferential transfer status to CSUs for communication studies majors and majors in related disciplines. The Associate in Arts in Communication Studies for Transfer degree requirements will fulfill the lower division major requirements at many CSUs. Students are advised, however, to meet with a counselor to assess the course requirements for specific CSUs.

Learn more about the program on the Communication Studies website.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify patterns of communication in a variety of contexts.
• Students will be able to utilize appropriate methods of communication in critical thinking and/or communication situations.

Units Required

• Major: 29-30

Associate Degree Requirements

Associate in Arts in Communication Studies for Transfer requires completion of a minimum of 90 units to include:

• CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)¹ (49-58 units) (full certification is required)
• Core and support courses (29-30 units, of which 20 units may satisfy the GE requirement)
• Transferable electives necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement

¹

Important Note: Although it is possible to fulfill the requirements for the Associate Degree for Transfer by completing the IGETC for UC pattern, admission to CSU requires completion of an Oral Communication course (IGETC Area 1C; CSU GE Area A-1); therefore, students who plan to transfer to CSU should complete this course as part of their GE or elective units.

Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be completed with a grade of "C" (or "P") or better. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Core and Support Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Core Courses
COMM 1A	PUBLIC SPEAKING	5
or COMM 1AH	HONORS PUBLIC SPEAKING
Support Courses
List A
Complete two courses from List A:		10
COMM 1B	ARGUMENTATION & PERSUASION
COMM 2	INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
COMM 4	GROUP DISCUSSION
List B
And complete two courses from List B (or any course from List A not used above):		10
COMM 3	INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION STUDIES
COMM 5	MASS COMMUNICATION
COMM 12	INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
List C
And complete one course from List C (or any course from List A or B not used above):		4-5
ANTH 2A	CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
or ANTH 2AH	HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
COMM 10	GENDER, COMMUNICATION & CULTURE
or COMM 55	CAREER & LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION IN THE GLOBAL WORKPLACE
ENGL 16	INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
JRNL 22A	INTRODUCTION TO REPORTING & NEWSWRITING
PSYC 1	GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
or PSYC 1H	HONORS GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
SOC 1	INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
or SOC 1H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Total Units		29-30