Academic Catalog

Communication Studies

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Program Description

The Communication Studies department offers a wide variety of courses and special programs to meet the needs of our students. Whether you aspire to become a communication specialist, enhance your marketability in the workplace, or improve your people skills, our faculty and advisers can help you identify the right program to meet your needs. Coursework involves collaboration, presentation, listening, cross-cultural understanding, rhetorical analysis, argumentation, and professional communication. The program includes application of these foundational principles in a collaborative and supportive environment.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers rated oral communication as the highest among attributes necessary in achieving professional success. More and more businesses and occupations prefer to hire employees who possess strong communication skills. When evaluating applicants, four-year institutions look favorably upon students with strong backgrounds in communication. Effective communication skills assist in individual development and enhancement of human relations.

Learn more about the program on the Communication Studies website.

Associate Degree for Transfer

This program also offers an Associate Degree for Transfer. Learn more and review the degree requirements on the Communication Studies 2.0 AA-T listing.

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.

Career Opportunities

Communication Studies students often find careers in mass media, corporate training, consulting, advertising/marketing, education, law, sales, human resources, healthcare, social media, government, telecommunications, social services, public relations, and political campaigning.

Award Type(s)

  • AA = Associate in Arts Degree
  • CA = Certificate of Achievement

Units Required

  • Major: 30
  • Certificate(s): 15-25

Additional Information

Note: If the student is interested in a concentration in either Rhetoric or Intercultural Communication, please see a Communication instructor for advisement.

Associate Degree Requirements

A minimum of 90 units is required1 to complete the associate degree, including:

  • Core and support courses for the major (30 units total)
  • Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
    • Foothill College General Education
    • Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth)2
    • Summer Session 2025 only–Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)2
    • Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)3
1

Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.

2

Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information.

3

Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.

Note: A grade of "C" (or "P") or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree or certificates. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Refer to the Associate in Arts & Associate in Science Degree Requirements page for complete information about graduation requirements and catalog rights.

Core and Support Courses

Core Courses
COMM 1APUBLIC SPEAKING5
or COMM 1AH HONORS PUBLIC SPEAKING
COMM 2INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION5
COMM 10GENDER, COMMUNICATION & CULTURE5
or COMM 12 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Support Courses
Select 15 units from the following:15
COMM 1B
ARGUMENTATION & PERSUASION
COMM 3
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION STUDIES
COMM 4
GROUP DISCUSSION
COMM 5
MASS COMMUNICATION
COMM 55
CAREER & LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION IN THE GLOBAL WORKPLACE
Total Units30

Certificate Requirements

Certificate of Achievement in Communication Studies II

  • Units: 25
Select 10 units from the following:10
COMM 1A
PUBLIC SPEAKING 1
or COMM 1AH
 HONORS PUBLIC SPEAKING
COMM 5
MASS COMMUNICATION 1
COMM 12
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION 1
COMM 55
CAREER & LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION IN THE GLOBAL WORKPLACE 1
And 15 units from the following:15
COMM 1A
PUBLIC SPEAKING 1
or COMM 1AH
 HONORS PUBLIC SPEAKING
COMM 1B
ARGUMENTATION & PERSUASION
COMM 2
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
COMM 3
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION STUDIES
COMM 4
GROUP DISCUSSION
COMM 5
MASS COMMUNICATION 1
COMM 10
GENDER, COMMUNICATION & CULTURE
COMM 12
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION 1
COMM 55
CAREER & LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION IN THE GLOBAL WORKPLACE 1
Total Units25
1

May be completed only once for credit to satisfy certificate requirements.

Certificate of Achievement in Communication Studies I

  • Units: 15
COMM 1APUBLIC SPEAKING 15
or COMM 1AH HONORS PUBLIC SPEAKING
or COMM 2 INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
And 10 units from the following:10
COMM 1A
PUBLIC SPEAKING 1
or COMM 1AH
 HONORS PUBLIC SPEAKING
COMM 1B
ARGUMENTATION & PERSUASION
COMM 2
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION 1
COMM 3
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION STUDIES
COMM 4
GROUP DISCUSSION
COMM 5
MASS COMMUNICATION
COMM 10
GENDER, COMMUNICATION & CULTURE
COMM 12
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
COMM 55
CAREER & LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION IN THE GLOBAL WORKPLACE
Total Units15
1

May be completed only once for credit to satisfy certificate requirements