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    Mar 28, 2024  
American University Catalog 2016-2017 
    
American University Catalog 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Communication: Communication Studies (BA)


Offered by the School of Communication .

Admission to the Program


Formal admission to the major requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale). Students should declare their major by the end of the sophomore year and no earlier than the end of the freshman year.

Students who are unable to achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 and declare a major in communication are not allowed to take courses in the school after they have completed 60 hours of undergraduate credit.

University Requirements


  • 120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better
  • Completion of college writing requirement
  • Completion of university mathematics requirement

General Education Requirements


  • A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas
  • At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component
  • No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline

Major Requirements


  • 36-40 credit hours with grades of C or better within the School of Communication including core, media ethics and legal aspects, concentration, and media studies courses.
    • With approval of the student’s advisor, up to 6 credit hours taken abroad may be applied toward the communication major requirements.
    • Subject to the approval of an advisor, a maximum of 12 credit hours in communication transferred from another university may be substituted for required communication courses.
  • Concentrations: History of the Media, International Media, Media and Government, or Media and Society.
  • Related requirements taken outside the School of Communication with grades of C or better. Note: These courses are not included in the major GPA.
    • 3 credit hours in United States history (HIST-xxx).
    • 3 credit hours in economics (ECON-xxx).
    • Minor or second major outside the School of Communication.
  • Minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA.

Course Requirements


Related Requirements


Complete the following with grades of C or better:

United States History


  • 3 credit hours in United States history (HIST-xxx)

Economics


  • 3 credit hours in economics (ECON-xxx)

Outside Minor or Second Major


  • Minor or second major outside of the School of Communication

Communication Requirements (36 credit hours)


Concentrations (18 credit hours)


Complete one of the following concentrations: History of the Media, International Media, Media and Government, Media and Society.

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees


American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees  for more information.