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Communication Studies, Bachelor of Arts
The Communication Studies program in St. John’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences provides students with the theories and practices to communicate effectively.
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- Communication Studies, Bachelor of Arts
Communication is the central means by which individuals organize society, create identities, and negotiate meaning. Understanding how well others communicate and learning how to communicate well with others is key for personal and professional success. The Communication Studies program in St. John’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences provides students with the theories and practices to communicate effectively.
A degree in Communication Studies focuses on how humans use symbols, both verbal and nonverbal, to inform or persuade other individuals as they create meaning, form human relationships, and manage conflict in a variety of contexts, cultures, and environments. It allows students the opportunity to develop their communicative practices and strategies in analyzing, producing, and delivering messages--in both 'everyday' situations and those marked by urgency or crisis-- which will help them influence and lead others across their professional, personal, and civic lives.
The Department of Communication Studies offers a wide range of courses to help students understand and develop communication skills within political, legal, professional, organizational, interpersonal, and intercultural settings. Students will select from courses that provide them with a strong background in communication theory and practice, and communication criticism and history. Students will become effective ethical communicators, learning the communicative practices necessary to participate in civic affairs by learning how to evaluate and respond to controversy, provide meaningful commentary upon social and interpersonal engagements, and exercise sensitivity to the myriad of ways we exist in and make sense of the world.
Students who major in Communication Studies will take required courses in communicative practices and then specialize in one of three concentrations: Communication & Culture, Organizational Communication & Leadership, or Political Communication & Civic Engagement.
Rhetoric and Public Address majors gain an academic and professional edge by joining the Epsilon Delta honor society.
- Degree Type
- BA
- Area of Interest
- Communications, Marketing & Media
- Associated Colleges or Schools
- Program Location
- Queens Campus
- Required Credit Hours
- 120
Admission
For more information about admission to this and other acclaimed undergraduate programs at St. John’s University, please visit Undergraduate Admission.
Courses
To complete the 36-credit hour B.A. in Communication Studies, students will:
- Select 18 credit hours (9 required, 9 elective) from Communicative Practices
- Select 18 credit hours from one of three concentrations:
- Communication & Culture
- Organizational Communication & Leadership
- Political Communication & Civic Engagement
B.A. Communication Studies/JD:
The Department of Rhetoric, Communication & Theatre offers a joint B.A. in Communication Studies/J.D. Interested students must contact the Pre-Law Advisor in the St. John’s College Dean’s Office before the start of their junior year.
- SPE 1000c – Core Public Speaking (Cross listed with HON 1020c)
- RCT 1155 – Language and Intercultural Communication (Cross listed with CSD 1155, ANT 1155, HON 1155)
- RCT 4000 – Senior Seminar
RCT 1015 – Interpersonal Communication (RCT 1005C/ HON 1025C – Interpersonal for Pharm)
RCT 2000 – Advanced Public Speaking
RCT 2020 – Persuasion (Cross listed with HON 2720)
RCT 2300 – Human Communication: Theory & Research Methods
RCT 3130 – Foundations of Rhetorical Theory (Cross listed with CLS 3200)
RCT 3140 – Rhetorical Criticism
Concentration
Students will select 18 credit hours from one of the following concentrations:
- Communication & Culture
- Organizational Communication & Leadership
- Political Communication & Civic Engagement
A student can substitute an independent study and/or internship for one course in each concentration.
- RCT 2010 – Rhetoric of Sports
- RCT 2015 – Non-Verbal Communication
- RCT 2030 – Rhetoric of Pop Culture
- RCT 2035 – Public Memory
- RCT 2080 – Media and Culture
- RCT 2100 – Transnational Feminism
- RCT 2110 – Oral Interpretation
- RCT 2120 – Race, Communication & Identity
- RCT 2150 – Romance in Communication
- RCT 3150 – Rhetoric of Social Movements
- RCT 3190 – Rhetoric of Religion (Cross-listed with THE 3615)
- RCT 2025 – Organizational Communication
- RCT 2050 – Decision Making (Cross listed with HON 2065)
- RCT 2070 – Strategic Communication
- RCT 2225 – Communicative Leadership through Conflict Management
- RCT 2250 – Crisis Communication
- RCT 2170 – Environmental Communication
- RCT 3140 – Rhetorical Criticism
- RCT 3180 – Legal Argumentation
- RCT 1010 – Debate in a Global Context (Cross listed with HON 1510)
- RCT 2030 – Rhetoric of Pop Culture
- RCT 2035 – Public Memory
- RCT 2040 – American Public Address
- RCT 2060 – Argumentation: Inquiry & Advocacy (Cross listed with HON 2065)
- RCT 2080 – Media and Culture
- RCT 2090 – Great Speeches of NY
- RCT 2100 – Transnational Feminism
- RCT 2130 – Race, Communication & Surveillance
- RCT 2170 – Environmental Communication
- RCT 2200 – Political Communication
- RCT 3120 – Free Speech Tradition in the US
- RCT 3150 – Rhetoric of Social Movement
- RCT 3160 – Modern Rhetorical Theory (Cross listed ENG 3900)
- RCT 3180 – Legal Argumentation
- RCT 3190 – Rhetoric of Religion (Cross listed with THE 3615)
Department Contact
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