About the Program

Communication Department
Buckham Hall B120
(716) 878-3606
https://communication.buffalostate.edu/

This major allows students much flexibility to tailor a program of theory-based and applied courses. It meets the needs of students preferring a generalist approach to communication, as well as for students seeking a more academic, less applied approach. Compare this major with journalism, media production, and public relations and advertising.

Career Opportunities

Students in Communication Studies prepare for careers in corporate communication, social media management, consulting, government careers, research, media analysis, lobbying, speechwriting, fundraising, event management, and other fields that require a liberal arts education enhanced with communication expertise. The major also provides a base for graduate education in communication, law, management, and other professional areas.

The profile of a successful communication studies graduate is a person with strong writing and speaking proficiency, keen ethical insight, competence in analyzing and thinking critically, and skill in working effectively both independently and in teams.

Academic Standards

Only grades of C or higher may be applied toward requirements for any communication degree; courses with lower grades must be repeated. Consistent with standards of the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, the number of communication courses that students may take is capped, encouraging a broad-based liberal arts education. The department encourages students to take minors or second majors and requires evidence of an academic concentration or area of expertise outside the Communication Department.

Admission Requirements

Incoming freshman and transfer students can declare the major.

See communication.buffalostate.edu for application forms and additional information, including a list of equivalent core courses at community colleges. Transfer students from two-year schools may apply only core courses toward this major for a maximum of 12 credits. Students generally require four semesters of study after completing communication core courses.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. understand and apply First Amendment principles and the law appropriate to professional practice relevant to the major
2. demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communication relevant to the major
3. demonstrate an understanding of gender and gender identity, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity, equity, and inclusion in domestic and global societies and their significance in the major
4. understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information relevant to the major
5. demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity
6. think critically, creatively and independently
7. conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communication professions in which they work
8. write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communication professions, audiences and purposes they serve
9. critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy, fairness, clarity, creativity, effective storytelling and/or professional style as appropriate to the major
10. apply basic numerical and statistical concepts appropriate to the major
11. apply tools and technologies appropriate to the major
12. demonstrate competence in professional speaking and presentational skills appropriate to the major

Program Requirements

General Education 23 Requirements (33 credit hours)

Communication Major Requirements (42 credit hours)
Communication Core (12 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
COM100 MEDIA LITERACY | 3 - Credit Hours
OR SPC103 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION | 3 - Credit Hours
COM210 INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA WRITING | 3 - Credit Hours
COM215 INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL COMMUNICATION | 3 - Credit Hours
SPC205 INTRODUCTION TO ORAL COMMUNICATION | 3 - Credit Hours

Upper-Level Oral Communication Course (3 credit hours)
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
SPC306 PUBLIC SPEAKING | 3 - Credit Hours
SPC307 GROUP COMMUNICATON | 3 - Credit Hours
SPC315 MEDIA PERFORMANCE | 3 - Credit Hours

Upper-Level Written Communication Course (3 credit hours)
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
COM303 WRITING FOR PRINT AND ONLINE JOURNALISM | 3 - Credit Hours
COM304 WRITING FOR BROADCAST (TV, RADIO, FILM) | 3 - Credit Hours
COM308 PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING | 3 - Credit Hours
COM325 FEATURE WRITING | 3 - Credit Hours
COM390 SPECIAL TOPICS: JOURNALISTIC WRITING | 3 - Credit Hours
COM347 DIGITAL AND BROADCAST PRODUCING | 3 - Credit Hours

Communication Theory and Criticism (6 credit hours)
Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
COM312 BASIC MEDIA PRODUCTION | 3 - Credit Hours
COM322 COMMUNICATION GRAPHICS | 3 - Credit Hours
COM336 WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRODUCTION | 3 - Credit Hours

Communication Theory and Criticism (6 credit hours)
Complete at least 2 of the following Courses:
COM310 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 - Credit Hours
COM333 RACE, CLASS, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY IN MEDIA | 3 - Credit Hours
COM400 COMMUNICATION LAW | 3 - Credit Hours
COM401 APPLIED COMMUNICATION RESEARCH | 3 - Credit Hours
SPC309 PERSUASION AND PROPAGANDA | 3 - Credit Hours
SPC311 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | 3 - Credit Hours
SPC321 RHETORICAL CRITICISM | 3 - Credit Hours
SPC326 FILM ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION | 3 - Credit Hours
SPC407 ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 - Credit Hours
SPC422 MEDIA CRITICISM | 3 - Credit Hours
SPC426 DOCUMENTARY FILM ANALYSIS | 3 - Credit Hours

Senior Seminar (3 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
COM450 COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY | 3 - Credit Hours

Communication Electives (12 credit hours)
Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
COM495 SPECIAL PROJECT | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
OR COM499 INDEPENDENT STUDY | 3 - 12 Credit Hours
Or 300/400-level COM or SPC electives by advisement


All College Electives (39-45 credit hours)
Completion requirement

120 Total Credit Hours
Completion requirement