Undergraduate Program
communication
Table of Contents
Contacts
- Director of Undergraduate Studies/Department Counselor: Christine Caswell, Maloney Hall, Room 515, 617-552-6148, christine.caswell@bc.edu
- New Major Advisor: Sanchali Biswas, Maloney Hall, Room 527, 617-552-2515, sanchali.biswas@bc.edu
- Office Administrator: Leslie Douglas, Maloney Hall, Room 513, 617-552-4280, leslie.douglas@bc.edu
- www.bc.edu/communication
- Fax: 617-552-2286
Undergraduate Program Description
The Department of Communication is concerned with the study, criticism, research, and teaching of the artistic, humanistic, and scientific principles of communication. Through a series of required classes, the department provides all majors with a basic understanding of communication research and theory. The department also offers upper-level courses in interpersonal communication, media and cultural studies, and rhetoric and public advocacy.
This program of study has led graduating majors to careers in communication industries and to success in fields related to communication such as business, education, government/politics, health, international relations and negotiations, and social and human services. Majors have successfully completed graduate programs in many field including communication, business, and law.
Thirty-three credits are required for the major, consisting of the following four common requirements, four distributed requirements, and three electives.
Four Common Requirements (12 credits)
- CO 010 Rhetorical Tradition
This course, and/or CO 020, should be taken before any other course in the major. - CO 020 Survey of Mass Communication
This course, and/or CO 010, should be taken before any other course in the major. - CO 030 Public Speaking
- One of CO 330 Communication Methods: Social Science or CO 340 Communication Methods: Critical/Cultural*
* Please note for the Classes of 2014 – CO 330, CO 340, or CO 350 can fulfill the major research methods requirement.
Four Distributed Requirements (12 credits)
- One of the Cluster Courses:
- CO 040 (formerly numbered CO 253) Interpersonal Communication
- CO 249 Communication Law
- CO 250 Mass Communication Ethics
- CO 251 Gender and Media
- CO 255 Media Aesthetics
- CO 260 American Public Address
- CO 263 Media, Law and Society
- CO 268 Business of Electronic Media
- One of the Theory Courses:
- Any course numbered between CO 360 and CO 380
- Theory courses should not be taken until after a student has completed CO 010 Rhetorical Tradition, CO 020 Survey of Mass Communication, CO 030 Public Speaking and one of CO 330 Communication Methods: Social Science or CO 340 Communication Methods: Critical/Cultural
- Two Writing-Intensive Seminars:
- Any two courses numbered between CO 425 and CO 475
Note: These are upper-level courses and should not be taken until after a student has completed CO 010 Rhetorical Tradition, CO 020 Survey of Mass Communication, CO 030 Public Speaking and one of CO 330 Communication Methods: Social Science or CO 340 Communication Methods: Critical Cultural. Freshmen and sophomores should never register for writing-intensive seminars.
Three Electives (9 credits)
- May be chosen from available courses in the department.
Note: Any three-hour class offered by the department can be counted as an elective, including CO 589 Senior Internship Seminar and CO 592 Honors Thesis.
For the class of 2015 and Beyond
Thirty-three credits are required for the major, consisting of the following five common requirements, three distributed requirements, and three electives.
Five Common Requirements (15 credits)
- CO 010 Rhetorical Tradition
This course, and/or CO 020 & CO 040, should be taken before any other course in the major. - CO 020 Survey of Mass Communication
This course, and/or CO 010 & CO 040, should be taken before any other course in the major. - CO 030 Public Speaking
- CO 040 Interpersonal Communication
This course, and/or CO 010 & CO 020, should be taken before any other course in the major. - One of CO 330 Communication Methods: Social Science or CO 340 Communication Methods: Critical/Cultural
Three Distributed Requirements (9 credits)
- One of the Theory Courses:
- Any course numbered between CO 360 and CO 380
- Theory courses should not be taken until after a student has completed CO 010 Rhetorical Tradition, CO 020 Survey of Mass Communication, CO 030 Public Speaking, CO 040 Interpersonal Communication, and one of CO 330 Communication Methods: Social Science or CO 340 Communication Methods: Critical/Cultural.
- Two Writing-Intensive Seminars:
- Any two courses numbered between CO 425 and CO 475
- These are upper-level courses and should not be taken until after a student has completed CO 010 Rhetorical Tradition, CO 020 Survey of Mass Communication, CO 030 Public Speaking, CO 040 Interpersonal Communication, and one of CO 330 Communication Methods: Social Science or CO 340 Communication Methods: Critical/Cultural. Freshmen and sophomores should never register for writing-intensive seminars.
Three Electives (9 credits)
May be chosen from any three-hour class offered by the department. Please note the following: (1) a maximum of six transfer credits will be accepted by the department and (2) a limit of one 3-credit internship may be taken as an elective.
Full-time communication majors in the College of Arts and Sciences can count one three-credit course from the Woods College as a communication elective. This rule does not apply to courses transferred from another institution or to students transferring from another college within Boston College.
Non-Cumulative Credits:
One-credit internships and/or 2-credit Debate Practicum cannot be combined to total a 3-credit course in any of the other required categories for the major.
Information for First Year Majors
Freshmen and sophomores can declare the Communication major with the New Major Advisor in Maloney Hall, Room 527. Juniors and seniors should schedule an appointment with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to determine whether they can reasonably complete the required course work prior to graduation.
The five required courses, CO 010 Rhetorical Tradition, CO 020 Survey of Mass Communication, CO 030 Public Speaking, CO 040 Interpersonal Communication, and either CO 330 Communication Methods: Social Science or CO 340 Communication Methods: Critical/Cultural, are prerequisites for all other communication classes. Majors should not register for a theory course, writing-intensive seminars, or any elective until after they have completed the required common courses noted above.
To receive the department's permission for study abroad, students must have completed seven Communication courses by the end of their junior year including CO 010 Rhetorical Tradition, CO 020 Survey of Mass Communication, CO 030 Public Speaking, CO 040 Interpersonal Communication and one of CO 330 Communication Methods: Social Science or CO 340 Communication Methods: Critical/Cultural. The seven course requirement may be met by either of the following:
- Taking seven Communication courses at Boston College including Communication courses and approved summer school courses
- Taking five Communication courses at Boston College and transferring two courses from the junior year abroad placement
For additional information, please visit our department website or contact Christine Caswell, Director of Undergraduate Studies.
CO 501 Communication Internship, a 1-credit pass/fail course, is open to Communication majors who have sophomore, junior, or senior standing and a minimum 2.5 GPA.
CO 589 Senior Internship Seminar, a 3-credit course, is open to Communication majors who have senior standing and a 3.1 overall GPA (or a 2.8 overall with at least a 3.2 in the major). In addition, potential interns must have completed a minimum of six courses in communication including CO 010 Rhetorical Tradition, CO 020 Survey of Mass Communication, CO 030 Public Speaking, CO 040 Interpersonal Communication, and one of CO 330 Communication Methods: Social Science or CO 340 Communication Methods: Critical/Cultural plus appropriate preparatory course work necessary for the specific field placement.
For internship applications, please visit our department website. For departmental approval, contact Christine Caswell, Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Juniors with a qualifying grade point average (3.75 or higher) are eligible for the program. To remain in the program, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher until graduation. To complete the honors program, students will need to take two specified "honors" writing intensive seminars, perform well in those courses (receive grades of A or A-), and successfully complete an honors thesis under the direction of the instructor of one of those courses. Honors students will receive a total of nine credit hours for their participation in, and completion of, the program. A more complete description of the program is available on the department website or in the Honors Handbook in the department's main office.