Major Requirements
BA with a Major in Communication Heading link
Program Codes:
20FT1113BA
Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Communication degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
requirements Heading link
| Summary of Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| Major Requirements |
33 |
| General Education and Electives to reach Minimum Total Hours |
87 |
|
Total Hours |
120 |
requirements cont. Heading link
| Courses | Hours |
|
|---|---|---|
| COMM 101 | Introduction to Communicationa |
3 |
| COMM 102 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communicationa |
3 |
| COMM 103 | Introduction to Mediaa |
3 |
| COMM 200 | Communication Technologies |
3 |
| COMM 301 | Communication Researchb,e |
3 |
| Select five additional communication courses at the 200, 300, or 400-level with at least two courses at the 400-levelc |
15 |
|
| Select one of the following: |
3 |
|
| COMM 490 | Seminar in Culture and Communicationd | |
| COMM 491 | Seminar in Media and Communicationd | |
|
Total Hours |
33 |
|
|
a
This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category
b COMM 301 also fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement. c Exclusive of COMM 490 and COMM 491. No more than 3 hours of COMM 474 or 3 hours of COMM 498 may be applied toward the major. COMM 454 does not count toward the major or minor in Communication. dOnly one of the seminars, COMM 490 or COMM 491, may be applied toward the major in Communication eStudents may not register in 100, 200, and 300-level COMM core courses concurrently. For example, students must complete COMM 101, COMM 102, and COMM 103 before they can register for COMM 301 |
Recommended Plan of Study Heading link
First Year |
||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semeter |
Hours |
|
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts |
3 |
| Foreign Language |
4 |
|
| General Education Requirement Course |
3 |
|
| General Education Requirement Course |
3-5 |
|
|
Total Hours |
13-15 |
|
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research |
3 |
| Select one of the following: |
3 |
|
| COMM 101 | Introduction to Communicationa | |
| COMM 102 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communicationa | |
| COMM 103 | Introduction to Mediaa | |
| Foreign Language |
4 |
|
| General Education Requirement Course |
3 |
|
| General Education Requirement Course |
3 |
|
|
Total Hours |
16 |
cont. Heading link
Second Year |
||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester |
Hours |
|
| Select one of the following: |
3 |
|
| COMM 101 | Introduction to Communicationa | |
| COMM 102 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communicationa | |
| COMM 103 | Introduction to Mediaa | |
| Foreign Language |
4 |
|
| General Education Requirement Course |
3 |
|
| General Education Requirement Course |
3 |
|
| Electives |
3 |
|
|
Total Hours |
16 |
|
| Spring Semester | ||
| Select one of the following: |
3 |
|
| COMM 101 | Introduction to Communicationa | |
| COMM 102 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communicationa | |
| COMM 103 | Introduction to Mediaa | |
| Foreign Language |
4 |
|
| General Education Requirement Course |
3 |
|
| General Education Requirement Course/Elective |
2-5 |
|
| Electives |
3 |
|
|
Total Hours |
15-18 |
|
cont. Heading link
Third Year |
||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester |
Hours |
|
| COMM 200 | Communication Technologies |
3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning Requirementb |
3-5 |
|
| General Education Requirement Course/Elective |
3 |
|
| Electives |
6 |
|
|
Total Hours |
15-17 |
|
| Spring Semester | ||
| COMM 301 | Communication Research |
3 |
| COMM 2xx, 3xx, or 4xxc,d |
3 |
|
| General Education Requirement Course/Elective |
3 |
|
| Electives |
6 |
|
|
Total Hours |
15 |
cont. Heading link
Fourth Year |
||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester |
Hours |
|
| COMM 2xx, 3xx, or 4xxc,d |
3 |
|
| COMM 2xx, 3xx, or 4xxc,d |
3 |
|
| Electives |
9 |
|
|
Total Hours |
15 |
|
| Spring Semester | ||
| Select one of the following: |
3 |
|
| COMM 490 | Seminar in Culture and Communicatione | |
| COMM 491 | Seminar in Media in Communicatione | |
| COMM 2xx, 3xx, or 4xxc,d |
3 |
|
| COMM 2xx, 3xx, or 4xxc,d |
3 |
|
| Electives |
6 |
|
|
Total Hours |
15 |
|
|
Total Hours - 4 Years |
120 |
|
|
aTwo of these courses may be used to satisfy two of the nine courses in the General Education Program. bCOMM 201 may be used to satisfy the LAS Quantitative Reasoning Requirement with a grade of C or better. cFive Communication courses at the 200-, 300-, or 400-level, at least two must be at the 400-level. dNo more than 3 hours of either COMM 474 or COMM 498 may be applied toward the major. eOnly one of the seminars, COMM 490 or COMM 491, may be applied toward the major. Note: COMM 100, COMM 105, COMM 140, and COMM 454 do not count toward the major. Students may not register in 100, 200, and 300-level COMM core courses concurrently. For example, students must complete COMM 101, COMM 102, and COMM 103 before they can register for COMM 301. |
Additional Info Heading link
The Communication page of the UIC Undergraduate Catalog lists the most current major requirements. The major has two components, core courses and electives. The core includes courses that all majors must complete across the levels of the Communication curriculum. The electives are required courses that majors select.
The core courses introduce students to fundamental concepts, theories, issues, and research methods in communication. It emphasizes students’ acquisition of a broad base of knowledge of the field and of a cognitive framework that will assist them in their selection of advanced courses and their career opportunities. Core courses address:
- Underlying principles that govern communication in a variety of settings
- General definitions, theory, and applications of communication
- Skills in library research, critical thinking, and argumentative writing and speaking
Students should acquire an understanding of the processes that govern communication in a world that is shaped by, and depends on, information.
Electives combine analysis and research. Two electives in the major must be at the 400 level (in addition to either 490 or 491, the required capstone experience).
See Admissions page for information on declaring Communication as your major.