Students who have successfully completed a B.A. in Communication from Lakeland University should be able to:

• Communicate effectively in informative, persuasive, and group public speaking situations.
• Create messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context.
• Use and discuss key communication & new media concepts and terminology.
• Critically analyze discourse.
• Write original works in accordance with professional, industry, or graduate school expectations.
• Create effective communications in digital and new media contexts.
• Develop and implement communication strategies to engage a broader community beyond the classroom setting.
• Practice ethical communication principles to communicate in a diverse and globally connected society.

Major Requirements (48-60 semester hours)

• COM 111 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking
• COM 130 - Introduction to Mass Media
• COM 211 - Interpersonal Communication
• ORCOM 212 - Team-Based and Group Communication - the alternative option may be used as a COM elective
• COM 220 - Persuasion & Advocacy
• COM 330 - Strategic New Media and Digital Communication
• COM 340 - Communication Theory
• COM 350 - Rhetorical Criticism (WI)
• COM 351 - Mixed Methods Research for Professionals
• COM 370 - Intercultural Communication
• WRT 200 - Copywriting and Editing

Traditional Track

A minimum of three (3) semester hours from one or a combination of the following:

• COM 120 - Debate Practicum (0-1 semester hour) *^
• COM 400 - Internship in Communication (1-3 semester hours)
• COM 490 - Independent Research in Communication (1-3 semester hours)
• WRT 211 - The Mirror: Photojournalism (0-1 semester hour) *^
• WRT 212 - The Mirror: Newswriting (0-1 semester hour) *^

*Students may not enroll in multiple sections of the same course in a term.

^Courses offered at Main Campus location only. Students may enroll in these courses in the course delivery format available and may require in-person attendance.

Complete a minimum of fifteen (15) semester hours from the following:

At least two (2) courses must be COM designated numbered 300 or above, and no more than two (2) non-COM designated courses may count towards the fifteen semester hours. COM 280 and COM 480 can only be taken once each for credit towards major requirements.

• COM 211 - Interpersonal Communication
• OR COM 212 - Team-Based and Group Communication- if not used to fulfill requirement above.
• COM 213 - Advanced Public Speaking
• COM 225 - Political Communication & Activism
• COM 235 - Communication, Conflict, & Negotiation
• COM 240 - American Oratory
• COM 280 - Special Topics in Communication
• COM 310 - Leadership Communication
• COM 331 - Critical Communication Approaches to New Media
• COM 332 - Media Literacy and Effects
• COM 335 - Crisis Communication
• COM 365 - Health Behavior Communication
• COM 480 - Special Topics in Communication

- Students may take up to two approved courses outside of the COM program towards their major electives.

- These classes must be numbered 200 or above.

- These courses may not fulfill an interdisciplinary requirement.

- Please have your advisor solicit pre-approval of the courses selected from the Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts/Communication faculty.