2014-15 Catalogs

BA in Communication

The communication bachelor of arts degree program takes a broad view of communication including the examination of face-to-face contexts and mediated ones. The program examines communication theories and their practices including intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, organization, intercultural, gender and family, and mass media. Communication majors take two senior seminars. One seminar is chosen from a list of topics and the other is a capstone seminar designed to be a culmination of their undergraduate work and as a transition to graduate studies. This program embraces a liberal arts philosophy and the emphasis is on critical thinking rather than vocational training.

This degree program can also be taken in a fully online format.  For more information, please visit Professional and Continuing Education at www.usm.maine.edu/pce.

Major Requirements (36 credit hours)
A grade of "C" or higher is required in all courses for the major.  

I. Common Core (9 credit hours)
     CMS 102 Introduction to Communication
     CMS 103 Introduction to Media Studies
     CMS 200 Research Methods in Communication

II. Communication Theory (9 credit hours - select three)
     CMS 255 Business and Professional Communication
     CMS 265 Intrapersonal Communication
     CMS 272 Persuasion
     CMS 275 Theories of Language
     CMS 298 Topics in Communication I
     CMS 330 Theories of Interpersonal Communication
     CMS 332 Communication in the Family
     CMS 345 Small Group Communication
     CMS 360 Ethical Dilemmas in the Digital Age
     CMS 375 Meaning and Communication
     CMS 385 Intergenerational Communication and the Internet
     CMS 390 Theories of Organizational Communication
     CMS 398 Topics in Communication II

III. Media Theory (6 credit hours – select two)
     CMS 210 Topics in Media Criticism I
     CMS 284 Cinema Studies
     CMS 286 History of International Cinema to 1945
     CMS 288 History of International Cinema since 1945
     CMS 294 Visual Communication
     CMS 303 Media Effects
     CMS 310 Topics in Media Criticism II
     CMS 323 Understanding Technology
     CMS 350 The Internet in Society
     CMS 355 Consumer Culture
     CMS 370 Media and Social Change
     CMS 374 Media Criticism and Aesthetics
     CMS 380 Film Genres
     CMS 384 Topics in Cinema Studies
     CMS 394 Theories of Cinema
     CMS 423 The First Amendment

IV. Senior Experience (6 credit hours)

Senior Seminar (3 Credit hours – select one)
     CMS 420 Communication and Cognition
     CMS 423 First Amendment
     CMS 432 Topics in Interpersonal Communication
     CMS 455 Computer-Mediated Communication
     CMS 475 Discursive Practices
     CMS 484 Advanced Topics in Cinema Studies
     CMS 485 Sex-Related Differences in Communication
     CMS 486 Women in Film
     CMS 490 Theories of Mass Communication
     CMS 498 Topics in Communication III

Capstone Senior Seminar (3 credits)
     CMS 495 Theories of Communication

V. Electives (6 credit hours)

  • Communication majors may select any two courses offered by the Department as electives as long as they have met the prerequisites. The exceptions are internships and independent studies. These count toward the total number of credits needed for a bachelor of arts degree, but not as electives in the major.