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.
Program Requirements
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.