Requirements

The Department of Communication offers a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and a minor. (Graduate students should see the Graduate Program link).

For information on BA and BS requirements, read the PSU Bulletin (Catalog) under “Degree Requirements” and see the PSU website on Advising.

There is no formal process for admission to the Department of Communication for undergraduate students, although you must be officially admitted to Portland State University before declaring a major.

Coursework

All students, whether taking a major or minor, must complete courses in communication with a letter grade (not a pass-fail grade) and earn at least a C grade. If you earn a grade of C-minus or less then the course cannot be counted toward your major or minor.

The Major

Below are the requirements for the major in communication: 

• Meet the general University requirements
• Complete 60 credits in communication courses (with a grade of C or better)
• Complete an additional 4 credits of Writing 222 or 333
• Complete the required core courses in communication: 

• Comm 200 Principles of Communication
• Comm 311 Research Methods in Communication
• Comm 316 Communication, Individuals and Discourse
• Comm 326 Communication, Society and Culture

Note: Take Comm 200 before enrolling in the other (300-level) courses

• Complete 44 credits of electives within the Department of Communication

For the 44 electives in communication, note the following:
• At least 36 must be in upper-division communication courses, of which

• At least 16 must be in courses numbered in the 400-series

• No more than 8 credits may be counted toward the major from courses numbered Comm 401-409

Here's the Math

Remember that you will need to take 64 credits in requirements as a communication major:

The Minor

You can earn a minor by completing 7 classes (28 credits) in communication courses. Four courses (16 credits) must be upper division (300 or 400-series). No more than 8 credits can be taken as Comm 404 or Comm 409. A minimum of 12 credits must be taken in residence at PSU.

Here's the Math

You need to successfully complete 28 credits in requirements as a minor: 

Honors

Students who want to participate in the department’s Honors Track must first apply. Send applications to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Communication.

Details

Students who want a rigorous challenge in their studies may apply for the Communication Department’s Honors Track Program. The Honors Track is designed to allow students first-hand experience conducting research and writing under the mentorship of faculty members. Following are the details:

• Application. Students apply to the honors track in the junior year (no later than Spring term). Applications will be reviewed by a faculty committee

• Eligibility. Junior-standing students must have an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.25. You must have at least of 90 credits when applying to the program. Students must be majors in communication with at least 24 hours completed in communication coursework

• Coursework. Students admitted to the honors track will take 3 communication courses in the 400-500 series (with the permission of each instructor) for a total of 12 credits. Don’t worry that the courses aren’t labeled “honors” in the Bulletin or Schedule. Note that the 400-500 courses are typically undergraduate-graduate combined. The faculty consider this series the most rigorous for undergraduates, and most within this series will fill the Honors requirement

• Students must receive a minimum grade of B in the honors course. Students will be required to conduct work in each class at the “honors level” as determined by the instructor

• Faculty mentors. Students are required to work under the guidance of the faculty member teaching each honors course. You are responsible for alerting the instructor at the beginning of class that you intend to take the course as an honors student

• Final paper. Honors students will write a final paper that is suitable for submission to an undergraduate research conference and deliver an on-campus presentation during the course of their honors study while working under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The final paper can arise from any of the 3 communication honors courses you take—not necessarily the final course in your schedule. You are responsible to approaching the faculty member to mentor you through your final paper.

• Graduation with distinction. Students who complete the honors track in good standing will be recognized at Commencement as graduating “with departmental honors”

Applying to the Honors Track

Students in their Junior year (no later than Spring term) will submit in hard copy form to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Communication, the following:

1. Current university transcripts (photocopy is acceptable)
2. Cover letter with complete contact information (including full name, address, telephone, PSU ID number and email)
3. A 500-word (maximum) statement about your area(s) of interests in communication and how the honors program will allow you to pursue your interest(s)
4. Letters of support from at least 2 faculty members in the Department of Communication, including one tenured faculty member