Listed below are the requirements for the Communication major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all of the university general education requirements and the College of Letters & Science breadth and other degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. You are strongly advised to consult your advisor to ensure you stay on track towards a degree. Read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
Communication Major Requirements
A major in communication consists of at least 36 credits in communication courses. At least 18 of the 36 credits must be numbered 300 or above, 15 of these taken in residence at UWM.
Graduation with a major in Communication requires a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in all communication courses attempted at UWM as well as a 2.0 GPA in all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. All courses in the major, with the exception of COMMUN 298, must be taken for graded credit. The College of Letters and Science requires that students complete a research experience in their major. The Department of Communication has structured COMMUN 335, COMMUN 370, and COMMUN 372 to satisfy that requirement. In these courses, students must produce a written final research paper that involves conducting independent research in addition to evaluating research in the field and integrating it with their findings. Students will present their research in oral form to their course colleagues.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| COMMUN 101 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMMUN 103 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMMUN 105 | Business and Professional Communication | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Critical Analysis of Communication | ||
| Quantitative Research in Communication | ||
| Qualitative Research in Communication | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 24 credits from across the communication curriculum | 24 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
A maximum of 6 credits earned in any combination of the following courses may count toward the minimum number of credits required for the major in communication:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMMUN 199 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| COMMUN 288 | Research Practicum | 1-3 |
| COMMUN 296 | UROP Apprenticeship | 1-3 |
| COMMUN 298 | Internship in Communication | 1-3 |
| COMMUN 597 | Practicum in Teaching Communication | 1-3 |
| COMMUN 588 | Research Practicum | 1-3 |
| COMMUN 698 | Internship in Communication | 3 |
| COMMUN 699 | Advanced Independent Reading | 1-3 |
Cross-listed Courses
The following courses offered in other subjects may be used to fulfill the requirements of the undergraduate major in Communication.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JAMS 111 | Gender and the Media | 3 |
| JAMS 113 | Internet Culture | 3 |