The COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS recognizes its mission to educate students for citizenship in a society in which communication and information are a major commodity and the basis of the democratic process; recognizes the complex mosaic of changing employment possibilities available in the information environment and thus prepares students for an employment climate in which the ability to adapt is a fundamental requisite to success; and facilitates the development of sophisticated abilities in the gathering, analysis, and dissemination of information.
The college offers a strong liberal arts education plus rigorous professional preparation to those planning careers in the mass media. The college also offers courses analyzing the role of the mass media in modern society.
For more information about the College of Communications, please visit our website at comm.psu.edu.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
There are enrollment controls on admission to two of the college's five majors. There is a portfolio review required for admission to the Film-Video major and an administrative control on the Advertising/Public Relations major. These controls specify the number of juniors to be admitted annually. For the Advertising/Public Relations major, applications are approved based on a student's cumulative grade-point average after the third semester and the completion of specific course entrance requirements by the end of the fourth semester. Students applying to the Advertising/Public Relations major must have a grade of C or higher in English 015 or 030 GWS and Economics 102 GS. Admission to the Film-Video major requires a successful portfolio review, fourth-semester standing (43.5 credits completed and/or in progress), and completion of COMM 242 with a grade of C or better.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
It is strongly recommended that a student schedule all courses under the guidance of his or her adviser and by using a computer-generated audit.
The minimum total credit requirement may not be met with duplicate credits (courses passed more than once). The following courses may not be used to satisfy requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree: ENGL 004 and ENGL 005, MATH 001, MATH 002, MATH 003, MATH 004, 005, and ESL 004.
No course offered by the College of Communications may be used by students who have majors in the College of Communications to satisfy the General Education or B.A. requirements. The policy does not apply to COMM courses that are required as a part of a minor outside the College of Communications.
Students must select at least 80 credits in non-communications courses including at least 65 credits in the liberal arts and sciences. Students may take a maximum of 3 internship (495) credits.
Only courses in which a student earns a grade of C or better may be counted toward fulfilling requirements in the major. A student who receives two grades below C in courses in the major may be dropped from that major no later than the beginning of the student's seventh semester.
Courses in which a student earns a grade of D may be used to satisfy the General Education or B.A. requirement.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE--Students are advised to initiate their foreign language upon entrance to the University but no later than the fifth semester.
BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS
BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: 9-24 credits
FOREIGN LANGUAGES (0-12 credits)
Student must attain 12th credit level of proficiency in one foreign language
B.A. FIELDS (9 credits)
Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, Foreign Languages, Natural Sciences, Quantification (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; foreign language credits in this category must be in a second foreign language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language)
OTHER CULTURES (0-3 credits)
Select 3 credits from approved list. Students may count courses in this category to meet other major, minor, elective, or General Education requirements, except for the General Education US/IL requirement. See approved list at http://bulletins.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/ba_requirements.cfm.
RECOMMENDED ACADEMIC PLANS
Recommended Academic Plans provide, in table form, the courses students might schedule semester by semester as they pursue a specific undergraduate degree. Each college or campus maintains Recommended Academic Plans for its own majors/degree programs. Links to these plans are on the Division of Undergraduate Studies website at: http://www.dus.psu.edu/semplans.htm. Questions concerning the Recommended Academic Plans should be directed to the college or campus involved or the Division of Undergraduate Studies.
COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS
DOUGLAS A. ANDERSON, Dean
MARIE HARDIN, Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Graduate Education
ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS
Advertising/Public Relations -- ROBERT A. BAUKUS, Head
Film-Video and Media Studies -- ANTHONY OLORUNNISOLA, Head
Journalism -- J. FORD RISLEY, Head
Telecommunications -- MATT JACKSON, Head
ACADEMIC SERVICES
JAMEY PERRY, Assistant Dean
CAREER PLACEMENT AND INTERNSHIPS
ROBERT P. MARTIN, Assistant Dean
HONORS PROGRAM
SUSAN M. STROHM, Director
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
BARBARA BIRD, Director
MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
JOSEPH M. SELDEN, Assistant Dean
7/17/12