At which campus can I study this program?
Begin Campus
Any Penn State Campus
End Campus
University Park
Program Description
The B.S. in Communication Arts and Sciences promotes an understanding of fundamental facets of human communication, knowledge of theories and research that illuminate communication processes, and expertise in practical applications of communication research to civic, cultural, family, health, interpersonal, organizational, and social contexts. The ability to communicate effectively in personal, social, professional, and multicultural situations is an essential skill in modern society. Discovering how to improve practices of communication in any of those situations--whether from a humanistic or scientific perspective--is equally vital. Students of Communication Arts and Sciences will therefore learn to argue persuasively, think critically, solve problems collaboratively, understand and manage conflict, influence people ethically, form and keep relationships, and participate constructively in civic life. The flexibility of this program offers preparation for a variety of careers, which include administration, business, health, higher education, human resources, law, public service, social or political advocacy, and more. For these reasons, majoring in Communication Arts and Sciences also offers an excellent concurrent degree program: a substantive understanding of human communication--which is valuable in numerous forms of personal, social, or professional life--can significantly enhance students' preparation in many fields of study.
What is Communications Arts and Sciences?
Communication Arts and Sciences (CAS) is committed to the study, teaching, and practice of human communication for the betterment of Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world. Using methods and theories that span the humanities and social sciences, we create knowledge about the role of communication in diverse interpersonal, communal, national, international, and cultural settings. Our research is integral to our educational mission: to promote greater understanding of and facility with oral, written, and nonverbal communication.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You want to learn about the importance of human communication from a scientific perspective.
- You want to learn how to craft effective messages for different types of audiences.
- You want to develop critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze data in order to understand how messages influence audiences.
- You want to acquire theories, methods, and practical tools to understand the roots of social conflict and help change them through improved practices of communication.
Entrance to Major
In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:
- attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
- have third-semester classification.
READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Degree Requirements
For the Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts and Sciences, a minimum of 123 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Electives | 24 |
| Requirements for the Major | 54 |
Per Senate Policy 83-80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. For more information, check the Recommended Academic Plan for your intended program.
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol 
appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Knowledge Domains
- Arts (GA): 6 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 6 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 6 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 9 credits
Integrative Studies (may also complete a Knowledge Domain requirement)
- Inter-Domain or Approved Linked Courses: 6 credits
University Degree Requirements
First Year Engagement
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
Cultures Requirement
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
- United States Cultures: 3 credits
- International Cultures: 3 credits
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Requirements for the Major
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| CAS 101N | Introduction to Human Communication | 3 |
| CAS 301 | Rhetorical Theory | 3 |
| CAS 303 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| CAS 304 | Quantitative Methods for Communication Research | 3 |
| CAS 311 | Methods of Rhetorical Criticism | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 9 credits from the following 200-level foundational course options: | 9 | |
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Landmark Speeches on Democracy and Dissent | ||
| Argumentation | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Select 15 credits of other CAS courses. At least 12 credits must be at the 400 level. A maximum of 3 credits from CAS 494, CAS 495, CAS 496, and CAS 499 may satisfy this requirement. CAS 126 and CAS 195 may not be counted as part of the major. | 15 | |
| Select 12 credits in quantification from department list. Department list includes courses in MATH (MATH 18, MATH 110, MATH 111, MATH 140, MATH 141, MATH 211, MATH 318, MATH 319) and Statistics (STAT 100, STAT 200, STAT 301, STAT 318, STAT 319, STAT 401, STAT 414, STAT 415, STAT 416, STAT 418, STAT 440, STAT 460, STAT 461, STAT 462, STAT 464, STAT 466, STAT 470, STAT 480, STAT 482, STAT 483). | 12 | |
| Select 3 credits in related disciplines from departmental list of approved courses | 3 | |
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university’s academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee’s unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
http://starfish.psu.edu
http://www.la.psu.edu/current-students/undergraduate-students/education/majors-and-minors
Suggested Academic Plan
The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2020-21 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition (Note: the archive only contain suggested academic plans beginning with the 2018-19 edition of the Undergraduate Bulletin).
University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 15 (or honors equivalent (GWS))* | 3 | CAS 100 (or honors equivalent (GWS))* | 3 |
| CAS 101N* | 3 | CAS Additional course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| Quantification (GQ)* | 3 | Humanities (GH) + (US) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) (FYS) | 3 | Natural Sciences (GN) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Supporting Course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CAS Additional course (work with adviser)* | 3 | CAS Additional course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| Quantification (GQ)* | 3 | Natural Sciences (GN) | 3 |
| Arts (GA) + (IL) | 3 | Humanities (GH) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) | 3 | Supporting Course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Arts (GA) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CAS 301* | 3 | CAS 303* | 3 |
| CAS 4XX-level course (work with adviser)* | 3 | CAS 311* | 3 |
| Natural Sciences (GN) | 3 | Supporting Course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| Supporting Course (work with adviser) | 3 | ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D* | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CAS 304* | 3 | CAS 4XX-level course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| CAS 4XX-level course (work with adviser)* | 3 | CAS 4XX-level course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| Supporting CAS course (work with adviser)* | 3 | Supporting Course (work with adviser)* | 3 |
| Health and Wellness (GHW) | 1.5 | Health and Wellness (GHW) | 1.5 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 16.5 | 16.5 | ||
| Total Credits 123 | |||
| * | Course requires a grade of C or better for the major |
| ‡ | Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education |
| # | Course is an Entrance to Major requirement |
| † | Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement |
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy University Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
GWS, GQ, GHW, GN, GA, GH, and GS are abbreviations used to identify General Education program courses. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS, and Integrative Studies). Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Integrative Studies courses are required for the General Education program. N is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate an Inter-Domain course and Z is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate a Linked course.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL/CAS 137 in the fall semester and ENGL/CAS 138 in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and replace both ENGL 30 and CAS 100. Each course is 3 credits.
Advising Notes
This document is only for planning purposes and cannot replace working with an academic adviser. Each student is unique, and some campuses may not offer many CAS courses. Most students are "off the plan" after one semester.
Students need at least 24 credits in CAS courses completed at UP due to competency requirements. Campus advisers may work with the UP CAS adviser if they have questions about what their current students might take.
Two general education courses (GQ, GN, GA, GH, GS) must be integrative studies courses - Inter-Domain or Linked.
Supporting courses include four Methodology courses and one related disciplines course.
Students are required to take one Writing across the Curriculum course. There are three CAS 4XX-level courses that will fulfill this requirement, but any W course will work.
Career Paths
CAS graduates are change makers: analysts, strategists, persuaders, facilitators, collaborators, connectors, and scholars. The CAS program equips students for success in the work force, graduate school, and civic life. CAS courses provide students the theories, methods, practical tools, and experiences to understand the roots of social conflict and the sources of well-being. CAS majors can make a positive difference in our society.
Careers
A Bachelor of Science degree in CAS prepares students for success in careers that value a scientific perspective on communication practices and the ability to analyze data accordingly. Such careers include business, behavioral science, health and human services, human development, law, public relations, public policy, sales, digital technology, and more. CAS graduates may work as analysts, strategists, facilitators, collaborators, or negotiators.
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
A Bachelor of Science degree in CAS also provides excellent preparation for graduate study in communication science as well as fields such as business, behavioral science, health and human services, human development, public policy, and more.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
Professional Resources
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION ARTS AND SCIENCES
234 Sparks Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-3461
sas519@psu.edu