Students examine the theory and practice of communication in a variety of contexts, including business and nonprofit organizations, small groups, the mass media, and video- and computer-based media. Under the auspices of the department, students acquire the knowledge base and analytical skills necessary to become effective communicators within an increasingly intercultural business and public environment. Courses are intended to serve the general student population as well as those students who have selected the corporate communication specialization of the business communication major.
Business Communication Major with a Specialization in Corporate Communication
The business communication major is designed for students who are interested in careers in business journalism, corporate communication, or graphic communication. Because the business communication field is essentially interdisciplinary in nature, the program integrates courses from several departments in the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences and the Zicklin School of Business.
The corporate communication specialization prepares students for careers as communication specialists in business, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations in such fields as media relations, investor relations, corporate advertising, and employee communication. Interested students should contact the Department of Communication Studies at 646-312-3720.
The major also offers specializations in graphic communication (see the Department of Fine and Performing Arts listing) and business writing (see the Department of Journalism and the Writing Professions listing).
Program Learning Goals
Upon completion of a major in Corporate Communication, students will be able to:
Major Course Requirements
NOTE: Business courses included in this program, with the exception of ECO 1001, ECO 1002, ECO 1110, STA 2000, and STA 2100, do not count toward the 90-credit liberal arts minimum required for the BA degree.
Program Prerequisites 15 credits
| Introduction to Business | 3 credits | |
| or | ||
| Business Fundamentals: The Contemporary Business Landscape | 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Information Systems and Technologies | 3 credits |
| Fundamentals of Management | 3 credits |
| Marketing Foundations | 3 credits |
| Business Statistics I | 3 credits |
or |
| |
| Statistics for Social Science (formerly STA 2100) | 3 credits |
or |
| |
| Micro-Economics | 3 credits |
or |
| |
| Macro-Economics | 3 credits |
| or | ||
| Current Economic Problems | 3 credits |
Major/Specialization: 30 credits
Interdisciplinary Core 12 credits
Business Communication
| Business Communication | 3 credits |
Marketing/Advertising
Choose one course:
| Advertising and Marketing Communications | 3 credits |
| Marketing Research (Students must complete | 3 credits |
| Consumer Behavior | 3 credits |
Management
Choose one course:
Management: A Behavioral Approach | 3 credits | |
| Management and Society | 3 credits |
Ethics
Ethics and Critical Thinking | 3 credits |
Specialization Requirements 18 credits
Required Courses 9 credits
| Managerial Communication Within Organizations | 3 credits | |
| Communication for Executives | 3 credits | |
| Internship in Business and Public Communication | 3 credits |
Electives 9 credits
| Communication and Advocacy in Business and Public Affairs | 3 credits | |
| Communication Law and Free Speech | 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Digital Communication and Culture | 3 credits | ||
| The Ethics of Image Making: Film, Television, and Digital Media | 3 credits | |
| Video Communication and Production | 3 credits | |
| Media Analysis and Criticism | 3 credits | |
| Studies in Electronic Media | 3 credits | |
| Classical Rhetoric | 3 credits | ||
| American Public Address | 3 credits | ||
| Rhetorical Theory and Criticism | 3 credits | ||
| American Television Programming | 3 credits | |
| Intercultural Communication | 3 credits | |
| Persuasion | 3 credits | |
| Argumentation and Debate | 3 credits | |
| Elements of Legal Argumentation | 3 credits | ||
| Interpersonal and Group Communication | 3 credits | |
| International Communication | 3 credits | |
| Interpersonal Communication | 3 credits | |
| Group Communication | 3 credits | |
Gender, Ethnicity, and Race in Communication | 3 credits | ||
| Virtual Teamwork | 3 credits | ||
Organizations in International Development | 3 credits | ||
| Gender Communication | 3 credits | ||
| Communication in Intercultural and International Conflicts | 3 credits | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | 3 credits | ||
| Facework Communication: Impression Management | 3 credits | ||
| Intercultural Training, Coaching, and Consulting | 3 credits | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Digital Media | 3 credits | ||
Markets, Media, and Meaning | 3 credits | ||
| Platforms, Power, and Publics | 3 credits | ||
| Rhetoric of Science | 3 credits | ||
| Visual Rhetoric | 3 credits | ||
| Principles of Public Relations | 3 credits | |
| Corporate Communication | 3 credits | |
| Public Relations Writing | 3 credits | |
| Public Relations Campaigns | 3 credits | |
| Advanced Video Communication and Production Note: This is a non-liberal arts course | 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Issues in Intercultural Communication | 3 credits | ||
Selected Topics | variable | ||
| Topics in Communication Studies | 3 credits | |
| Conflict Resolution | 3 credits | ||
| Language and Social Interaction | 3 credits | ||
| Communication Research Strategies | 3 credits | ||
| Work-Life Communication | 3 credits |
Communication Studies (CS) is both a scholarly and professional academic field that focuses on processes of communication ranging from the spoken word to global media in interpersonal, organizational, cultural, political, and international contexts.
The major is an ideal springboard for a variety of graduate degrees and - due to the spread of globalization and digital communication - the basis for an increasing number of new careers.
Interested students should contact the Department of Communication Studies at 646-312-3720 or visit the department's website.
Upon completion of a major in Communication Studies, students will be able to:
Program Prerequisite | ||
| Ethics and Critical Thinking | 3 credits | |
Required Introductory Course | ||
| Introduction to Communication Studies | 3 credits | |
Required Foundation Courses (12 credits) | ||
| Communication Law and Free Speech | 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Digital Communication and Culture | 3 credits | |
| Intercultural Communication | 3 credits | |
| Interpersonal Communication | 3 credits | |
Concentrations – Choose one of the following (9 credits) | ||
Interpersonal and Group Communication | ||
| Group Communication | 3 credits | |
Gender, Ethnicity, and Race in Communication | 3 credits | |
| Virtual Teamwork | 3 credits | |
| Gender Communication | 3 credits | |
| Nonverbal Communication | 3 credits | |
| Facework Communication: Impression Management | 3 credits | |
| Intercultural Training, Coaching, and Consulting | 3 credits | |
| Conflict Resolution | 3 credits | |
| Language and Social Interaction | 3 credits | |
| Work-Life Communication | 3 credits | |
Intercultural and International Communication | ||
| International Communication | 3 credits | |
| Gender, Ethnicity, and Race in Communication | 3 credits | |
| Virtual Teamwork | 3 credits | |
| Organizations in International Development | 3 credits | |
| Communication in Intercultural and International Conflicts | 3 credits | |
| Facework Communication: Impression Management | 3 credits | |
| Intercultural Training, Coaching, and Consulting | 3 credits | |
| The Globalization of English ( | 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Issues in Intercultural Communication | 3 credits | |
| Language and Social Interaction | 3 credits | |
Rhetoric and Public Advocacy | ||
| Classical Rhetoric | 3 credits | |
| American Public Address | 3 credits | |
| Rhetorical Theory and Criticism | 3 credits | |
| Persuasion | 3 credits | |
| Argumentation and Debate | 3 credits | |
| Elements of Legal Argumentation | 3 credits | |
| Communication in Intercultural and International Conflicts | 3 credits | |
| Markets, Media, and Meaning | 3 credits | |
| Platforms, Power, and Publics | 3 credits | |
| Rhetoric of Science | 3 credits | |
| Visual Rhetoric | 3 credits | |
| Work-Life Communication | 3 credits | |
| 3 credits | ||
Digital Communication and Culture | ||
| Ethics of Image Making: Film, Television, and Digital Media | 3 credits | |
| Video Communication and Production | 3 credits | |
Media Analysis and Criticism | 3 credits | |
| Studies in Electronic Media | 3 credits | |
| American Television Programming | 3 credits | |
| International Communication | 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Issues in Digital Media | 3 credits | |
Markets, Media, and Meaning | 3 credits | |
| Platforms, Power, and Publics | 3 credits | |
Advanced Video Communication and Production Note: This is a non-liberal arts course | 3 credits | |
Communication Studies Electives | Choose any two COM courses at the 3000-5000 level, including: | 6 credits |
| Selected Topics * | 3 credits | |
| Communication Research Strategies | 3 credits | |
| Internship in Business and Public Communication | 3 credits | |
| * Students may enroll in COM 4101 more than once if the topic is different. | ||
A minor in the Department of Communication Studies provides students with a concentration in an area of study of acknowledged importance to every career path. The minor consists of two courses at the 3000-level or above from the list below and one of the communication studies capstone courses:
;
;
;
; or
. While students may elect any two courses listed below, possible areas of concentration include the following: corporate communication, media studies, interpersonal and intercultural communication, and public communication.
Choose any two courses from those listed:
| Communication Law and Free Speech | 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Digital Communication and Culture | 3 credits | ||
| The Ethics of Image Making: Film, Television, and Digital Media | 3 credits | |
| Video Communication and Production | 3 credits | |
| Media Analysis and Criticism | 3 credits | |
| Speech Composition and Delivery | 3 credits | |
| Studies in Electronic Media | 3 credits | |
| Classical Rhetoric | 3 credits | ||
| American Public Address | 3 credits | ||
| Rhetorical Theory and Criticism | 3 credits | ||
| American Television Programming | 3 credits | |
| Managerial Communication Within Organizations | 3 credits | |
| Intercultural Communication | 3 credits | |
| Persuasion | 3 credits | |
| Argumentation and Debate | 3 credits | |
| Elements of Legal Argumentation | 3 credits | ||
| Interpersonal and Group Communication | 3 credits | |
| International Communication | 3 credits | |
| Interpersonal Communication | 3 credits | |
| Group Communication | 3 credits | |
Gender, Ethnicity, and Race in Communication | 3 credits | ||
| Virtual Teamwork | 3 credits | ||
| Organizations in International Development | 3 credits | ||
| Gender Communication | 3 credits | ||
| Communication in Intercultural and International Conflicts | 3 credits | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | 3 credits | ||
Facework Communication: Impression Management | 3 credits | ||
| Intercultural Training, Coaching, and Consulting | 3 credits | ||
Communication for Executives | 3 credits | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Digital Media | 3 credits | ||
Markets, Media, and Meaning | 3 credits | ||
| Platforms, Power, and Publics | 3 credits | ||
| Business Communication | 3 credits | |
| Rhetoric of Science | 3 credits | ||
| Visual Rhetoric | 3 credits | ||
| Principles of Public Relations | 3 credits | |
| Corporate Communication | 3 credits | |
| Public Relations Writing | 3 credits | |
| Public Relations Campaigns | 3 credits | |
| Advanced Video Communication and Production Note: This is a non-liberal arts course | 3 credits | |
| Advanced Speech Writing | 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Issues in Intercultural Communication | 3 credits | ||
Selected Topics | variable |
Complete the minor with one of the following communication studies capstone courses:
| Topics in Communication Studies | 3 credits | |
| Conflict Resolution | 3 credits | ||
| Language and Social Interaction | 3 credits | ||
Communication Research Strategies | 3 credits | ||
| Work-Life Communication | 3 credits |
| Speech Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Communication Studies | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Business Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Intensive Voice and Diction | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Communication and Advocacy in Business and Public Affairs | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Professional Speech Communication Note: This course is not applicable to the Communication Studies major, to the Business Communication/Corporate Communication major, or to the Communication Studies minor. | 1.5 hours; 1.5 credits | ||
| Information and Society ( | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Communication Law and Free Speech | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Digital Communication and Culture | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| The Ethics of Image Making: Film, Television, and Digital Media | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Video Communication and Production | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Media Analysis and Criticism | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Speech Composition and Delivery | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Studies in Electronic Media | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Speaking to the Camera | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| American Public Address | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Rhetorical Theory and Criticism | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| American Television Programming | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| Managerial Communication Within Organizations | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Intercultural Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Persuasion | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Argumentation and Debate | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Elements of Legal Argumentation | 3 hours' 3 credits | ||
| Interpersonal and Group Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| International Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Interpersonal Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Group Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Gender, Ethnicity, and Race in Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Virtual Teamwork | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Organizations in International Development | |||
| Gender Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Communication in Intercultural and International Conflicts | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
Facework Communication: Impression Management | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Intercultural Training, Coaching, and Consulting | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Communication for Executives | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Issues in Digital Media | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
Markets, Media, and Meaning | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Platforms, Power, and Publics | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Business Communication ( | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Rhetoric of Science | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Visual Rhetoric | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Introduction to Linguistics and Language Learning ( | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Structure and History of English ( | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Principles of Public Relations | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Corporate Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Public Relations Writing | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Public Relations Campaigns | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Globalization of English ( | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Advanced Video Communication and Production Note: This is a non-liberal arts course | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Issues in Intercultural Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Advanced Speech Writing | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Selected Topics | Hours and credits to be arranged | |
| Selected Topics | Hours and credits to be arranged | |
| Topics in Communication Studies | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Conflict Resolution | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Language and Social Interaction | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Communication Research Strategies | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Work-Life Communication | 3 hours; 3 credits | ||
| Independent Study I | Hours and credits to be arranged | |
| Independent Study II | Hours and credits to be arranged | |
| Internship in Business and Public Communication | 8 - 10 hours plus periodic conferences with internship coordinator; 3 credits | |
| Internship in Business and Public Communication | 8 - 10 hours plus periodic conferences with internship coordinator; 3 credits | |
| Honors in Communication Studies I | 3 hours; 3 credits per semester | |
| Honors in Communication Studies II | 3 hours; 3 credits per semester |