Undergraduate Catalog

• Table of Contents
•  |  Undergraduate Programs
•  |  Undergraduate Course Descriptions
•  |  Academic Calendar
•  |  Alphabetical Index

Communication Studies (CMST) Undergraduate Programs

117 RIVERVIEW/(320) 308-2216
www.stcloudstate.edu/cmst

Also see College of Liberal Arts description and requirements.

Chairperson: Roseanna G. Ross
Faculty: Anderson, Bineham, Bjorklund, Eyo, Hyde, Japp, Kanengieter-Wildeson, Litterst, Mutua-Kombo, Pryately, Pucel, Rehling, Ringer, Ross, Rubel, Secklin, Senchea, Spry, Stangl-Erkens, Strom, Tompkins, Tuder, E. Vora, Vorell, Warne, Wells, Wildeson

The goal of the Communication Studies Department is to extend the knowledge, appreciation and skills that contribute to the full understanding and practice of effective communication. The rhetorical tradition has long been considered central to a liberal education. People must communicate effectively to function well in education, business, politics, government, the community and the family. In addition to offering a variety of major and minor programs, the Communication Studies curriculum is open to all students and is designed to complement and integrate most programs of study. See the department for the most up-to-date program requirements.

Bachelor of Arts

Communication Studies Major (40)

Core: 19 credits

CMST 100, 211 or 210, 220, 300, 301, 319, 330

UDWR: 3 credits: CMST 303

Students will choose an area of emphasis from the following:

Emphasis: 18 credits each

1.  Relational Communication

2.  Intercultural Communication

3.  Rhetoric and Performance Studies

4.  Leadership and Organizational Communication

5.  Communication Studies Comprehensive

1.  Relational Communication

Required: 9 credits

CMST 320, 321, 420/520

Relational Communication Electives: 6 credits

Choose two courses:  CMST 229, 302 (repeatable with different topic and designated for this emphasis), 324, 327, 340, 341, 402/502 (repeatable with different topic and designated for this emphasis), 410/510, 420/520 (repeatable with different topic), 439/539, 448/548, 444.

Relational Communication General Electives: 3 credits

Choose any CMST 3 credit course

2.  Intercultural Communication

Required: 9 credits

CMST 338, 339, 439/539

Intercultural  Communication Electives: 6 credits

Choose two courses: CMST 229, 302 (repeatable with different topic and designated for this emphasis), 310 or 410/510, 324, 327, 338 (repeatable with different world region), 402/502 (repeatable with different topic and designated for this emphasis), 420/520, 428/528, 429/529.

Intercultural Communication General Electives: 3 credits

Choose any CMST 3 credit course

3.  Rhetoric and Performance Studies

Required: 9 credits

CMST 310 or 318

Choose two of the following: CMST 410/510 or CMST 411/511 or CMST 412/512

Rhetoric and Performance Studies Electives: 6 credits

Choose two courses: CMST 302 (repeatable with different topic and designated for this emphasis), 310, 313, 314, 316, 318, 338 or 439/539 (3 cr. max), 341 or 441/541 (3 cr. max), 402/502 (repeatable with different topic and designated for this emphasis).

Rhetoric and Performance Studies General Electives: 3 credits

Choose any CMST 3 credit course

4.  Leadership and Organizational Communication

Required: 9 credits

CMST 340 or CMST 341, CMST 441/541, CMST 448/548

Leadership and Organizational Communication Electives: 6 credits

Choose two courses: CMST 229 or CMST 240, CMST 302 (Special Topics in Communication Studies with Leadership and Organizational Communication designation - repeatable with different topic and designated for this emphasis), CMST 318, 321, 340, 341, 402/502 (Special Topics in Communication Studies with Leadership and Organizational Communication designation - repeatable with different topic and designated for this emphasis), CMST412/512, 428/528, 429/529, 439/539, 444.

Leadership and Organizational Communication General Electives: 3 credits

Choose any CMST 3 credit course

5.   Communication Studies Comprehensive

This emphasis provides a broad background to the discipline of Communication Studies. Students who select this emphasis will have the opportunity to explore many dimensions of communication across a variety of contexts, and will have developed skills in both presentation and relational communication.

Relational, Rhetoric and Performance Studies, Intercultural: 6 credits

Choose two courses (6 credits) selecting from the required courses in two different emphases.

Leadership and Organizational Communication

Choose one course (3 credits): CMST 340 or CMST 341 or CMST 441/541

Communication Studies Comprehensive General Electives (9 credits)

Choose any three CMST 3 credit courses

FOR ALL EMPHASES:  Take at least six CMST courses (18 credits) at the 300/400 level with at least two courses (6 credits) at the 400 level. CMST 444, 491 and independent studies will not count toward the 300/400 level requirement.

 

Communication Studies Supplementary Major (28)
To be eligible for this major, the student must declare a primary major from another department in the university.

Students must:

1. Complete the CMST core curriculum requirements (19 credits)
2. Choose 9 elective credits from the CMST curriculum in consultation with a CMST adviser.
3. Take at least 5 CMST courses at the 300/400 level; 1 of those must be at the 400 level (excluding CMST 444, 452/552, 453/553, 491 and independent studies as counting toward the 400 level).
4. The Upper Division Writing Requirement (UDWR) is to be met in the student's primary major.
5. Required GPA: minimum 2.0

Communication Studies Minor (19)
Required:  100, 210 or 211, 220 or 340, 300 or 319
Select: One course at 400 level
Select: Two electives, one of which must be at 300/400 level
CMST 444, 491 and independent studies do not count toward the 300/400 level requirement.

Required GPA: minimum 2.0

Intercultural Communication Minor (21)
Required: 220, 330, 338, 439
Select one: ETHS 201, ANTH 250
Select two*: CMST 339; AFST 250; ANTH 311; LAST 250, 350; ENGL 184; GER 341; JPN 101, 110, 210; GEOG 270, 486; HIST, 350, 352, 354, 370; EAST 363, 364; HURL 201; MGMT 470; POL 251, 337; SSCI 470, or any foreign language course 200-level or above.

Required GPA: minimum 2.0

*In consultation with adviser to be approved by department. Bold courses are offered at international locations.

Applied Relational Conflict Management Minor (21)

The Applied Relational Conflict Management minor is designed to enhance relational communities by empowering students with the theory and practice of creative conflict management. Students will take a core of classes within the Communication Studies Department and two classes from another department on campus. The outside classes will familiarize the student with a particular community in which the student may be living or working and wants to practice creative conflict management. The student must:

     1.  Complete 321, 428/528, 429/529

     2.  Complete two of the following: 220, 229, 302, 318, 339, 412/512, 402/502

     3.  In consultation with adviser, select 6 credits of related coursework from among: CMTY 470/570, 475/575, CJS 489, ETHS   312,  405/505, HURL 201, 406/506, MGMT 352, 365, 451/551, PSY 270, 355, 425/525, SOC 201, 268, 310, 366, 374, 472/572, 474/574

Required GPA: minimum 2.0

   

Bachelor of Science — Non-Teaching

Communication Studies Interdepartmental Major (55 cr.)

The 55 credit B.S. (non-teaching) major is composed of the following:

Core: 19 credits

CMST 100, 211 or 210, 220, 300, 301, 319, 330

UDWR:  3 credits

CMST 303

Students will select 9 elective credits in consultation with an adviser. Students will select 24 elective credits from at least two other departments (in consultation with an adviser and approved by the department).

Take at least six CMST courses (18 credits) at the 300/400 level with at least two courses (6 credits) at the 400 level.  CMST 444, 491 and independent studies will not count toward the 300/400 level requirement.

Required GPA: minimum 2.0

 

Bachelor of Science — Teaching
Communication Arts and Literature

Major (59-60 Cr.)

The BS major is designed to meet certification requirements of prospective public school teachers of Communication Arts and Literature.

Program admission requires a 2.50 GPA.

Writing, Speaking, Listening, and Language (22-23 Cr.)
Upper Level Writing (Choose one): ENGL 331, 332, 333, 353;
Required: CMST 211, 229, 300, 310, ENGL 361
Choose one: CMST 220, 340

Literature in Historical Context (19 Cr.)
British Literature: ENGL 323
Early British (Choose one): ENGL 321, 322, 325
Late British (Choose one): ENGL 326, 327, 328

American Literature
Early American (Choose one): ENGL 310, 311
Late American (Choose one): ENGL 312, 313

Multicultural, Global, and Gender Perspectives (Choose one):
(To double count for Gen Ed, students must take at least one of the following MGM courses:)
ENGL 203, 215, 216

Other MGG choices:
ENGL 202, 205, 302, 303, 305, 307, 315, 316, 317, 481

Media Literacy (Choose one):
CMST 411-511, 412-512; COMM 220, 246, 416, 418, 420

Theory and Practice (Choose one):
ENGL 300, 402-502, 431-531, 433, 464-564, 465-565, 466-566

Pedagogy
ENGL 451, CMST 452-552, ENGL 351

Additional coursework: The BS major requires completion of the Professional Education Sequence (see Teacher Education Requirements for prerequisites and co-requisites).

Professional Education Sequence (39 Cr.)
CEEP 262, ED 300, CEEP 361, HURL 497, 498, HLTH 301, IM 422, ESL/ED 460, SPED 425, ED 421, 431, 441, 466

Liberal Education Sequence (32 Cr.)
Communication Arts/Literature students must complete the general education requirements and should do so in the following manner. (See "Liberal Education Requirements" for explanation of double counting and waivers.)

Please consult with academic advisors regarding liberal education goal areas.

Completion of ENGL 451 fulfills the upper division writing requirement.

127 total credits are required to graduate with a Communication Arts/Literature B.S.

 

Transfer Students

The department welcomes students who have completed Communication Studies courses at other universities. Courses may be transferred into the Communication Studies majors or minors with the following restrictions:

1. All Transfer Majors must complete at least one-third of their Communication Studies credits in the Communication Studies Department at SCSU. Transfer majors must take all of these credits at the 300/400-level. A minimum of six of these credits must be taken at the 400 level, three of which must be completed by taking CMST 411 or 412. All other requirements for the specific major selected by the transfer student must be met either by courses taken in this department or by equivalent courses transferred in by the student. CMST 444, 491 and independent studies do not count toward the 300/400-level requirement.
2. All Transfer Minors must complete at least fifty percent of their Communication Studies credits in the Communication Studies Department at SCSU. Transfer minors must take all of these credits at the 300/400 level and at least three credits at the 400 level. All other requirements for the selected CMST minor option must be met either by courses taken in this department or by equivalent courses transferred in by the student. CMST 444, 491 and independent studies do not count toward the 300/400-level requirement.

Internships

For updated information regarding the Communication Studies Internship program, contact the CMST Department.