George Mason University 1997-98 Catalog Catalog Index
Course Descriptions

Search the 1997-1998 Catalog:

Communication


Faculty

Professors: Boileau (Chair), Broome, Decker, Friedley, Manchester, Taylor

Associate Professors: Akwule, Lont, Looney, J. Muir (Joint Appointment with New Century College), S. Muir

Assistant Professor: Borden

Instructors: Kimble, Mangus, Tomasovic

Adjunct Professors: Gaudino, Gladis, Joffe, Lieb, M'Bayo, Nwokeafor, Paglin, Siegel

Lecturers: Braithwaite, Bulger, Chaaban, Hansche, Kanu, Kehoe, Mathison, McKelvy, Rapone, Schmidt, Shaefer, Wray

Course Work

This department offers all course work designated COMM in the Course Descriptions section of this catalog.

PAGE Program

The general education requirements for COMM majors, except foreign language and COMM 100, 101, or 102, may be satisfied by successful completion of the Plan for Alternative General Education (PAGE). See PAGE category in this catalog; sample schedules are available in the PAGE office. PAGE courses will not be available after May 1998.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in Speech Communication will fulfill this requirement by successfully completing COMM 300.

B.A. Degree with a Major in Speech Communication

Study in communication prepares students for graduate study or entry-level positions in one of three areas of concentration:

  1. Public communication
  2. Interpersonal communication
  3. Mass communication, including journalism

In addition to the general requirements for the B.A. degree, speech communication majors must complete 36 semester hours in communication, including the following:

  1. Five required communication courses, which must be completed with grades of C or better:
    COMM 250 (3) (COMM 400 can substitute)
    COMM 300 (3)
    COMM 301 (3)
    COMM 302 (3)
    COMM 420 (to be taken after completing 105 hours) (3)

  2. The remaining 21 hours of communication electives, 12 of which must be at the 300 or 400 level, should be selected in consultation with an adviser. These 21 hours of COMM electives may include no more than 10 hours total from among the following courses: COMM 140, 141, 142, 143, 145, 146, 148, 157, 340, 341, 342, 343, 345, 346, 348, 349, 357, 450, 451, 499.

No more than 6 hours of internship credit (COMM 450) may be applied toward COMM electives; no more than 9 credit hours in internships as in COMM 450 and/or GOVT 450 may be applied toward the 120 hours required for graduation.

Students should go to their advisers for guidance in choosing courses. The department has handouts with recommendations for students pursuing careers in advertising, public relations, mass communication, telecommunications, media criticism, international mass communication, interpersonal communication, small group communication, conflict management, intercultural communication, speech writing, public communication, political communication, pre-law, rhetoric, print journalism, broadcast journalism, broadcast performance, radio production, and T.V. production. Different career goals lead to different options for completing general education courses.

All students are encouraged to participate in one of the communication activities: WGMU, Broadside, Debate, Forensics, Student Video Center, Video Yearbook. Many students include an internship during their senior year as a way of gaining practical experience with national and international businesses, associations, or government agencies.

To fulfill CAS general education communication requirements, COMM majors must take COMM 100, 101, or 102. These courses do NOT count as part of the 36-hour major.

COMM majors are urged to consult with an adviser in planning an appropriate schedule that will contribute to developing courses from support areas.


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