Degrees and Programs

Communication

College of Liberal Arts
Department of Communication (907) 474-6591
www.uaf.edu/comm/

Degree: B.A., M.A.

Minimum Requirements for Degree: B.A.: 120 credits; M.A.: 30-34 credits

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The communication program prepares students to handle the challenges of communicating effectively and ethically in a rapidly changing world characterized by diversity in gender, cultural background and belief. The communication program provides a comprehensive background in the discipline in preparation for employment or further education. Individuals majoring in other disciplines find communication electives valuable additions to their programs.

The M.A. in professional communication provides advanced education for individuals in or pursuing communication related careers in public/nonprofit organizations, media organizations, health care organizations or in higher education. Students take courses that focus on organizational communication theory and practices.

The program is both theoretically and pragmatically oriented to prepare students for the professional workplace or for doctoral study in organizations.

* M.A. degree in Professional Communication.

Undergraduate Program

Major

Communication -- B.A. Degree

1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements.
3. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
   
   1. Complete the following:
      COMM 180 -- Introduction to Human Communication (3 credits)
      COMM 330 -- Intercultural Communication (3 credits)
      COMM 351 -- Gender and Communication (3 credits)
      COMM 401 -- Communication Research Methods (3 credits)
      COMM 425W -- Communication Theory (3 credits)
      COMM 482W,O -- Capstone Seminar in Communication (3 credits)
   2. Complete 4 of the following:**
      COMM 300X -- Communicating Ethics*** (3 credits)
      COMM 320 -- Communication and Language (3 credits)
      COMM 321W -- Nonverbal Communication (3 credits)
      COMM 322W -- Communication in Interpersonal Relationships (3 credits)
      COMM 331O -- Advanced Group Communication (3 credits)
      COMM 352 -- Family Communication (3 credits)
      COMM 432O -- Professional Public Speaking (3 credits)
      COMM 441 -- Persuasion (3 credits)
      COMM 462W -- Communication in Health Contexts (3 credits)
      COMM 475W -- Applied Communication in Training and Development 3
4. Minimum credits required (120 credits)

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** With approval of advisor, an appropriate level special topics or independent studies course in communication may be used to meet this requirement.
*** If taken to meet the upper division of baccalaureate core requirement for Ethics/Values and Choices in the Perspectives in the Human Condition, then the student must take an additional 300- or 400-level communication course to complete the major.

Minor

1. Complete the following:
   COMM 180 -- Introduction to Human Communication (3 credits)
   COMM 330 -- Intercultural Communication (3)
   or COMM 351 -- Gender and Communication (3 credits)
2. Complete communication electives at the 300-level or above (9 credits)
3. Minimum credits required (15 credits)

Note: Courses designated as social science or humanities that are taken for the minor may also be used to fulfill social science and/or humanities distribution requirements for the B.A. degree.

Graduate Program

Professional Communication -- M.A. Degree

Concentration: Communication

1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the master's degree requirements (page 46).
3. Complete the following:
   COMM/JRN 601 -- Communication Research Methodologies (Social Science) (3 credits)
   COMM/JRN 625 -- Communication Theory (3 credits)
   COMM/JRN 699 -- Thesis* (6 credits)
4. Complete the following concentration:
   

   Communication

   1. Complete the following:
      COMM 600 -- Introduction to Professional Communication (3 credits)
      COMM 602 -- Communication Research Methodologies (Human Science) (3 credits)
      COMM 675 -- Training and Development Communication (3 credits)
      COMM 680 -- Communication and Diversity in the Professional World (3 credits)
   2. Complete 2 of the following electives:**
      COMM 622 -- Interpersonal Interaction (3 credits)
      COMM 631 -- Teambuilding (3 credits)
      COMM 635 -- Organizational Culture and Communication (3 credits)
      COMM 642 -- Health Communication (3 credits)
      COMM 682 -- Seminar in Communication (3 credits)
   3. Teaching assistants complete the following:
      COMM 661 -- Mentored Teaching in Communication*** (1-4 credits)
   4. Minimum credits required (30-34 credits)

* Students in the journalism concentration who elect to complete a non-thesis project should take 6 credits of JRN 698 rather than COMM/JRN 699.
** Students may take 300-, 400-, and 600-level courses in art, education, English, journalism, communication, marketing, business administration, and northern studies as well as graduate level independent studies to fulfill 6-credits of the elective requirement, if approved by the student's committee. Students will also be able to apply up to 6 credits of appropriate graduate level coursework from other universities in the elective area if approved by the student's committee.
*** This 1 credit course may be taken up to four times.
Note: A maximum of 6 credits of approved 300- 400-level courses may be included in the 30-34 credit requirement.
Note: The comprehensive examination is to be taken no later than the student's fourth semester of work.