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Degree Requirements

A student leads a discussion during class.

The communication major engages students in the adventure of human communication in historical and contemporary contexts. It seeks to understand the role communication plays in culture and commerce and to develop insights and skills that equip students for thoughtful, effective, and ethical communication in the 21st century.

Fundamentals (12 credits)
  • CDM 1150 Human Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 1200 Public Speaking (4 credits)
  • CDM 1300 Visual Communication (4 credits)

Communication Major Core (20 credits)

Required Courses (16 credits)
  • CDM 2300 Interpersonal Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 3000 Rhetoric and Persuasion (4 credits)
  • CDM 3450 Mass Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 3545 Communication Skills Assessment (0 credits) *
  • CDM 4010 Communication Senior Seminar (4 credits)
Choose One (4 credits)
  • CDM 2600 New Media Theory and Aesthetics (4 credits)
  • CDM 2620 Film Analysis (4 credits)

Consider an Emphasis

Students wishing to major in communication are encouraged to consider an emphasis in either communication studies or media studies to reflect their interests, skills, potential careers, etc.

Communication Studies — Choose Three (12 credits)
  • CDM 2100 Health Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 2400 Gender Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 2450 Nonverbal Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 3400 Social Media (4 credits)
  • CDM 3550 Communication Internship (4-8 credits)
  • CDM 3600 Intercultural Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 3700 Organizational Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 200T/400T Topics in Communication — relevant topic (4 credits)
  • CDM 3900 Leadership and Small Group Communication (4 credits)
Media Studies — Choose Three (12 credits)
  • CDM 1925 Basic Adobe Creative Cloud (4 credits)
  • CDM 2500 Basic Digital Photography (4 credits)
  • CDM 2600 New Media Theory and Aesthetics (4 credits)
  • CDM 2620 Film Analysis (4 credits)
  • CDM 2700 Film and New Media Production (4 credits)
  • CDM 2800 Exploring the Documentary Form (4 credits)
  • CDM 2900 Sports Media (4 credits)
  • CDM 3310 Journalistic Writing (4 credits)
  • CDM 3320 Screenwriting (4 credits)
  • CDM 3400 Social Media (4 credits)
  • CDM 3550 Communication Internship (4-8 credits)
  • CDM 3950 Advanced Film and New Media Production (4 credits)
  • CDM 200T/400T Topics in Communication - relevant topic (4 credits)

*The assessment specific to your major will be pass/fail, and the student will have to repeat the assessment with a pass to be cleared to register for an internship and/or senior seminar. If you are double-majoring, you must pass both major assessments.

Students must take CDM 1150 (4 credits) and select five courses (20 credits) from the list below. Graphic design or public relations majors who want to minor in communication must select six courses (24 credits) excluding CDM 1150 and CDM 1200.

Students wishing to minor in communication are encouraged to consider an emphasis in communication studies or media studies to reflect their interests, skills, potential careers, etc.

Communication Studies

Choose from the following (20 credits):
  • CDM 2100 Health Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 2300 Interpersonal Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 2400/WMG 200R Gender Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 2450 Nonverbal Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 3000 Rhetoric and Persuasion (4 credits)
  • CDM 3400 Social Media (4 credits)
  • CDM 3550 Communication Internship (4-8 credits)
  • CDM 3600 Intercultural Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 3700 Organizational Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 200T/400T CDM Topics (4 credits)
  • CDM 3900 Leadership and Small Group Communication (4 credits)

Media Studies

Choose from the following:
  • CDM 1925 Basic Adobe Creative Cloud (4 credits)
  • CDM 2500 Basic Digital Photography (4 credits)
  • CDM 2600 New Media Theory and Aesthetics (4 credits)
  • CDM 2620 Film Analysis (4 credits)
  • CDM 2700 Film and New Media Production (4 credits)
  • CDM 2800 Exploring the Documentary Form (4 credits)
  • CDM 2900 Sports Media (4 credits)
  • CDM 3310 Journalistic Writing (4 credits)
  • CDM 3320 Screenwriting (4 credits)
  • CDM 3400 Social Media (4 credits)
  • CDM 3450 Mass Communication (4 credits)
  • CDM 3500 Advanced Digital Photography (4 credits)
  • CDM 3550 Communication Internship (4-8 credits)
  • CDM 3959 Advanced Film and New Media Production (4 credits)
  • CDM 200T/400T CDM Topics (4 credits)

In order to double major in the Communication and Digital Media Department, you must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Both Senior Seminar courses must be fulfilled; similar thesis topics may be used.
  • Department fundamentals cannot count in both majors, only one. Twelve additional credits from the major must be taken to fulfill credit number requirements for the second CDM major, chosen in consultation with CDM Department advisor.
  • Overlap of courses between double majors in CDM must be at or below 50 percent.

In order to major and minor in the Communication and Digital Media Department (communication, graphic design, and public relations), an overlap course between any major and minor in CDM must be at or below 50 percent.

Current students: You should follow the official College Catalog from the year you entered Carthage and work with your advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.