Santa Clara University

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION

Professors: Don C. Dodson, Sally Lehrman (Knight Ridder/Mercury News Professor), Emile G. McAnany, Paul A. Soukup, S.J. (Pedro Arrupe, S.J. Professor), Sunwolf
Associate Professors: Christine M. Bachen, Laura Ellingson, Stephen C. Lee, Yahia Mahamdi, Charles H. Raphael (Department Chair), Michael Whalen
Assistant Professors: Hsin-I Cheng, Rohit Chopra
Assistant Professor: Justin P. Boren
Senior Lecturer: Barbara Kelley

 

The Department of Communication offers a program of studies leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. The major prepares students for various graduate and professional studies and for careers in the communication industry. An academic minor also is available. Communication majors focus on the communication process in interpersonal, mass media, and computer-based contexts. They explore the theory, research methodologies, responsibilities, institutional structures, and effects of mass and interpersonal communication. The department gives special consideration to new and developing communication technologies.

The major also integrates theory with practice. It allows students to apply their knowledge of the communication process to the study and creation of communication products (speeches, television programs, newspaper stories, websites, etc.). Particular attention is given to developing students’ concerns for ethics and the common good.

Because the communication field requires students to have a broad liberal arts education, students work closely with a department faculty advisor to plan a cohesive academic program that combines courses in the Department of Communication with courses in other departments. Often students complete a minor or take a number of courses in related disciplines, such as marketing, theatre arts, psychology, or political science.
The communication curriculum provides nonmajors with the opportunity to acquire a critical understanding of the communication process and contemporary media, to improve oral and written skills, and to heighten visual awareness.
All students are encouraged to participate in one of the student-run campus media. Special credit practica for such work may be included in the student’s academic program. All junior and senior students are encouraged to complete an internship at an off-campus media organization or other communication-related institution. The department maintains a list of potential internships that may be completed for credit as COMM 198.
The Department of Communication will accept no more than two study abroad courses (lower-division, upper-division, or a combination) toward completion of the communication course requirements. Courses taken abroad will be accepted on a case-by-case basis as completing specific communication lower-division requirements. Upper-division courses taken abroad will be accepted only as communication upper-division elective credit. Courses taken abroad will not be accepted as completing the required List A, List B, research methods, or thesis/capstone requirements. Whenever possible, the chair of the department will determine equivalency credit based upon the course description in the literature from the foreign university. Study abroad programs run by Santa Clara may fulfill some communication requirements subject to approval by the chair of the department.
One of the oldest forensic programs in continuous operation on the West Coast, Santa Clara Debate provides a challenging and rigorous co-curricular activity designed to develop public speaking skills, critical thinking, and public policy analysis. The program is open to all majors and years regardless of previous speech or debate experience. The schedule offers national-level competition in both policy team debate and in parliamentary team debate along with numerous on-campus activities related to competitive speech, including hosting high school invitationals. Students may receive academic credit, and policy debate participants are eligible to apply for merit scholarships.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR

In addition to fulfilling University Core Curriculum requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, students majoring in communication must complete the following departmental requirements:

• COMM 1
• COMM 2
• COMM 12
• COMM 20
• COMM 30 or COMM 31
• COMM 40 or COMM 40EL
  
• Two upper-division communication theory courses (signified by the letter “A” in the course number)
• One upper-division communication applied course (signified by the letter “B” in the course number)
• Two additional approved elective upper-division communication courses
• COMM 110
• COMM 111 or COMM 111G
  
• COMM 196 or COMM 197

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR

Students must fulfill the following requirements for a minor in communication:

• COMM 1 or COMM 2
• Two approved upper-division communication courses
• Three additional approved communication courses (any combination of upper division or lower division)

LOWER and UPPER DIVISION COURSE LISTINGS AVAILABLE in the Undergraduate Bulletin (PDF)