Communication, B.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

Major Hours: 36

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 48


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Program Code: B210

Major Requirements

  • The Department of Communication does not permit major coursework to also fulfill General Education or Dodge College of Arts and Sciences Requirements.
  • COMM 2513 may be used to satisfy General Education Mathematics requirement if not used for major credit.
  • COMM 2713, COMM 3023, and COMM 4713 must be completed with a grade of C or better, with a maximum of two attempts per course. These courses are not available through correspondence or transfer credit.
Required Courses
COMM 1113Principles of Communication3
COMM 2613Public Speaking3
Choose one of the following:3
Introduction to Statistics
Elements of Statistics
Understanding Statistics
Social Statistics
COMM 2713Communication Theory3
COMM 3023Communication Research Methods3
COMM 4713Issues in Communication Study 13
Communication Electives
Choose 18-21 hours, including 12-15 at the upper-division level18-21
Total Credit Hours36
1

Students must complete a minimum of nine hours of upper-division COMM electives before taking COMM 4713.

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and Dodge College of Arts & Sciences requirements must be from the approved General Education course list published in the Class Schedule or at http://www.ou.edu/gened/coursesCourses graded P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition (6 hours)
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language (0-13 hours in the same language)
The college requirement cannot be met by high school coursework.
Beginning Course0-5
Beginning Course, continued0-5
Intermediate Course (2000 level) 1,20-3
Mathematics (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education Mathematics list3
Core Area II: Natural Science (7 hours, including one laboratory component)
Biological Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: BIOL, HES, MBIO, or PBIO 13-4
Physical Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: AGSC, ASTR, CHEM, GEOG, GEOL, GPHY, METR, or PHYS 13-4
Core Area III: Social Science (6 hours)
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course from the General Education Social Science list3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities (18 hours)
Artistic Forms
Choose one course from the General Education Artistic Forms list3
Western Culture
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
Choose one course from the General Education Western Culture list (excluding HIST 1483/1493)3
World Culture
Choose one course from the General Education World Culture list3
Additional Core IV Upper-Division Arts & Humanities courses
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Core Area V: First Year Experience (3 hours)
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours56
1

College of Arts and Sciences Requirements: college requirements are not automatically fulfilled by a previous degree.

2

One course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level

3

6 upper-division hours, 2 courses, at the 3000- 4000-level. Must be outside the major.

Free Electives

Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree including 48 upper-division hours.

Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements

Arts and Sciences Hours: At least 80 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BA degree. At least 55 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BS degree.
Pass/No Pass Enrollment: A maximum of 16 semester hours of free elective credit may be attempted under this option.
Individual Studies (e.g., courses titled “Independent Study”): A maximum of 12 total semester hours may be counted toward graduation, excluding Honors Reading and Honors Research.
P.E. Courses: No physical education activity courses will be counted toward the 120 semester hours of acceptable credit for graduation.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:

  • At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the awarding institution.
  • At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major work must be completed in residence at OU.
  • OU correspondence courses are not considered resident credit.

Grade Point Averages: Students must earn a minimum over all 2.00 for each of the following: Combined Retention GPA (all college grades), OU Retention GPA, GPA for all major courses, and GPA for all major courses taken at OU. Some schools and departments of the College have higher minimum grade point averages required for their students.
 

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

This plan shows one possible grouping of courses that would allow students to graduate in four years. Please refer to the front of the degree checksheet for official requirements. Students must consult with Dodge College of Arts and Sciences and/or Department of Communication academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy University, College of Arts and Sciences, and Communication major requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
COMM 1113 Principles of Communication 3
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 5
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3
Social Science (Core III) 3
 Credit Hours17
Second Semester
COMM 2513 Introduction to Statistics 1 3
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
Beginning Language continued (Core I) 5
First Year Experience (Core V) 3
 Credit Hours14
Sophomore
First Semester
COMM 2613 Public Speaking 3
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
Intermediate Language 3
World Culture (Core IV) Social Science (Core III) 3
 Credit Hours12
Second Semester
COMM 2713 Communication Theory 2 3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government 3
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 4
Artistic Forms (Core IV) 3
Western Culture (Core IV) 3
 Credit Hours16
Junior
First Semester
COMM 3023 Communication Research Methods 2 3
COMM Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
COMM Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
COMM Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
COMM Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
COMM Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
COMM Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
COMM Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 2
 Credit Hours17
Second Semester
COMM 4713 Issues in Communication Study 2 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 2
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours120
1

COMM 2513 is included as fulfilling the General Education Math requirement. This course may not be double-counted as both General Education and major course hours.

2

COMM 2713, COMM 3023, and COMM 4713 comprise the three core Communication courses; a grade of C or better is required with a maximum of two attempts per course. These courses may not be completed through transfer credit or correspondence.