SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION

Undergraduate School of Communication

COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION

Director: Patrick Merle; Professors: Adams, Houck, McDowell, Nudd, Opel, Proffitt; Associate Professors: Bailey, Bruker, Bunz, Chapa, Clayton, Cortese, Dale, Ferchaud, Graves, Jordan, Lee, Merle, Wendorf Muhamad; Assistant Professors: Lazenby, Ray, Shao, Waters, Yang; Specialized Teaching Faculty: Haywood, Henry, Kelly, Laurents, Sellers; Professors Emeriti: Heald, Korzenny, Mayo, Wotring, Young

The School of Communication offers a degree in communication and digital media with two majors (digital media production and media/communications studies), and a degree in professional communication with two majors (advertising and public relations). These majors are organized according to various applications of communication skills and expertise in our society. This unique array of studies allows students to select a sequence of courses that directly reflects their own professional, artistic, and/or academic interests.

Each major requires a series of courses designed to meet predetermined educational and career goals. The specific goals and requirements of some areas of study are detailed in the following section entitled, “Descriptions of Emphasis Areas,” and on the School website at https://comm.cci.fsu.edu. While some areas of emphasis are professionally oriented and others stress theory and a liberal arts education, each introduces the student to the broad range of communication theory and practice and provides the student with an understanding of the fundamental human and mediated communication processes. With few exceptions, the major requires two years to complete.

In terms of both academic criteria and extracurricular accomplishments, the students in the School of Communication are of the very highest caliber. The high quality of undergraduate students is reflected in the numerous University, state, and national scholarship and fellowship recipients. The exceptional caliber and character of communication students are also proven by their extracurricular activities. The Speech and Debate Program is considered one of the most experienced, talented squads in the nation. The program philosophy assures each student the best competitive experience possible. It emphasizes quality competition and provides the resources to help each student excel to the best of his or her abilities. Communication students are also involved in broadcasting activities, including radio station WVFS, a variety of sports-related programs as part of Seminole Productions, and broadcasts on WFSU-TV, Florida State University's PBS station. Other student activities include the Advertising Club, the student chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association, and Lambda Pi Eta, the national honor society for undergraduate communication students.

Both in and out of the classroom, the students of the School of Communication have an established track record of national recognition and achievement. The University's communication graduates can be found working in virtually every country in the world and every state in the nation. Our graduates occupy productive and prominent positions in government, law, commercial communication, media-related activities, private business interests, and education.

The School of Communication offers programs of study leading to the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. Consult the Graduate Bulletin or School website for information regarding graduate programs.

Note: Students not formally admitted to the School of Communication or not fully declared as a Media/Communication Studies major are prohibited from enrolling in more than 18 credit hours of coursework in the School of Communication (SPC 1017 and SPC 2608 do not count toward this 18 credit hour limit). Courses available to non-majors include, but are not limited to, those listed in the following section entitled, ‘Requirements for a Minor in Communication.'

Digital Literacy Requirement

Students must complete at least one course designated as meeting the Digital Literacy Requirement with a grade of “C–” or higher. Courses fulfilling the Digital Literacy Requirement must accomplish at least three of the following outcomes:

Evaluate and interpret the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of digital information
Evaluate and interpret digital data and their implications
Discuss the ways in which society and/or culture interact with digital technology
Discuss digital technology trends and their professional implications
Demonstrate the ability to use digital technology effectively
Demonstrate the knowledge to use digital technology safely and ethically

Each academic major has determined the courses that fulfill the Digital Literacy requirement for that major. Students should contact their major department(s) to determine which courses will fulfill their Digital Literacy requirement.

Undergraduate majors in communication satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of “C–” or higher in CGS 2060, CGS 2100, or COM 4470.

State of Florida Common Program Prerequisites in Communication

The Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) houses the statewide, internet-based catalog of distance learning courses, degree programs, and resources offered by Florida's public colleges and universities, and they have developed operational procedures and technical guidelines for the catalog that all institutions must follow. The statute governing this policy can be reviewed by visiting https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/1006.73.

FLVC has identified common program prerequisites for the degree program in Communication. To obtain the most up-to-date, state-approved prerequisites for this degree, visit: https://cpm.flvc.org/programs/267/250.

Specific prerequisites are required for admission into the upper-division program and must be completed by the student at either a community college or a state university prior to being admitted to this program. Students may be admitted into the University without completing the prerequisites but may not be admitted into the program.

Requirements

Admissions and Declaration of Major Information

Three of the four majors in the School of Communication are specialized admission majors (Advertising, Digital Media Production, and Public Relations). Acceptance into the School of Communication and into the three areas of emphasis is highly competitive.

All students must apply separately to the University and the School of Communication for these three majors. Admission to the University is not a guarantee of admission into the major and admission to the major is not a guarantee of admission to the University. Students transferring from another institution are strongly encouraged to earn an AA before matriculating at Florida State University, and they should apply for admission to the School of Communication before transferring to Florida State University.

Beginning Fall 2024, the Media/Communication Studies major in the School of Communication is no longer a specialized admission major. Students who have been admitted to the university and meet the “Minimum Requirements for Application or Declaration of Major” listed below as verified by an advisor may declare the M/CS major. Beginning Fall 2024, the Media/Communication Studies major leads only to the Bachelor of Arts (BA). It is no longer possible to earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in M/CS.

Application & Declaration of Major Process

Minimum Requirements for Application or Declaration of Major

Students applying for admission to a Communication specialized admission major or who wish to declare as M/CS major must:

Have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on all college coursework to be considered for admission to advertising, public relations, or digital media production
Have completed MMC 2000 (three hours) to declare the Media/Communication Studies major or be fully admitted to the Digital Media Production major
Have completed CLEP and accelerated credit scores posted by time of application or declaration of major
Have all CoreFSU Curriculum course substitutions approved by the appropriate dean and posted by time of application or declaration of major

In addition, students must complete the following requirements by the end of the Spring term in which they are applying for admission to a specialized admission major, or by the end of the term by which they wish to declare for the M/CS major:

A minimum of 52 credit hours of college coursework accepted by Florida State University
Two mathematics courses, as required to the specific major
Successfully complete ENC 1101 (three hours) and ENC 2135 (three hours)

Note: All coursework for eligibility must be reflected on submitted transcripts or on Spring course schedules by the application deadline.

Specialized Admission Application

Application information is available on the School of Communication website at https://comm.cci.fsu.edu.

To be considered for Summer/Fall admission, completed applications must be received by the School of Communication by the first business day in February at 5:00 p.m. Included in the application process must be copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Late applications will not be accepted.

Specialized Admission Application Review Process

A faculty committee will review applications and supporting documents of candidates who meet the minimum requirements for application. There are three major criteria by which undergraduate applications to the Advertising, Public Relations, and Digital Media Production majors in the School of Communication will be assessed: GPA in context, strength of experience relevant to the field, and evidence of potential success in a relevant field. More specifically, the faculty members reviewing the applications in all areas will consider the following:

GPA in all college coursework
Record of academic success in communication and communication-related courses
Quality of writing in application materials
Well-defined goals and expectations related to the chosen field
Previous high school, college, or professional experiences related to the chosen field

(See School of Communication application for additional information regarding the review process.)

Specialized Admission Retention Standards

The School of Communication reserves the right to discontinue enrollment of any student in one of the specialized admission majors at any time if, in the judgment of the faculty, the student does not meet the standards of the School or the major. Specifically, students in specialized admission majors in the School of Communication must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 on all college coursework or they may be placed on probation and may be dropped subsequently from the major.

Requirements for a Major in Communication

Different programs of study specify different graduation requirements that lead to the baccalaureate degrees in Communication. Descriptions of each program's required and elective course sequences are available on the School's website at https://comm.cci.fsu.edu.

The School of Communication has the following requirements for graduation. These requirements are beyond the minimum University requirements and those specified by each emphasis area: (1) meet the School's language proficiency requirement; (2) only coursework with grades of “C–” or above will count toward a student's degree in communication in all four majors; and (3) completion of a minor in an academic area outside the School of Communication. Students must undergo University and School graduation checks. Students who wish to intern must make arrangements with the Assistant Director and submit School contracts the term prior to enrollment. Internship requirements vary by program of study. Only formally admitted or fully declared communication majors can register for a communication internship.

Language Proficiency Requirement

Beginning Fall 2024, the Media/Communication Studies major leads only to the Bachelor of Arts (BA). It is no longer possible to earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in M/CS. Students in the Media/Communication Studies major must meet all university requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) as stipulated in the university's General Bulletin in addition to any language proficiency requirements set by the School of Communication.

Students formally admitted into a specialized admission major or fully declared as an M/CS major in the School of Communication must achieve proficiency in one language other than English prior to graduation. As a School, we define “language” in broad terms, understanding that a variety of skills are equally important to the field of communication. To that end, students may fulfill this requirement by taking courses in modern or business language. In order to fulfill the School's Business Language-Proficiency requirement, students must earn at least a “C–” in each language course. Courses may not be taken on an S/U basis.

Students may take courses in the Modern Language Proficiency requirement on an S/U basis if admitted during or after 2012.

The School's language proficiency requirement is more extensive than the University's foreign language admissions requirement. It is important to understand that although completion of two years of high school language courses or two terms of post-secondary language will satisfy the University's Admissions requirement, these courses do not satisfy the School of Communication's language proficiency graduation requirements. Please consult the “Admissions” chapter for more information.

Modern Language Proficiency for BA degree. Students may satisfy the language proficiency requirement by completing coursework through the 2000 level (2200 or equivalent course) of a classical or modern language. Students admitted prior to 2012 must earn at least a “C–” in each course; courses may not be taken on an S/U basis. For students admitted during or after 2012, language proficiency courses may be taken on an S/U basis. Native speakers of another language and other students who wish to demonstrate proficiency by means other than coursework should consult the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics. Upon graduation, those students who pursue this option through a spoken language (e.g., French, German, Spanish, Latin, etc.) will receive a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.

Business Language Proficiency for BS degree. Students may satisfy the business language proficiency requirement by completing the following coursework for a total of nine credit hours: ECO 2013, Principles of Macroeconomics, ECO 2023, Principles of Microeconomics, and one of the following: STA 2023, Fundamental Business Statistics, or STA 2122, Introduction to Applied Statistics. A student taking coursework to fulfill the department's business language requirement must earn at least a “C–” in each course; courses may not be taken on an S/U basis. Upon graduation, students who pursue the business language proficiency option will receive a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree.

Required Minor

A minor of at least 12 credit hours is required for all four majors. All work counted toward the minor must carry a grade of “C–” or better. The minor must be in a department other than the School of Communication, with the exception of the Minor in Hispanic Marketing Communication. Requirements for the minor are established by the minor department, which can be found under the appropriate entry of this General Bulletin. Minors are checked by the major department upon graduation. See individual descriptions of majors below for suggestions. Communication majors who complete a second major outside of the School of Communication do not need a minor. The required minor is still applicable, however, to those pursuing a dual degree.

Interdepartmental Minor

A 15 credit hour interdepartmental minor is possible, provided that the coursework is outside the School of Communication and is approved in advance by the faculty advisor and the School director.

Honors in the Major

The School of Communication offers a program in honors in communication to encourage talented juniors and seniors to undertake independent and original research as part of the undergraduate experience. For requirements and other information, see the “University Honors Office and Honor Societies” chapter.

Requirements for a Minor in Communication

The School of Communication offers a minor in communication on a space available basis only. The minor consists of 12 credit hours in communication selected from the following courses:

ADV 3008 Principles of Advertising (3)

ADV 3352 Mass Media Law (3)

ADV 3410 Hispanic Marketing Communication (3)*

COM 3332 Digital Media in Society (3)*

COM 3930 Special Topics in Communication (3)

IDS 3164 Media, Culture and the Environment (3)*

MMC 2000 Introduction to the Mass Media (3)*

PUR 3000 Introduction to Public Relations (3)*

RTV 3001 Media Techniques (3)*

SPC 3210 Contemporary Human Communication (3)*

*Available online

In addition, any 3000 or 4000 level Communication courses completed at one of FSU's International Programs can count toward the minor.

Please note that only the courses listed above can be applied to the minor; the School will not make substitutions. Additionally, courses taken to meet the minor are not applicable to any other degree requirement.

Only coursework with a grade of “C–” or above in four of these courses will count toward the minor. Credit earned in meeting the Oral Communication Competency Requirement (OCCR) may not be used to satisfy the minor. At least six credit hours of the communication minor must be taken in the Florida State University School of Communication on campus, online, or at one of our International Programs.

The School of Communication also offers a minor in Hispanic Marketing Communication. Please contact the School for more information.

Description of Emphasis Areas

Advertising and Public Relations

Career and Educational Goals. Students in this emphasis area will master skills necessary for a career in advertising or public relations.

Skills to be Developed. Advertising students will focus on account management, creative strategy, media planning, and research skills. Public relations students will concentrate on public relations writing, tactics, research, and campaign management skills.

Focus Areas. Students applying to this program are required to indicate on the application form their preferred focus area: advertising or public relations.

Major Hours Required. 39 credit hours. All work counted toward the major must carry a grade of “C–” or better.

Required Minor. A minor (or second major), with advisor approval, is required. All minor work must be in a department other than the School of Communication. All work counted toward the minor must carry a grade of “C–” or better. Requirements for the minor are established by the minor department and can be found in this General Bulletin. Suggested minors include: business, psychology, English, journalism (at FAMU), political science, social science, an interdepartmental minor, and others, depending upon one's career objectives.

Internship. Advertising and public relations students are required to earn internship hours. Please see our website at https://comm.cci.fsu.edu for more information regarding this requirement.

Course Requirements for the Advertising and Public Relations Emphasis Areas

A listing of specific courses and requirements is available at https://www.academic-guide.fsu.edu.

Media/Communication Studies

Career and Educational Goals. Students graduating in this emphasis area should have a solid liberal arts education. Degrees in media/communication studies are applicable to a number of fields including law, media industries, media research, communications, management, lobbying, management careers in media, cable, advertising, arts and entertainment, emerging information technologies, and related fields. Prospective students should note that the School of Communication does not offer a program in print or broadcast journalism.

Major Hours Required. Thirty credit hours. All work counted toward the major must carry a grade of “C–” or better.

Required Minor. A minor (or second major), with advisor approval, is required. All minor work must be in a department other than the School of Communication. All work counted toward the minor must carry a grade of “C–” or better. Requirements for the minor are established by the minor department and can be found in this General Bulletin. Recommended minors include: English, political science, psychology, journalism (at FAMU), sociology, women's studies, African-American studies, or British studies (the Florida State University London Program). A 15 credit hour interdepartmental minor is also possible, provided the coursework is outside of the School of Communication and is approved in advance by the faculty advisor and the School director.

Internship. A student may enroll for up to 12 credit hours of internship, but a maximum of three credit hours may be credited toward the major.

Recommended Extracurricular Activities. Forensics and Debate, V89, student government, theatre productions, Seminole Productions, WFSU and 4FSU, Lambda Pi Eta.

Course Requirements for the Media/Communication Studies Emphasis

A listing of specific courses and requirements is available at https://www.academic-guide.fsu.edu.

Digital Media Production

Career and Educational Goals. Students with an emphasis in media production typically pursue production careers in broadcasting, documentary filmmaking, television production, advertising, video production, broadcast, arts and entertainment, emerging information technologies, and related fields. Prospective students should note that the School of Communication does not offer a program in print or broadcast journalism.

Areas of Special Knowledge and Skills to be Developed. The media production emphasis will expose students to techniques employed in the production of digital media. Students may acquire such skills as video production, video editing, cinematography, motion graphics, and writing for the media.

Major Hours Required. Thirty-six credit hours are required in the digital media production area. All work counted toward the major must carry a grade of “C–” or better.

Required Minor. A minor (or second major), with advisor approval, is required. All work must be in a department other than the School of Communication. All work counted toward the minor must carry a grade of a “C–” or better. Requirements for the minor are established by the minor department and can be found in this General Bulletin. Recommended minors include: art, film studies, business, English, political science, psychology, journalism (at FAMU), sociology, criminology, social sciences, American studies, or British studies (the Florida State University London Program). A 15 credit hour interdepartmental minor is also possible, provided the coursework is outside the School of Communication and is approved in advance by the faculty advisor and the School director.

Internship. An internship (COM 4945r) is strongly recommended. A student may enroll for up to 12 credit hours of internship, but a maximum of three credit hours may be credited toward the major.

Course Requirements for the Media Production Emphasis

A specific listing of courses and requirements is available at https://www.academic-guide.fsu.edu.