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Major & Minor Requirements

Tackle challenges as diverse as the world itself

Communication, in one form or another, has been a core part of the social sciences at Cornell since its founding. Students in the Department of Communication learn to understand audiences, shape messages and interact with individuals and technologies. Through the study of science, media and technology, you’ll develop essential skills for leading in the rapidly changing communication landscape.

 

Communication Major Learning Outcomes

Communication students will...

  1. Develop familiarity with ideas fundamental to scholarship in the social sciences, with mastery of principles of key communication theories.

  2. Demonstrate understanding of how processes of social influence operate in communication contexts including science, media and technology.

  3. Apply systematic analytic skills to pressing social and policy issues.

  4. Develop communication knowledge and skills to enter into and succeed in complex social organizations.

  5. Recognize the foundations, assumptions, and methods of communication research, and be able to apply a wide range of empirical research methods to diverse intellectual questions.

  6. Write and speak lucidly, logically, and intelligently.

45 credits for students who entered the Communication major before or during Spring 2023

  1. Core Courses (13cr)
    1. COMM 1101 - Introduction to Communication (4cr)
    2. COMM 1300 - Visual Communication (3cr)
    3. COMM 2010 - Oral Communication (3cr)
    4. COMM 2310 - Writing About Communication (3cr)
  2. Data Literacy (8 credits)
    1. COMM 2820 - Research Methods in Communication Studies (4cr)
    2. One statistics course from the list below (4cr)
      1. AEM 2100 - Introductory Statistics  
      2. PAM 2100 - Introduction to Statistics 
      3. ILRST 2100 - Introductory Statistics 
      4. STSCI 2100 - Introductory Statistics 
      5. MATH 1710 - Statistical Theory and Application in the Real World 
      6. A transfer credit or a score of 5 in AP statistics is also acceptable as credit for this requirement.
  3. Two Introductory Focus Area Courses from the list below (6cr)
    1. COMM 2200 - Media Communication 
    2. COMM 2450 - Communication and Technology
    3. COMM 2760 - Persuasion and Social Influence
    4. COMM 2850 - Communication, Environment, Science, and Health
  4. Upper-Level classes within focus area (6 credits)
    1. Any two communication classes at/above the 3100 level that correspond to your chosen focus area(s)
  5. Upper-Level Electives (9 Credits)
    1. Any three communication classes at/above the 3100 level.
    2. A third focus area class may be used to fulfill one of the required upper-level classes.
  6. Communication Practica (3 Credits)
    1. One communication class between COMM 3010 and COMM 3090.

46 credits for first-year majors, 45 credits for transfer students

  1. Core Courses (14cr)
    1. COMM 1111 – Navigating the Communication Major (1cr, first-year students only)
    2. COMM 1101 - Introduction to Communication (4cr)
    3. COMM 1300 - Visual Communication (3cr)
    4. COMM 2010 - Oral Communication (3cr)
    5. COMM 2310 - Writing About Communication (3cr)
  2. Data Literacy (8 credits)
    1. COMM 2820 - Research Methods in Communication Studies (4cr)
    2. One statistics course from the list below (4cr)
      1. AEM 2100 - Introductory Statistics  
      2. PAM 2100 - Introduction to Statistics 
      3. ILRST 2100 - Introductory Statistics 
      4. STSCI 2100 - Introductory Statistics 
      5. MATH 1710 - Statistical Theory and Application in the Real World 
      6. A transfer credit or a score of 5 in AP statistics is also acceptable as credit for this requirement.
  3. Three Explorations in Communication Courses from the list below (9cr)
    1. COMM 2200 - Media Communication 
    2. COMM 2450 - Communication and Technology
    3. COMM 2760 - Persuasion and Social Influence
    4. COMM 2850 - Communication, Environment, Science, and Health
  4. Upper-Level Electives (12 Credits)
    1. Any four communication classes at/above the 3100 level.
    2. A fourth Explorations in Communication class may be used to fulfill one of the required upper-level classes.
  5. Communication Practica (3 Credits)
    1. One communication class between COMM 3010 and COMM 3090.

Minor Requirements

The Minor in Communication gives students a balanced background in communication theory and practice.

** Declare the Communication Minor here**
Acceptance is automatic to the minor. If you complete the form, you are a listed a pursuing the minor until you let us know that you are no longer completing it. There is no penalty for lack of completion.

The minor consists of 22+ credit hours.

Students must complete:
COMM 1101: Introduction to Communication

Two courses from the following, only one of which can be a writing course (2310 or 3000-3099):

  • COMM 1300: Visual Communication 
  • COMM 2010: Oral Communication
  • COMM 2310: Writing about Communication (Very limited spots for non-majors)
  • COMM 2820: Research Methods in Communication Studies
  • COMM 3010: Writing and Producing the Narrative for Digital Media
  • COMM 3020: Science Writing for the Media
  • COMM 3030: Organizational Writing
  • COMM 3040: Writing and Editing for the Media
  • COMM 3050: Advanced Media Writing about Cultural, Social, & Environmental Crises
  • COMM 3065: Sports COMM: Media, Marketing, Crisis, & Violence
  • COMM 3060: Connecting Experience: Creating a Personal Brand and Implementing an ePortfolio
  • COMM 3070: Communicating Today: Creating Strategic Messages Across Media
  • COMM 3080: Environmental & Sustainability Communication
  • COMM 3090: Experiential Writing in the Yucatan: Environmental and Cultural Communication

One Explorations in Communication Course from the following:

  • COMM 2200: Media Communication
  • COMM 2450: Communication and Technology
  • COMM 2760: Persuasion and Social Influence
  • COMM 2850: Communication, Environment, Science and Health 

Three Upper-Level Communication Courses

  • Upper-Level Communication courses must be between COMM 3100 & 4990 (excluding COMM 4950-4952, 4960, and 4980). COMM 2179 and COML/ENG/MUSIC/PMA 2703 are exceptions to this numbering system.
  • Only certain COMM 4940 Special Topics course will count in this area - please ask hec58 [at] cornell.edu (subject: Transfer%20Credit%20for%20COMM%20Minor) (A)ac2396 [at] cornell.edu (subject: Transfer%20Credit%20for%20COMM%20Minor) (shlee Cherry).
  • Students may also use an additional Introduction to Concentration Course in this area.
  • A maximum of 3 credits in either 4970 or 4990 (combined) can be counted toward the upper level major requirements.
  • Minor Transfer Credit Policy: Students can transfer up to 6 credits toward the 21 credits required for the minor. Only course equivalencies will count toward minor. To determine whether a course will be counted as an equivalent, please email hec58 [at] cornell.edu (subject: Transfer%20Credit%20for%20COMM%20Minor) (A)ac2396 [at] cornell.edu (subject: Transfer%20Credit%20for%20COMM%20Minor) (shlee Cherry) with a copy of the syllabus of the course in question.
  • All COMM courses must be taken for a letter grade, unless otherwise offered.*
    * Special Grade Policy for Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021: Due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, Communication majors and minors are permitted to take their required classes S/U if the instructor offers it as a grading option.

Special Notes Regarding Transfer Credits

All courses must be approved by CALS for transfer to the College before they can be considered for counting toward the Communication major. The following only applies to the Communication major:

Incoming sophomores can transfer up to 12 credits.

  •     You may submit more than 12 credits worth of class syllabi, but only 12 credits will be applied. If more than 12 credits are approved, please work with Ashlee Cherry to decide which classes would be most beneficial for you to apply to your Cornell Communication requirements.

Incoming juniors can transfer up to 21 credits.

 

Submissions are accepted at any point through the semester, however, decisions are not guaranteed over summer or winter breaks. (This means a submission that came in over the summer may not get a response until after the fall semester starts, but before the end of the add/drop period).

 

All questions regarding communication transfer credits should be sent to the ac2396 [at] cornell.edu (Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Ashlee Cherry.) For students looking to transfer Communication courses toward the major, please include a copy of the syllabus (which includes required readings, assignments, and course work) in your email to Ashlee.

Helpful Links and Downloads

When in doubt, contact your Faculty Advisor or CALS Student Services (140 Roberts)

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Other Notes

  • All COMM courses must be taken for a letter grade, unless otherwise offered.
  • COMM 4940 (Special Topics) maybe be repeated for credits when the topics are different.
  • COMM 4950-4952 - NYCOMM/LACOMM/SiliCOMM will only count as electives towards graduation.
  • A maximum of 3 credits in either 4970 or 4990 (combined) can be counted toward the upper level major requirements.