Civic Advocacy Emphasis, Communication (BS)

Communication Major

By pursuing coursework in Communication and English, students may earn an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree in Workplace Communication &  Writing in the Department of Communication  OR an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree in Workplace Communication and Writing in the Department of English. Students continuing on  for a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication may select either the AS or AA. Students anticipating continuing on for a Bachelor’s Degree in English are advised to pursue the Associate of Arts degree.

• Program Prerequisite: Not required.
• Minor: Students may complete a minor approved by their academic advisor OR one of the tracks associated with any of the six interdisciplinary emphasis areas: Civic Advocacy, Digital Media, Interpersonal & Family Communication, Multimedia Journalism, Organizational Communication, and Public Relations & Advertising. A student may not receive both a major and a minor from the Department of Communication.
• Grade Requirements: A grade of “C” or better in courses is required for this major (a grade of “C-” is not acceptable), in addition to an overall GPA of 2.00 or higher for all courses.
• Credit Hour Requirements: A total of 120 credit hours is required for graduation. A total of 40 upper-division credit hours is required (courses numbered 3000 and above). Between 27-35 credits of upper-division is required within the major, depending on the selected emphasis.
• Program Code: Communication (3017) with emphasis code Civic Advocacy (3051), Communication Studies/Communication Teaching (3016), Digital Media(3068), Interpersonal & Family (3053), Multimedia Journalism (3069), Multimedia Journalism/Communication Teaching (3070), Organizational Communication (3054), Public Relations & Advertising (3055).
• CIPC: Communication (090101) with emphasis code Civic Advocacy (090904), Communication Studies/Communication Teaching (131399), Digital Media(090199), Interpersonal & Family (090101), Multimedia Journalism (099999), Multimedia Journalism/Communication Teaching (131399), Organizational Communication (090901), Public Relations & Advertising (090999).​

To enroll in upper-division Communication courses, a student must hold upper-division standing in the university.  Students must complete at least 50 percent of their Communication course-work at Weber State University in order to receive a major or a minor in Communication.

Advisement

Communication and English  students are required to meet with a faculty advisor at least annually for course and program advisement. Call 801-626-6631 or email Debbi Murphy at ddmurphy@weber.edu, Tricia Cook at triciacook1@weber.edu, or Nicholas Berg at nicholasberg@weber.edu for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Use Grad MAPs to plan your degree

Admission Requirements

Declare your program of study at the Communication Department office, Elizabeth Hall 320. No special admission or application requirements are needed for this program.

General Education

Refer to Degree Requirements  for either Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science requirements. See specific requirements for the BA and BS under the major course requirements. The following courses, required for the Communication major, will also satisfy general education requirements: COMM 1020 , COMM 2010 , and COMM 2110 .

Emphasis Areas

Select one of the following emphasis areas in Communication:

• Civic Advocacy
• Digital Media
• Interpersonal & Family Communication
• Multimedia Journalism
• Organizational Communication
• Public Relations & Advertising

Courses Required to Fulfill the BS (12 credit hours)

Select 4 courses (12 credit hours) from the following.  Pick 3 credit hours from Physical Sciences and 3 credit hours from Life Sciences.

• COMM 3000 - Communication Theory Credits: (3)
• COMM 3150 - Communication Research Methods Credits: (3)
• CHEM 1360 PS - Principles of Physical Science Credits: (3)
• GEOG 1000 PS - Natural Environments of the Earth Credits: (3)
• GEO 1030 PS - Earthquakes and Volcanoes Credits: (3)
• GEO 1350 PS - Principles of Earth Science Credits: (3)
• HNRS 1500 PS - Perspectives in the Physical Sciences Credits: (3)
• PHYS 1010 PS - Elementary Physics Credits: (3)
• BTNY 1370 LS - Principles of Life Science Credits: (3)
• HNRS 1510 LS - Perspectives in the Life Sciences Credits: (3)
• NUTR 1020 LS - Science and Application of Human Nutrition Credits: (3)
• HLTH 1020 LS - Science and Application of Human Nutrition Credits: (3)
• ZOOL 1020 LS - Human Biology Credits: (3)
• ZOOL 1030 LS - The Nature of Sex Credits: (3)

Civic Advocacy Emphasis (45 credit hours)

The mission of the Civic Advocacy emphasis is to educate students who wish to serve as advocates in the interest of the public good. Those who might benefit from this interdisciplinary emphasis include students who want to become attorneys, legislators, environmental advocates, animal rights activists, religious leaders, homeless advocates, politicians, children’s advocates, advocates for minority and marginalized populations, etc.

Students must complete a minor approved by their advisor or select one of the following interdisciplinary tracks:

• Environmental Advocacy
• Ethnic Studies/Ethnic Advocacy
• Legal Advocacy
• Public Policy Advocacy
• Religion Advocacy
• Women’s Advocacy