Comm Studies

The Communication Studies Transfer Pathway Degree is designed to provide students a broad background in theory and skills development in the study of communication. This program will 1) prepare students to transfer to a baccalaureate program in Communication Studies and 2) prepares students for entry level positions in a variety of careers. The program emphasizes the development of communication skills in presentation, promotion, conflict management, persuasion, debate, and campaign communication.

Minnesota State Universities:

 

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2021 - 2022

  • Curriculum

    Program Courses
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    Course Subject: COMM         Course Number:1010
    Course Title:Fundamentals of Public Speaking      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This course provides instruction and practical experience in the basics of public speaking. This course has a performance component: students are expected to create and deliver informative, persuasive and other types of speeches.
    		Fundamentals of Public SpeakingView-COMM 1010n/a3
    Course Subject: COMM         Course Number:1110
    Course Title:Principles of Interpersonal Communication      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This introductory course looks at communication in one-to-one relationships in friendships, families, the workplace, and elsewhere. Students will be challenged to discover and assess their own communication strengths and weaknesses as they define and discuss what it means to be a competent interpersonal communicator. Course content includes both theory and practice (skill development).
    		Principles of Interpersonal CommunicationView-COMM 1110n/a3
    Course Subject: COMM         Course Number:1210
    Course Title:Small Group Communication      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This course examines communication in small groups. Students will participate in and analyze how small groups function, how leadership roles evolve, how decisions are made and how conflicts can be resolved. Students will work in small groups, complete group projects, and analyze group interaction.
    		Small Group CommunicationView-COMM 1210n/a3
    Course Subject: COMM         Course Number:1310
    Course Title:Intercultural Communication      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:The influence of culture is an especially important and sensitive issue facing us today. A person's culture strongly influences his/her identity, beliefs, expectations, and communication style. This course explores communication across culture as defined by nationality, gender, and ethnicity while concentrating on effective use of communication in all of these areas.
    		Intercultural CommunicationView-COMM 1310n/a3
    Course Subject: COMM         Course Number:1910
    Course Title:Argumentation and Public Advocacy      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This course is intended to develop critical and analytical skills for creating persuasive messages to audiences in formal, oppositional settings. Students will discuss and apply various communication strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of evidence, gain experience in a more formal debate setting, and evaluate and craft arguments ethically and responsibly. These assignments will prepare students for debate in a range of contexts, from interpersonal and small group settings to larger discussions of public and social policy in American culture. Prerequisite: COMM 1010
    		Argumentation and Public AdvocacyView-COMM 1910n/a3
     
    Program Electives
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    Not required, but recommended to choose one;
    Course Subject: COMM         Course Number:1410
    Course Title:Human Communication Theory      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This introductory course examines a selection of theories of human communication. The emphasis of the course will be to provide students with the ability to understand theorizing in general and then to apply this understanding to particular theories. Students will be challenged to explore different types, contexts, and aspects of human communication as they relate to their own lives. Course content will include theory relating to the communicator, the message, the relationships, the media and theculture.
    		Human Communication TheoryView-COMM 1410n/a3
    Course Subject: COMM         Course Number:1510
    Course Title:Nonverbal Communication      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:Nonverbal Communication is an essential component of all communication. This introductory course is intended to increase communication effectiveness in a variety of contexts, including interpersonal, intercultural, and workplace. Students will understand, assess, and practice their own nonverbal codes and cues as well as study others' nonverbal codes and cues.
    		Nonverbal CommunicationView-COMM 1510n/a3
    Course Subject: COMM         Course Number:1610
    Course Title:Introduction to Mass Communication      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This introductory course is intended to develop critical and analytical skills for understanding mass media; for recognizing messages, making deliberate choices about them, and evaluating the effects of these messages in both an individual and societal context. Students will examine the history, evolution, and societal impact of a wide variety of media, including print, film, and social media and will develop skills to make informed, ethical evaluations of the mediated messages they receive.
    		Introduction to Mass CommunicationView-COMM 1610n/a3
    Course Subject: COMM         Course Number:1710
    Course Title:Oral Interpretation and Traditions      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:Oral Interpretation and Traditions is an introductory course in the effective oral presentation of written material. Students will analyze and perform literature from a variety of sources that represent different cultures, co-cultures, and ethnicities. Students will also make connections between the cultural implications of oral tradition and performance.
    		Oral Interpretation and TraditionsView-COMM 1710n/a3
    Course Subject: COMM         Course Number:1810
    Course Title:Introduction to Health Communication      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This introductory course is intended to develop critical and analytical skills for understanding human communication in the health care industry. Students will discuss and apply various communication strategies in a variety of contexts, including patient care, between healthcare professionals, and with a larger public in the form of healthcare advocacy campaigns. The impact of cultural diversity and ethics in decision-making will be examined in the context of healthcare professions.
    		Introduction to Health CommunicationView-COMM 1810n/a3
     
    General Education Courses
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    College Writing I
    Course Subject: ENGL         Course Number:1200
    Course Title:Gateway College Writing      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:4

    Course Description:This class provides extended practice in critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. Students will develop an effective writing process and work to achieve college-level competence in reading and responding to texts, visuals, events, and ideas in a variety of written formats, with an emphasis on the academic essay. Audience awareness, interpretation and analysis, logical reasoning, and persuasive and argumentative skills will be developed. MLA style documentation of primary sources will be included.
    		Gateway College Writing orView-ENGL 1200n/a4
    Course Subject: ENGL         Course Number:1201
    Course Title:College Writing I      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:4

    Course Description:This class provides extended practice in critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. Students will develop an effective writing process and work to achieve college-level competence in reading and responding to texts, visuals, events, and ideas in a variety of written formats, with an emphasis on the academic essay. Audience awareness, interpretation and analysis, logical reasoning, and persuasive and argumentative skills will be developed. MLA style documentation of primary sources will be included.
    		College Writing IView-ENGL 1201n/a4
    Course Subject: ENGL         Course Number:1202
    Course Title:College Writing II      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:2

    Course Description:This class focuses on the research process, textual analysis of primary and secondary sources, rhetorical strategies for argument and persuasion, and successful integration of sources into a longer academic paper utilizing MLA (or other, as appropriate) documentation format. The class may be disciplinary, interdisciplinary, or topical in content, as noted on the class registration site.
    		College Writing IIView-ENGL 1202n/a2
    Course Subject: SOC         Course Number:1110
    Course Title:Introduction to Sociology      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This course is a study of social and cultural aspects of human behavior. Topics include society and culture, roles and norms, groups and organizations, deviance, inequality, social and cultural change, and research methods.
    		Introduction to SociologyView-SOC 1110n/a3
    1 course from PSYC1150, PSYC1160
    Course Subject: PSYC         Course Number:1150
    Course Title:General Psychology      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:3

    Course Description:This course provides an overview of topics in psychology. Topics may include history of psychology, research methods, physiological psychology, sensation and perception, consciousness, learning, memory, motivation and emotion, personality, stress and coping, abnormal behavior, therapy, and social psychology. Students are strongly encouraged to check with an advisor to determine if this is the appropriate course for their degree/program. You must meet perquisites or obtain instructor permission to take this course.
    		General Psychology orView-PSYC 1150n/a3
    Course Subject: PSYC         Course Number:1160
    Course Title:Introduction to Psychology      Goal Areas:n/a      Credits:4

    Course Description:This course provides an in-depth introduction to psychology. Topics may include history of psychology; research methods; physiological psychology; sensation and perception; consciousness; learning; memory; cognition; motivation; emotion; personality; stress, health and coping; abnormal behavior, therapy; social psychology; human development; sexuality; and gender. Students are strongly encouraged to check with an advisor to determine if this is the appropriate course for their degree/program. You must meet perquisites or obtain instructor permission to take this course.
    		Introduction to PsychologyView-PSYC 1160n/a4
     
    MnTC Electives
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    Natural Science (Goal Area 2) - 2 courses, 7 credits from 2 different disciplines, one must be a lab course and
    Mathematical/Logical Reasoning (Goal Area 4) - 1 course, at least 3 credits
    Highly Recommended- MATH 1010, 1130, or 1140
    History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences (Goal Area 5) - 1 course, 3 credits
    Humanities and Fine Arts (Goal Area 6) - 3 courses from 2 different disciplines, 9 credits
    Ethical and Civic Responsibility (Goal Area 9) - 1 course: COMM1610(3), COMM1810(3), COMM2610(3), ECON1050(3), ENGL2390(3), ENGL2950(3), GCST1210(3), GCST1211(3), GCST1212(3), GCST1213(3), GCST1220(2), GCST1301(3), GCST1320(3), GCST1502(3), GCST15003(3), GCST1504(3), GCST1505(3), GCST1964(4), GWS1502(3), GWS1503(3), GWS 1504(3), GWS1505(3), HIST1230(3), HIST1700(3), HIST2600(3), HIST2700(3), INTD1210(3), INTD1211(3), INTD1212(3), PHIL1020(3), PHIL1070(3), PHIL1110(3), PHIL1120(3), PHIL1200(3), PHIL1210(3), PHIL1220(3), POLS1100(3), POLS1140(3), SOC1130(3)
    Very Highly recommended courses-COMM 1610, COMM1810
    People and the Environment (Goal Area 10) - 1 course: ANTH1020(3), ANTH1130(3), BIOL1030(4), BIOL1160(4), BIOL1200(4), BIOL1600(1), BIOL1610(1), CHEM1000(4), CHEM1010(4), ENGL2340(3), GCST1030(3), GCST1040(3), GEOG1010(3), GEOG1190(3), GEOL1010(2), GEOL1020(2), GEOL1030(2), GEOL1040(2), GEOL1120(4), GEOL1150(4), GEOL1160(4), GEOL1850(3), GEOL1851(1), INTD1030(3), INTD1040(3), NSCI1110(4), PHIL1200(3) PHIL1230(3), PSYC1220(3)
    Highly recommended - ANTH 1020, GCST 1040
    Additional Electives, if needed, to reach 40 total MnTC credits: AMST1010(3), AMST1020(3), AMST2210(3), AMST2220(3), ANTH1010(3), ANTH1020(3), ANTH1130(3), ANTH1140(3), ARBC1030(3), ARBC1101(4), ARBC1102(4), ARBC2201(4), ART1010(3), ART1020(3), ART1040(3), ART1050(3), ART1101(3), ART1102(3), ART1160(3), ART1170(3), ART1270(3), ART1301(3), ART1302(3), ART1310(3), ART1320(3), ART1340(3), ART1341(3), ART1361(3), ART1362(3), ART1401(3), ART1402(3), ART1550(3), ART1601(3), ART1602(3), ART1650(3), ART1770(3), ART1810(1), ART1820(2), ART2180(3), ART2190(3), ART2300(2), ART2611(3), ART2612(3), ART2640(3), ART2740(1), ART2750(1), ART2780(1), ART2781(1), ART2782(1), ART2800(1), ART2820(1), ART2860(1), ART2900(1), ART2970(1), ASL1101(4), ASL1102(4), ASL1300(3), ASL2201(4), ASL2202(4), BIOL1000(4), BIOL1001(4), BIOL1002(4), BIOL1030(4), BIOL1101(4), BIOL1102(4), BIOL1120(3), BIOL1130(4), BIOL1140(4), BIOL1160(4), BIOL1200(4), BIOL1350(3), BIOL1360(4), BIOL1600(1), BIOL1610(1), BIOL1650(1), BIOL2020(4), BIOL2030(4), BIOL2100(4), BIOL2111(4), BIOL2112(4), BIOL2360(4), CHEM1000(4), CHEM1010(4), CHEM1030(4), CHEM1061(4), CHEM1062(4), COMM1010(3), COMM1110(3), COMM1210(3), COMM1310(3), COMM1410(3), COMM1510(3), COMM1550 (3), COMM1610(3), COMM1710(3), COMM1810(3), COMM1910(3), COMM2610(3), ECON1050(3), ECON1060(3), ECON1070(3), ENGL1111(3), ENGL1112(3), ENGL1150(3), ENGL1200(4), ENGL1201(4), ENGL1202(2), ENGL1250(2), ENGL1400(3), ENGL1450(3), ENGL1900(3), ENGL1950(3), ENGL2010(3), ENGL2020(3), ENGL2030(3), ENGL2150(3), ENGL2250(3), ENGL2270(3), ENGL2300(3), ENGL2310(3), ENGL2320(3), ENGL2330(3), ENGL2340(3), ENGL2350(3), ENGL2360(3), ENGL2370(3), ENGL2380(3), ENGL2390(3), ENGL2410(3), ENGL2450(3), ENGL2460(3), ENGL2540(3), ENGL2550(3), ENGL2560(3), ENGL2570(3), ENGL2580(3), ENGL2590(3), ENGL2900(3), ENGL2950(3), GCST1030(3), GCST1040(3), GCST1210(3), GCST1211(3), GCST1212(3), GCST1213(3), GCST1220(2), GCST1301(3), GCST1320(3), GCST1501(3), GCST1502, GCST1503(3), GCST1504(3), GCST1501(3), GCST1700(3), GCST1978(3), GCST1964(4), GCST2250(3), GCST2510(3), GEOG1000(2), GEOG1010(3), GEOG1040(3), GEOG1100(3), GEOG1190(3), GEOL1010(2), GEOL1020(2), GEOL1030(2), GEOL1040(2), GEOL1110(4), GEOL1120(4), GEOL1130(4), GEOL1150(4), GEOL1160(4), GEOL1850(3), GEOL1851(1), GERM1030(3), GWS1501(3), GWS1502(3), GWS1503(3), GWS1504(3), GWS1505(3), HIST1010(3), HIST1020(3), HIST1030(3), HIST1110(3), HIST1120(3), HIST1130(3), HIST1140(3), HIST1200(3), HIST1210(3), HIST1220(3), HIST1230(3), HIST1240(3), HIST1270(3), HIST1700(3), HIST1800(3), HIST1900(1), HIST2500(3), HIST2600(3), HIST2700(3), HUM1210(3), INTD1030(3), INTD1040(3), INTD1210(3), INTD1211(3), INTD1212(3), MATH1010(3), MATH1031(3), MATH1032(3), MATH1080(3), MATH1090(4), MATH1130(3), MATH1140(3), MATH1150(3), MATH1160(4), MATH1170(4), MATH1180(5), MATH1190(5), MATH1200(3), MATH1221(5), MATH1222(5), MATH2010(3), MATH2220(5), MATH2300(4), MATH2400(4), MUSC1130(1), MUSC1160(1), MUSC1170(1), MUSC1180(1), MUSC1200(3), MUSC1220(3), MUSC1241(3), MUSC1242(3), MUSC1300(3), MUSC1320(1), MUSC1350(3), MUSC1370(3), MUSC1500(2), MUSC1501(2), MUSC1502(2), MUSC1510(1), MUSC1560(1), MUSC1600(2), MUSC1610(1), MUSC1800(2), MUSC1801(2), MUSC1802(2), MUSC1810(1), MUSC1830(1), MUSC1850(1), MUSC1860(1), MUSC1870(1), MUSC2010(2), MUSC2170(3), MUSC2180(3), MUSC2241(3), MUSC2242(3), MUSC2970(1), NSCI1000(4), NSCI1010(1), NSCI1020(1), NSCI1030(1), NSCI1050(4), NSCI1060(3), NSCI1061(1), NSCI1070(3), NSCI1071(1), NSCI1110(4), NSCI1120(4), PHIL1010(3), PHIL1020(3), PHIL1030(3), PHIL1040(3), PHIL1050(3), PHIL1060(3), PHIL1070(3), PHIL1080(3), PHIL1110(3), PHIL1120(3), PHIL1200(3), PHIL1210(3), PHIL1220(3), PHIL1230(3), PHYS1000(4), PHYS1030(4), PHYS1050(4), PHYS1060(3), PHYS1061(1), PHYS1070(3), PHYS1071(1), PHYS1120(4), PHYS1140(3), PHYS1201(5), PHYS1202(5), PHYS1231(4), PHYS1232(4), PHYS1400(3), PHYS1410(1), PHYS1450(3), PHYS1460(1), PHYS1601(5), PHYS1602(5), POLS1100(3), POLS1140(3), POLS1600(3), POLS1700(3), POLS2130(3), PSYC1110(3), PSYC1150(3), PSYC1160(4), PSYC1165(3), PSYC1170(3), PSYC1210(3), PSYC1220(3), PSYC1250(4), PSYC2110(3), PSYC2320(3), PSYC2330(3), PSYC2340(3), PSYC2350(3), SOC1110(3), SOC1130(3), SOC1710(3), SOC1750(3), SOC2110(3), SOC2200(3), SOC2210(3), SOC2410(3), SOC2730(3), SPAN1030(3), SPAN1101(5), SPAN1102(5), SPAN2201(5), SPAN2202(5), SOC2750(3), TFT1200(3), TFT1210(3), TFT1250(3), TFT1260(3), TFT1270(3), TFT1280(3), TFT1310(3), TFT1320(3), TFT1350(3), TFT1500(3), TFT1510(3), TFT1520(3), TFT1531(3), TFT1532(3), TFT1540(3), TFT1600(1), TFT1610(1), TFT1710(3), TFT2010(3), TFT2500(3), TFT2950(1), WOST0101(4), WOST0999(3), WOST1110(3)
    Natural Science - 2 courses, 7 credits from 2 different disciplines, one must be a lab course and
     
    Health Requirement
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    Health or Exercise Science - 2 credits: EXSC1010(2), EXSC1020(1), EXSC1041(1), EXSC1042(1), EXSC1050(1), EXSC1070(1), EXSC1110(1), EXSC1130(1), EXSC1140(1), EXSC1151(1), EXSC1152(1), EXSC1200(1), EXSC1210(1), EXSC1230(1), EXSC1240(1), EXSC1250(3), EXSC1260(1), EXSC1270(1), EXSC1310(1), EXSC1400(1), EXSC1410(1), EXSC1420(1), EXSC1430(1), EXSC1440(1), EXSC1451(1), EXSC1452(1), EXSC1460(2), EXSC1470(1), EXSC1500(3), EXSC1510(2), EXSC1520(3), EXSC1530(2), EXSC1600(1), EXSC1610(1), EXSC1630(1), EXSC1640(1), EXSC1700(3), EXSC1710(3), EXSC1720(2), EXSC1730(1), EXSC1740(1), EXSC1750(1), EXSC1751(1), EXSC1752(1), EXSC1760(1), EXSC1800(1), EXSC1810(1), EXSC1820(1), EXSC1830(1), EXSC1840(1), EXSC1850(1), EXSC1880(1),EXSC1890(1), EXSC1990(1), EXSC2101(4), EXSC2102(2), EXSC2110(3), EXSC2390(3), EXSC2490(4), HLTH1030(3), HLTH1040(3), HLTH1050(3), HLTH1060(3), HLTH1070(3), HLTH1080(3), HLTH1100(3), HLTH1250(3), HLTH1600(3), HLTH1900(3), HLTH1990(1)
     
    NHCC Residency and GPA
    CoursesTitlesCourse OutlinesGoal AreasCredits
    15 Credits must be earned at NHCC
     
                                   Total Credits Required60
    Notes:

  • Program Outcomes

    ​

    Upon completion of this degree, students will be able to:

     

    1. Demonstrate knowledge of the transactional nature of communication and identify the core principles of communication studies. (ELO 1 & 3)
    2. Demonstrate knowledge of the role of context in the communication of effective self-presentation, audience analysis, and relational maintenance and development. (ELO 1 & 2)
    3. Effectively structure and deliver oral presentations, including identification of appropriate organizational structure, selection and citation of supporting content, and anticipation and refutation of opposing arguments. (ELO 2 & 4)
    4. Demonstrate intercultural knowledge and flexibility in communication across a variety of audiences across cultures. (ELO 2 & 3)


  • Career Opportunities

    Information on careers, including salary and employment outlook data, is available on the iseek and Bureau of Labor Statistics websites: www.iseek.org and www.bls.gov.

  • Transfer Information

    ​If you are planning on transferring to another institution, follow the guidelines available on our transfer resources web page to help you plan the process: Transfer Information

  • Degree Information

    The Associate of Arts (A.A.) is awarded for successful completion of 60 credits and is designed to constitute the first two years of a liberal arts bachelor degree program. An A.A. degree includes the entire 40 credit Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) as the general education requirement. Students may also choose to concentrate in a particular field of study in preparation for a planned major or professional emphasis at a fouryear college by following the premajor requirement of the desired transfer institution in addition to the MnTC and A.A. requirements.

    A student shall:

    • Earn a minimum of 60 semester credits.
    • Earn a grade point average of 2.00 (C) or higher in courses taken at North Hennepin Community College.
    • Earn a minimum of 20 semester credits of the 60 semester credits required for the A.A. Degree at NHCC.
    • Complete the general education distribution requirement listed in the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. The student shall select general education (MnTC) courses numbered 1000 or above to complete a minimum of 40 credits.
    • Have four years in which to complete their work under the terms of the catalog in effect at the time of their first enrollment.
    • Students taking more than four years to complete their graduation requirements may follow any catalog in effect during the fouryear period preceding their date of graduation.

    Required A.A. Degree Course Distribution:

    • Complete 40 credits in the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum satisfying the requirements for each of the 10 goal areas.
    • Complete at least 2 credits for the Wellness requirement from either Health (all courses) or Physical Education (all courses).

    If the student intends to transfer, he/she is encouraged to work with an advisor to fulfill requirements for transfer to the other institution.

    Completion of an A.A. degree fulfills the Goal Area 2 requirement of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC).

    Developmental CoursesSome students may need preparatory course(s) in Math and/or English. Courses numbered below 1000 will not apply toward a degree.

    Equal Opportunity Employer and Disability Access InformationNorth Hennepin Community College is a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and an equal opportunity employer and educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by calling 7634930555 or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 18006273529.

  • Accreditation

    North Hennepin Community College is accredited by the:
    Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
    30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
    Chicago, IL 60602-2504
    1-800-621-7440