AA Degree Requirements - Communication Studies

Communication Studies AA-T (2.0) Requirements

Communication Studies majors will learn the dynamics of communication between and among individuals, groups, cultures, and organizations. Communication Studies integrates courses in interpersonal, intercultural, organizational, and rhetorical communication to foster creativity, critical thinking, and communication confidence in diverse environments. Communication Studies majors pursue a variety of careers depending on their interests. Public relations and advertising firms, healthcare organizations, government and educational institutions, entertainment companies, social service groups, and media-based firms are just some examples of organizations having a need for people with highly developed interpersonal and technical communication skills. Some of the current career titles include social media relations, diversity trainer, public information officer, public relations specialist, political consultant, press secretary, labor relations specialist, public opinion researcher, news producer, speechwriter, advertising account executive, media manager, human resources manager, mediator, and special events coordinator.

Because of the focus on interpersonal, professional, and intercultural communication skills, this major may also lead to many other careers and advanced degree pursuits such as law and counseling. While meeting the Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer in Communication Studies requirements, students can satisfy up to four different general education transfer requirements (Oral Communication, Social Science, Humanities, and Critical Thinking) as well as earn a Certificate of Completion (12 units). This degree is for seamless transfer to CSU system. 

Required Core (6 units; select two courses)

  • Communication Studies C1000: Introduction to Public Speaking (3 units; formerly Comm 130)
  • Communication Studies C1004: Interpersonal Communication (3 units; formerly Comm 120)

List A (9 units; select three courses)

  • Communication Studies 100: Introduction to Communication Studies (3 units)
  • Communication Studies 103: Argumentation, Persuasion, and Critical Thinking (3 units)
  • Communication Studies 110: Intercultural Communication (3 units)
  • Communication Studies 115: Gender, Communication, and the Digital Revolution (3 units)
  • Communication Studies 125: Organizational Communication (3 units)
  • Communication Studies 132: Small Group Communication (3 units)
  • Communication Studies 140: Oral Interpretation of Literature (3 units)
  • Forensics Activity/Competitive Speech and Debate (may take any combination of 3 units)
    • Communication Studies 231 (1 unit)
    • Communication Studies 232 (2 units)
    • Communication Studies 233 (3 units)

List B (3 units; select one course)

  • Anthropology 100: Cultural Anthropology (3 units)
  • Communication Studies 145: Storytelling (3 units)
  • Communication Studies 200: Contemporary Communication Topics (3 units)
  • English C1002: Introduction to Literature (3 units)
  • Journalism & Media Studies 100: Mass Communications and Society (3 units)
  • Journalism & Media Studies 101: Beginning Newswriting and Reporting (3 units)
  • Sociology C1000: Introduction to Sociology (3 units)
  • Psychology C1000: Introduction to Psychology (3 units)
  • Or any course from the required core or List A that has not been completed.

Associate in Arts Degree Requirements

  1. Completion of 60 CSU-transferable semester units.
  2. Achievement of a minimum GPA of at least 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework. (Some majors may require a higher GPA. Students should consult with a counselor for more information.)
  3. Completion of the major with a grade of "C" or better in each course or a "P" if the course was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis and the "P" is equal to a "C" or better.
  4. Completion of the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC). Note: The CSU GE (California State University General Education-Breadth) or IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) pattern may be used in some cases; please see a counselor for details.