UWM Undergraduate Catalog 2007-08 College of Letters and Science Communication

Other UWM Web Pages UWM Undergraduate Catalog: - Letters and Science -- Schools and Colleges -- Contents -- How to Use This Book -- Administration -- Calendar -- About UWM -- Academic Opportunities -- Campus Resources -- Admission -- Registration -- Financial Information -- Academic Information -- Index ------------------- Student Services/Activities Admission & Registration UWM Home Page ------------------- Comments

• Web Home Pages:
  • College of Letters and Science
  • Communication

• Course of Study
• Courses: Communication (COMMUN)
• Faculty

The discipline of communication is the study of human symbolic behavior. In addition to helping students learn to communicate more effectively, communication courses teach students how to analyze human communication in the wide range of communicative situations that people experience daily. These communicative situations include interpersonal, intercultural, organizational, small group, instructional, mediated, and rhetorical/public ones. Communication in these various settings may be oral, written, nonverbal, and/or visual. As America diversifies and its economy expands the emphasis on teamwork and service, excellent communication skills are increasingly important for a professional career in any field as well as for a more fulfilling life.

Course of Study

Students may declare a major or minor in communication after completion of Commun 101 (Introduction to Interpersonal Communication), 103 (Public Speaking), 105 (Business and Professional Communication), and a total of 15 credits toward the degree. For admission to the major or minor, students must earn at least a B- grade in each of the three core courses, Commun 101, 103, and 105. Prospective majors and minors are advised strongly to be competent in written and oral language skills prior to seeking admission to the program. The Department communicates with students principally through email. Majors and minors are required to check their UWM email routinely.

Graduation with a major, minor, or concentrated study requires a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 in all communication courses attempted (UWM as well as transfer credits). All courses in the major or minor must be taken for graded credit.

MAJOR

A major in communication consists of at least 36* credits in communication courses, including Commun 101, 103, 105, and either 335 (635) or 370. At least 18 of the 36* credits must be numbered 300 or above, 15 of these taken in residence at UWM.

Majors must complete a minimum of 3 credits numbered 300 or above from each of three of the following four curriculum areas: Interpersonal Communication/Conflict Management, Intercultural/Global Communication, Organizational/Professional Communication, and Rhetorical/Public Communication. This curriculum is designed to offer students flexibility in choosing communication classes as well as to provide introductory and advanced study in several areas of communication. The remaining 15 credits may be selected from across the communication curriculum.

A maximum of 6 credits earned in any combination of the following courses may count toward the minimum number of credits required for the major in communication:

199 Independent Study
268 Practicum in Mock Trial I
296 UROP Apprenticeship
468 Practicum in Mock Trial II
597 Practicum in Teaching Communication
599 Research Practicum
698 Internship in Communication
699 Advanced Independent Reading

The College requires that students complete a research experience in their major. The Department of Communication has structured Commun 335 and 370 to satisfy that requirement. In these courses, students must produce a written final research paper that involves conducting independent research in addition to evaluating research in the field and integrating it with their findings. Students will present their research in oral form to their course colleagues.

Honors in the Major

Communication majors who want to graduate with honors in the major must attain a 3.0 GPA on all credits attempted, a 3.75 GPA on all course work taken to complete the major, and a 3.75 GPA on advanced (300 level and above) courses in the major. A minimum of 24 credits, at least 15 at the 300 level or above, in communication courses must be taken in residence at UWM.

MINOR

A minor in communication consists of at least 18 credits in communication courses. Nine credits numbered 300 or above must be taken in residence at UWM. In addition to completing Commun 101, 103, and 105, students are required to complete a minimum of 3 credits numbered 300 or above in three of the following four curriculum areas: Interpersonal Communication/Conflict Management, Organizational/Professional Communication, Intercultural/Global Communication, and Rhetorical/Public Communication.

Interpersonal Communication/Conflict Management

Specialized Courses: Variable Content and Independent Study

Variable Content Courses: The contents of Commun 192, 193, 380, 631, 641, 651, 660, 662, and 671 vary each semester. Specific topics are announced in the Timetable.

Independent Study Courses: These courses offer students the opportunity to work and study on a one-on-one basis with a faculty member. Students interested in taking Commun 597, 599, and/or 699 should contact an individual faculty member to determine the faculty member’s willingness to sponsor the enrollment.

Crosslisted Courses

The following courses offered by other academic units may be used to fulfill the requirements of the undergraduate major and minor in communication:

Related Courses

The following courses offered by the Department of English may be of interest to students in communication but may not be used to fulfill requirements of the major and minor.

Faculty

Mike R. Allen, Prof., Ph.D., Chair
Michigan State University

Sandra Braman, Prof., Ph.D.
University of Minnesota

Kathryn Fonner, Asst. Prof., Ph.D.
Northwestern University

Web Home Pages:
[ College of Letters and Science ]
[ Communication ]

---

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Undergraduate Catalog 2007-08:
Communication
[ College of Letters and Science ]
[ Schools and Colleges ]
[ Contents | How to Use This Book | Calendar | Index ]
[ Admission | Registration | Financial Information | Academic Information ]
[ Administration | Academic Opportunities | Campus Resources ]

---

---

Last update: April 26, 2007. --- URL: http://www.uwm.edu/ugbulletin/SC/D_LS_245.html
Copyright 2007 by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, all rights reserved.
If you have questions or comments about this page please send email to: www@uwm.edu