Communication BA

Overview

The major in Communication is an interdisciplinary curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. It seeks to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of the nature of human communication at multiple levels of analysis. The major coursework includes content from the natural and social sciences, as well as the … For more content click the Read More button below.

The major in Communication is an interdisciplinary curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. It seeks to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of the nature of human communication at multiple levels of analysis. The major coursework includes content from the natural and social sciences, as well as the humanities. Four areas of focus are offered: communication technology and digital systems, interpersonal communication, mass communication and media institutions, and political and legal communication.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrated mastery of substantive areas of the field, including mass communication and media institutions, interpersonal communication, communication technology and digital systems, and political and legal communication

Placement of particular communication events or examples in the context of broader patterns of human activity

Critical evaluation of arguments based on evidence

Design and implementation of original research projects

Completion, using acquired knowledge and skills, of a project that demonstrates core competencies in the field

Active participation in learning-in-practice opportunities

Evaluation and critique of oral presentations

Demonstrated mastery of conceptualization, formulation, and oral presentation of the student’s own ideas

Entry to the Major

Admission

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants to the Communication major with 90 or more units must complete at least four of the following seven lower-division required courses: Communication 10 or one interpersonal communication and one mass communication course, one public address course, one linguistics course, one statistics course, and three courses from psychology, American government, sociology, and microeconomics or political economy.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

Major Requirements

Preparation for the Major

Complete seven courses as follows. Students are encouraged but not required to complete as many lower-division preparation for the major courses as possible before admission to the program.

Communication

Anthropology 4 or Linguistics 1 or Philosophy 23

Economics 41 or Statistics 10

Electives

The Major

Complete 10 or 11 upper-division courses, including Communication 100 and 150, as follows. The practicum requirement can be satisfied by a course that also satisfies a core or an additional area elective course requirement.

COMM 100 - Communication Science COMM 150 - Methodologies in Communication Research

Areas

Complete a total of eight courses from the following four areas, including at least one core course in each area:

Communication Technology and Digital Systems

Core

COMM 129 - Gaming Mind COMM 131 - Computer Models of Communicators COMM 151 - Computer-Mediated Communication COMM 154 - Social Communication and New Technology COMM 155 - Artificial Intelligence and New Media COMM 156 - Social Networking COMM 158 - Revolutions in Communication Technology COMM 159 - Artificial Intelligence and Society

Electives

COMM 157 - Celebrity, Fame, and Social Media COMM 188C - Variable Topics in Communication Technology and Digital Systems COMM 191C - Variable Topics Research Seminars: Communication Technology and Digital Systems

Interpersonal Communication

Core

COMM 110 - Gender and Communication COMM 111 - Conflict and Communication COMM M113 - Nonverbal Communication and Body Language COMM 114 - Understanding Relationships COMM 115 - Interpersonal Dynamics COMM 120 - Group Communication COMM 121 - Communication Development COMM 122 - Visual Communication COMM M123 - Social Cognition COMM 126 - Evolution of Interpersonal Communication

Electives

Only one course of Psychology 135 or Sociology 132 may be applied.

ANTHRO 136A - Introduction to Psychological Anthropology: Historical Development ANTHRO M150 - Language in Culture ANTHRO 151 - Ethnography of Everyday Speech COMM 108 - Communication and Identity COMM 109 - Entrepreneurial Communication COMM 112 - Current Issues in Vocal Communication COMM 116 - Communication and Conflict in Couples and Families COMM M117 - Negotiation COMM 118 - Language and Music COMM 119 - Voice and Its Perception COMM M125 - Talk and Social Institutions COMM M127 - Animal Communication COMM 131 - Computer Models of Communicators COMM M144A - Conversational Structures I COMM M144B - Conversational Structures II COMM 188B - Variable Topics in Interpersonal Communication COMM 191B - Variable Topics Research Seminars: Interpersonal Communication LING 103 - Introduction to General Phonetics LING 170 - Language and Society: Introduction to Sociolinguistics PHILOS 172 - Philosophy of Language and Communication PSYCH 135 - Social Psychology PSYCH 137C - Intimate Relationships PSYCH M165 - Psychology of Gender PSYCH 177 - Counseling Relationships SOCIOL 132 - Social Psychology: Sociological Approaches SOCIOL 134 - Culture and Personality SOCIOL 156 - Race and Ethnicity in American Life

Mass Communication and Media Institutions

Core

COMM 133 - Decoding Media Strategies COMM 140 - Theory of Persuasive Communication COMM M147 - Sociology of Mass Communication COMM 152 - Analysis of Communication Effects

Electives

ASIA AM 172C - Transnational Bollywood COMM 105 - Media Conspiracy Theories in U.S. and Middle East COMM 106 - Reporting America COMM 107 - Terrorism in Journalism COMM 128 - Play and Entertainment COMM 130 - Science of Language COMM 132 - Multicultural Television COMM 136 - Media Portrayals of Gays and Lesbians COMM 141 - Films of Persuasion: Social and Political Advocacy in Mass Society COMM 143 - Rhetoric of Popular Culture COMM 145 - Situation Comedy and American Culture COMM 146 - Evolution of Mass Media Images COMM 148 - Marketing Communications COMM M149 - Media: Gender, Race, Class, and Sexuality COMM M165 - Agitational Communication COMM 166 - Inside Hollywood COMM M169 - Critical Vision: History of Art as Social and Political Commentary COMM 175 - Criticism and Public Arts COMM 179 - Images of U.S.COMM 182 - Nonverbal Communication in Architecture COMM 183 - Media and Mind COMM 186 - Media, Ethics, and Digital Age: Case-Study Approach COMM 187 - Ethical and Policy Issues in Institutions of Mass Communication COMM 188A - Variable Topics in Mass Communication and Media Institutions COMM 191A - Variable Topics Research Seminars: Mass Communication and Media Institutions FILM TV 108 - History of Documentary Film POL SCI M142D - Understanding Public Issue Life Cycle

Political and Legal Communication

Core

COMM 101 - Freedom of Communication COMM 160 - Political Communication COMM 162 - Presidential Communication COMM 168 - Communication and Media Law COMM 170 - Legal Communication COMM 174 - Entertainment and Politics

Electives

Only one course of Political Science 141B or Sociology 133 may be applied.

COMM 102 - Principles of Argumentation COMM 163 - Public Diplomacy COMM 171 - Theories of Freedom of Speech and Press COMM 173 - Affect and Emotion in Political Communication COMM M176 - Visual Communication and Social Advocacy COMM 178 - Propaganda and Media COMM 188D - Variable Topics in Political and Legal Communication COMM 191D - Variable Topics Research Seminars: Political and Legal Communication POL SCI M141A - Electoral Politics: Political Psychology POL SCI 141B - Electoral Politics: Public Opinion and Voting Behavior POL SCI 141C - Electoral Politics: Political Behavior Analysis POL SCI 141E - Electoral Politics: Elections, Media, and Strategy SOCIOL 133 - Collective Behavior

Required Practicum

Select one course from:

COMM 101 - Freedom of Communication COMM 102 - Principles of Argumentation COMM 103A - Forensics COMM 103B - Forensics COMM 104 - Analysis and Briefing COMM 109 - Entrepreneurial Communication COMM 111 - Conflict and Communication COMM 116 - Communication and Conflict in Couples and Families COMM M117 - Negotiation COMM 155 - Artificial Intelligence and New Media COMM 160 - Political Communication COMM M176 - Visual Communication and Social Advocacy COMM 188E - Variable Topics: Practicum COMM 191E - Variable Topics Research Seminars: Practicum

Honors Program

The departmental honors program provides exceptional students an opportunity for advanced research and study, under the guidance of a faculty member, that leads to the completion of an honors thesis. To qualify for graduation with departmental honors, students must (1) complete all requirements for the major, (2) have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.6 or better in upper-division coursework in the major and an overall GPA of 3.3 or better in all completed UC coursework, (3) complete Communication 198A, 198B, and 198C, and (4) produce a completed satisfactory honors thesis (as determined by a recommendation of their thesis adviser and final approval by the department chair). Contact the student affairs officer for more information.

COMM 198A - Honors Research in Communication Studies COMM 198B - Honors Research in Communication Studies COMM 198C - Honors Research in Communication Studies

Computing Specialization

Majors in Communication may select a specialization in Computing by satisfying all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in the major and completing the following requirements:

Program in Computing or Computer Science

Additional Courses

Select four courses (at least one of which must be in communication) from:

COMM 122 - Visual Communication COMM 129 - Gaming Mind COMM 131 - Computer Models of Communicators COMM 151 - Computer-Mediated Communication COMM 153 - Introduction to Data Science COMM 154 - Social Communication and New Technology COMM 155 - Artificial Intelligence and New Media COMM 156 - Social Networking COMM 158 - Revolutions in Communication Technology COMPTNG 10C - Advanced Programming COMPTNG 16A - Python with Applications I COMPTNG 16B - Python with Applications II COMPTNG 20A - Principles of Java Language with Applications COMPTNG 40A - Introduction to Programming for Internet

Policies

Computing Specialization Policies

Courses need to be completed with a grade of C– or better in each course and a combined grade-point average of at least 2.0. Students must petition for admission to the program and are advised to do so after they complete Program in Computing 10B or Computer Science 32 (petitions should be filed in the Counseling Office). Students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a specialization in Computing.