Communication Studies Course Recommendations
Communication Studies provides students with a broad understanding of human communication, including how messages are created, interpreted, and exchanged across a variety of contexts. The field examines communication processes, symbolic systems, communication environments, media, and their effects, with particular emphasis on interpersonal interaction and the ways individuals influence one another through communication.
Note to Faculty and Course Submitters working with IAI Courses:
Before submitting to the IAI Media and Communication Arts major panel, please review the panel criteria and other important documents which are available at
Communication Studies IAI Major Recommendations
Major Course Recommendations (9-15 semester credits)
Communication Studies Specialty Core Courses - 9 semester credits
MC 901 - Interpersonal Communication (3 semester credits)
MC 902 - Small Group Communication (3 semester credits)
MC 903 - Organizational Communication (3 semester credits)
MC 904 - Intercultural Communication (3 semester credits)
MC 905 - Argumentation (3 semester credits)
Be sure to talk with your advisors to ensure you take coursework for you goals within the major.
IAI GECC Recommendations (Minimum 37 semester credits)
These are the specific courses in the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum (IAI GECC) that should be taken for this emphasis.
Communication: 3 courses (9 semester credits)
Select a two-course sequence in writing (6 semester credits) with a grade of "C" or better and, Select 1 course in oral communication (3 semester credits).
Mathematics: 1 course (3 semester credits)
Physical and Life Sciences: 2 courses (7-8 semester credits)
Select 1 course from Physical Sciences. Select 1 course from Life Sciences. Select at least 1 laboratory course. (Students with the appropriate preparation may substitute an initial course designed for science majors for a more general course).
Humanities and Fine Arts: 3 courses (9 semester credits)
Select 1 course from Humanities, Select 1 course from Fine Arts and Select 1 from either Humanities or Fine Arts. - Courses can be taken from the same identifier as long as the course outcomes are different.
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 courses (9 semester credits)
Select 3 courses from at least 2 different disciplines (e.g., no more than 2 courses from, for example, psychology). - Courses can be taken from the same identifier as long as the course outcomes are different.
Check the worksheet to see what courses you can take to fulfill your general education requirements. The worksheet allows you to see what courses to take to fulfill the IAI Gen. Ed. package (Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum) at any participating college or university in the State. You will find it helpful to use the major recommended general education courses shown above. You may want to print or copy a hard copy of this page.
Return to the IAI Majors: Media and Communication Arts.
Return to the Illinois Baccalaureate Majors' Recommendations (IAI Majors).