Communication Studies, Rhetoric, Culture, and Social Change Concentration, B.A.

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The Rhetoric, Culture, and Social Change concentration is designed for those students desiring a well-developed background in the use, theory, construction, and analysis of public messages. The course of study provides training in individual public communication skills and provides a foundation for the analysis and evaluation of advocacy discourse.

All program-level Admissions and Progression Requirements are in addition to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Admission Requirements .

Admission Requirements

Freshmen and Transfers

See University Admission Requirements
Minimum GPA: 2.0
Transferable Credit Hours: 24

Currently Enrolled Students

Overall GPA of at least 2.0.

Degree Requirements

The program leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies requires 120 credit hours. In addition to the requirements for the Communication Studies major, students may also complete coursework in a specific concentration of study, or electives as specified for those students who are completing the major without a concentration. Courses that are required within a particular concentration or used as electives within the concentration cannot simultaneously be used to fulfill Major Course requirements. The concentrations are designed to provide students with the opportunity to pursue more extensive study in the communication context most relevant to their professional and social goals.

General Education Courses (31-32 credit hours)

For details on required courses, refer to the General Education Program . Total hours to satisfy General Education Requirements may vary as some general education requirements may be double-counted in the major with departmental approval. Please see your advisor for information.

Foreign Language Requirement (0-8 credit hours)

For details on required courses, refer to the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences Foreign Language Requirement .

Communication Studies Core Courses (21 credit hours)

The Communication Studies Core Courses are designed to provide a thorough understanding of fundamental communication processes and are structured into two categories:

General Theory/Skills Courses (15 credit hours)

Research Methodology Courses (6 credit hours)

Concentration Courses (18 credit hours)

Required Concentration Courses (9 credit hours)

Elective Concentration Courses (9 credit hours)

Select from the following:

AFRS 2215 - Black Families in the United States (3)
AFRS 3150 - The African American Church and Civil Rights (3)
AFRS 3179 - African American Political Philosophy (3)
AFRS 3218 - Racial Violence, Colonial Times to Present (3)
COMM 2102 - Advanced Public Speaking (3) ***
COMM 2103 - Argumentation and Debate (3) ***
COMM 3051 - Topics in Health Communication (3)
COMM 3052 - Topics in Media & Technology Studies (3)
COMM 3053 - Topics in Rhetoric, Culture, and Social Change (3)
COMM 3054 - Topics in Organizational Communication (3)
COMM 3055 - Topics in Public Relations (3)
COMM 3115 - Health Communication (3)
COMM 3125 - New Media for Communications (3)
COMM 3126 - Globalization and Digital Media (3)
COMM 3131 - Black Culture and Communication (3)
COMM 3403 - Forensics Practicum (2) **
COMM 3880 - Independent Study (1 to 3) *
COMM 4410 - Professional Internship (3 or 6) *
INTL 2100 - Introduction to Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies (3)
INTL 2131 - Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies (3)
INTL 3117 - Narratives and Conflicts (3)
INTL 3132 - Peacebuilding in Divided Societies (3)
INTL 3137 - International Human Rights (3)
PHIL 2100 - Critical Thinking in Philosophy (3)
PHIL 3231 - Aesthetics (3)
PHIL 3251 - Advanced Logic (3)
PHIL 3261 - Feminist Philosophy (3)
PHIL 3262 - Philosophy and Race (3)
PHIL 3271 - Social and Political Philosophy (3)
POLS 3103 - Public Opinion (3)
POLS 3104 - Mass Media (3)
POLS 3105 - Voting and Elections (3)
POLS 3108 - Social Movements and Interest Groups (3)
POLS 3109 - Political Parties (3)
POLS 3115 - Civil Rights and Liberties (3)
POLS 3117 - Gender and the Law (3)
POLS 3153 - European Union (3)
POLS 4110 - North Carolina Student Legislature (3)
PSYC 3357 - Introduction to Community Psychology (3)
PSYC 2350 - Introduction to Social Psychology (3)
PSYC 3356 - Psychology of Women and Gender (3)
RELS 3225 - Religion and Race (3)
RELS 3230 - Race, Religion, and Murder (3)
SOCY 2112 - Popular Culture (3)
SOCY 2163 - Sociology of Gender (3)
SOCY 2171 - Social Problems (3)
SOCY 3110 - American Minority Groups (3)
SOCY 3143 - Social Movements (3)
SOCY 3250 - Political Sociology (3)
SOCY 4111 - Social Inequality (3)
SOCY 4121 - Globalization and Development (3)
COMM 2xxx - 4xxx Communication Studies Elective
COMM 3xxx - 4xxx Communication Studies Elective
COMM 3xxx - 4xxx Communication Studies Elective

Notes:

*Requires approval of advisor.
**May be repeated but no more than 3 credit hours will apply to meeting this elective requirement.
***May not be used to satisfy both the required concentration course and the elective concentration course.

Unrestricted Elective Courses

As needed to complete the credit hours required for graduation.

Degree Total = 120 Credit Hours

Honors Program

For details about the Honors Program in Communication Studies, visit the program page .

Progression Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C or better in COMM 1101 , COMM 2100 , COMM 2104 and STAT 1222 , and a 2.0 GPA overall in their major courses.