Undergraduate Programs
In 37 exciting credit hours, you’ll learn how to craft effective messages and decode the messages you encounter every day. These courses focus on writing, speaking, research, and media skills. You’ll also get to work with dedicated professors on intensive and applied projects.
Majors begin with introductory courses covering the fundamentals of media and journalism, strategic communication, and the relationship between communication and culture. They then move on to mid-level classes where they hone their writing, speaking, and research skills.
Variable Topics Courses
And then the major gets really fun. Our upper-level classes are all variable topics courses, so students can build their own program. Interested in journalism? Find courses about documentary news or feature writing. Interested in public relations? Find courses about crisis communication or sports branding. Interested in advocacy? Find courses about social justice movements or political campaigns. Your major advisor can walk you through the details, but you have a lot of options.
Capstone Classes
It all culminates with the crown jewel of our program. A yearlong capstone experience meant to bridge your studies to your life after. Capstone students work with the same professor and same classmates across two semesters. As they do they complete intensive projects in areas like journalism, media, public relations, marketing, and social advocacy. COMM capstone students write and share written journalism, produce audio documentaries, explore culture abroad, and help promote and plan Charleston’s legendary Wine + Food Festival.
They leave with a portfolio of work to share and with a set of vital communication skills to apply wherever life takes them next.
Communication Minor
If you want to learn the fundamentals of writing, speaking, and media, but not commit to the full major, you should consider a minor in communication. If you’re looking to earn a minor, you’ll choose between a selection of introductory core course and variable topics upper-level courses to design an experience that best fits their interests and best pairs with the major.
And since communication skills are so universally in demand, a COMM minor pairs well with majors across the College. Common choices are marketing, business administration, political science, psychology, and more.
Current CofC students can declare a COMM major or minor using the College’s Program of Study Management system. Current student or not, if you’ve got questions about a major or minor, reach out to COMM Department Chair Dr. Ryan Milner. We’re here to help!
Communication Minor Curriculum