2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog School of Communication

Communication.IllinoisState.edu

Admission/Retention Requirements

For information about admission to this program visit the University’s Academics website.

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Honors in Communication

The Honors Program seeks to facilitate customized learning for Honors students in their disciplines by offering the opportunity for students to engage in Honors education and to have Honors Learning Experiences in upper division courses. Honors students may choose to focus their Honors Learning in their major and pursue the Honors in the Major designation, which is awarded at graduation. Learn more about Honors in the Major.

 

Interdisciplinary Minors

The School of Communication participates in a number of interdisciplinary minors at the University. Coursework offered by the School contributes to the following minors: Civic Engagement and Responsibility, Cog­nitive Science, Ethnic Studies, and Interna­tional Studies. For further information on these minors and their advisors, please con­sult the Interdisciplinary Studies Programs section.

 

Second majors and minors in the School of Communication

Students with a major in the School of Communication may choose to declare an additional major or a minor from among the School of Communication’s programs. Students are limited to only one additional major or one minor to complement their existing Communication major. Students with a double major in the School of Communication may only overlap 12 credit hours between their two major programs of study. Students with a major and minor in the School of Communication may only overlap 6 credit hours between their major and minor programs of study.

Communication Studies

Degree Offered: B.A., B.S.

Major in Communication Studies

Students discover the many strategies that demonstrate how to effectively communicate with different groups of people in varying situations. Communication Studies offers three sequences within the major. Each sequence allows students to focus on a particular field of practice within the broader spectrum of Communication Studies. Students are strongly encouraged to complete at least one internship for credit.

Students in the Communication Studies major must complete one of the following sequences.

Interpersonal Sequence

The Interpersonal sequence focuses on communication interaction between individuals and the impact each has on the other. The program provides a grounding in the power of communication to affect outcomes and relations across a variety of settings. Often, coursework may examine relationship development in families, social settings, and work.

View Interpersonal Sequence Course Requirements

Organizational and Leadership Communication Sequence

The Organizational and Leadership Communication sequence enhances communication knowledge, understanding, and skills for enhancing organizational relationships. The goal of this sequence is to equip students to successfully use communication as a tool to enhance organizational outcomes. Students will gain an understanding of how communication processes can be used to manage behaviors in an organizational context while becoming a competent communicator.

View Organizational and Leadership Communication Sequence Course Requirements

Public Culture and Advocacy Communication Sequence

The Public Culture and Advocacy Communication sequence is concerned with being actively engaged with local, regional, state, national and international issues and how the power of information, civic engagement, persuasion, and strategic message design can be used to understand and affect outcomes at multiple levels, particularly in the areas of social advocacy, governance, information literacy, political engagement, and societal behavior. Course content offers opportunities to study social justice, political communication, rhetoric, digital activism, civic engagement, and political engagement.

View Public Culture and Advocacy Communication Sequence Course Requirements

Minor in Communication Studies

This minor focuses on communication interaction between individuals and the impact each has on the other. The program provides a grounding in the power of communication to affect outcomes and relations across a variety of settings. Often, coursework may examine relationship development in families, social settings, and work. For admission requirements, please visit the University's Academics website.  

21 total credit hours required

15 credit hours of electives selected from:

Journalism

Degree Offered: B.A., B.S.

Major in Journalism

Journalism is changing rapidly in the 21st century, with stories moving across a range of platforms – from television and the web to radio, newspapers and magazines, as well as across social networks. Budding journalists need to know not only how to gather facts and write informative stories, but also how to work with audio and video clips, create and use websites, and be adept at distributing news through social media. Students are encouraged to get involved in our campus news, entertainment and sports outlets. 

Journalism majors are encouraged to complete a minor or second major in a department/school other than Communication.

View Journalism Course Requirements

Mass Media

Degree Offered: B.A., B.S.

Major in Mass Media

The Mass Media program offers students the opportunity to study the developing communication of the 21st century. This program is designed for students who are interested in studying theory and practice of media, especially radio, television, the web, documentary film, and media management. Mass Media offers two sequences within the major. Each sequence allows students to focus on a particular field of practice within the broader spectrum of Mass Media. Students are encouraged to get involved in our campus news, entertainment and sports outlets. For admission requirements, please visit the University’s Academics website.

Students in the Mass Media major must complete one of the following sequences.

Management, Promotion and Sales Sequence

This program allows students to learn and gain experience in the managerial aspects of the media industry. Students focus on media programming, management, sales, and promotion, as well as gaining hands-on experience in radio and television.

View Management, Promotion and Sales Sequence Course Requirements

Media Arts Sequence

This program allows students to learn and gain experience in the creative aspects of the media industry. Students have the flexibility to choose a path most suited to their career aspirations utilizing audio, video, and interactive media skills to work in a variety of media companies and platforms.

View Media Arts Sequence Course Requirements

Minor in Mass Media

21 total credit credit hours required

12 credit hours of electives from:

Public Relations Program

Degree Offered: B.A., B.S.

Major in Public Relations

The Public Relations major prepares students to research, plan, execute, and evaluate communication between an organization and its publics, monitor the organization’s environment, and counsel management on policies and programs. This major is designed to prepare students to help private industry and public organizations improve the quality of communication among themselves, their employees, the general public and government. Students will learn how Public Relations is instrumental in corporate strategy, complements advertising and marketing, and will understand the importance of managing organizations’ images and reputations.

Students are encouraged to have a minor or second major in a department or school outside the School of Communication.

View Public Relations Course Requirements

Sports Communication

Degree Offered: B.A., B.S.

Major in Sports Communication

The program in sports communication builds students' knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes in the ideation, planning, implementation, and evaluation of communication efforts specifically meant for sports and athletics organizations. The breadth and depth of sports includes all types, from professional and e-sports teams, to community programs and semi-professional leagues, to equipment manufacturers and venues for digital and physical action. Students will gain a robust foundation of theory and practice to understand why and how ethical and effective communication in the context of sports/athletics has a great impact on society. This broad-based program, then, prepares students for the variety of careers as a sports communication professional, such as sportsbrand manager, sports promotion (public relations or advertising), broadcasting, sports agent, blogger, and many others.

View Sports Communication Course Requirements