A journey through the WVU COMM Studies degree - Updated 1 March 2012

Department of Communication

Studies

We Do People!

Just got my acceptance letter! I’m a Mountaineer!!!

WVU here I come! Now I just have to pick a major. hmm ….

WVU Programs of Study

I think a degree in Communication Studies would be fun!

WVU Communication Studies

B.A. in Communication Studies

Communication is a liberal studies degree. It includes a variety of types of knowledge and ways of thinking. Students of communication

are interested in all aspects of human communication. While human communication is

unique and varied, there is also much about it that is routine and predictable.

Undergraduate Program Goals

In recent years the faculty has tried to answer the question, “What should Communication Studies majors know when they’ve finished a degree?”

Intended Learning Outcomes:

Outcome 1: Describe the major theories of human communication and apply them to various contexts.

Outcome 2: Critique communication messages from a social science perspective.

Outcome 3: Cite evidence of the impact of communication on human behavior in interpersonal and/or organizational contexts.

Outcome 4: Identify and describe the functions of media in a democratic society.

Outcome 5: Investigate the role of verbal and nonverbal messages in the human communication process.

Outcome 6: Examine the relationship between communication and culture.

Outcome 7: Design and evaluate effective strategies for social influence.

Outcome 8: Examine ethical issues in various communication contexts.

Outcome 9: Evaluate social science criteria to examine communication research.

Outcome 10: Analyze the role of communication in conflict and conflict management.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

The Department of Communication Studies

offers the B.A., the M.A., and

the Ph.D. degrees in Communication

Studies.

The graduate faculty in the Department of Communication Studies

is well known, at both the regional and national level, for accomplishments in research, teaching,

and service.

How do I become a Communication Studies Major?

WVU Communication Studies Major Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION STUDIESApplication for Admission to Major

In order to be eligible for consideration as a major in Communication Studies, the following criteria must be met at the end of the current term:

1. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better.2. Students must complete COMM 200 or COMM 201 with a combined GPA of 2.5 or better. A student must earn no less than a C in either COMM 200 and COMM 201, and no less then a B in the other.3. Students must have a GPA of at least 2.5 in all previous COMM classes.

I’ve made my choice! I’m going to be a COMM Major!

When can I register for Summer and Fall 2012 classes?

You must meet with a Comm Studies Advisor

to lift your advising hold.

Summer & Fall, 2012 Registration Dates

Monday, March 19 - Disabilities, Athletes, Honors SeniorsTuesday March 20 - Honors JuniorsWednesday March 21- Honors SophomoresThursday March 22- Honors FreshmenTuesday April 3- SeniorsThursday April 5- JuniorsMonday April 9- SophomoresWednesday April 11- Freshmen

Just curious… What are the benefits of a Communication Studies Minor?

WVU Communication Studies Minor Benefits

Communication skills are consistently among the most sought after skills in the workplace. No matter what your major is, communication will be an important aspect of your job. A minor allows you to formally document your knowledge of human communication. In addition, most of the courses required for the minor can be used to meet WVU LSP requirements.

What is a Minor in Communication Studies

A minor allows you to formally document your

knowledge of human communication. In

addition, most of the courses required for the

minor can be used to meet WVU LSP requirements.

A minor consists of 15 hours of course work in the following specified areas:

A. YOU MUST TAKE TWO OF THE FOLLOWING: COMM 100 + 102, COMM 103, COMM 104, COMM 105, COMM 112, or COMM 122 (6 hours total)*A 300- or 400-level COMM course may be substituted for one 100 level course in this category

B. YOU MUST TAKE TWO OF THE FOLLOWING THREE CLASSES: COMM 306, COMM 308, or COMM 316 (6 hours total)

C. ONE ADDITIONAL 3-CREDIT 300- OR 400-LEVEL COMM COURSE, EXCLUDING COMM490. (3 hours total)

FAQ For Minor:• What is the Communication Studies

Minor Code?U001

• Do I need to take a foreign language?No

• What GPA do I need to minor in Communication Studies?

You will need to have a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the time of graduation.

• How do I declare my minor? You need to see your academic advisor

PLEASE CONTACT ANDREA WEBER AT acweber@mail.wvu.edu OR BY PHONE,

304.293.3905

On my way to Morgantown! Move in day at WVU!

Saying goodbye was much harder than expected…

TO: MOMI miss you already! I love you!Love, your Mountaineer

TO: DADMy first day of classes! Check this out!

TO: MOMI thought you would enjoy this.. My first time on the PRT- on my way to COMM 105!

TO: DADMy first COMM class and professor! lol

Mom,

I’m loving WVU! I am especially enjoying my COMMUNICATION CLASSES! My professors are awesome!

mountaineer123@mix.wvu.edu

MOM

Checking out WVU’s COMM website and Facebook! Pretty Sweet!

http://communicationstudies.wvu.edu

http://www.facebook.com/#!/wvucommstudies

Hey friend! My Advisor was talking about Lambda Pi Eta. What is it?

LAMBDA PI ETA is a National Communication Honors Society

LAMBDA PI ETA was established in 1985 and was brought to WVU in 2002.

There are 250 chapters nationwideIt is recognized in the Association for College Honor Societies

How do I become a member ofLambda Pi Eta?

Lambda Pi Eta Requirements:

Applicants must have:60 total credit hours (sophomore standing)12 hours in Communication Studies3.0 overall GPA3.25 GPA in Comm StudiesThere is a one time lifetime membership fee

LAMBDA PI ETA BASICS

Each chapter has an advisor, a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer

It is a great opportunity for leadership positions and to make a difference

Applications are available at the WVU Communication Studies website or room 108 Armstrong Hall.

WVU Lambda Pi Eta Activities

LAMBDA PI ETA ACTIVITIESFundraising

Selling t-shirts

Community ServiceTrunk or TreatVolunteering at The Shack

Tutoring fellow Communication Studies members in Comm 200 and 201

Lambda Pi Eta Bonuses

Spring initiation ceremony at the Waterfront Place Hotel

Free foodGet to know faculty and other membersLooks great on job applicationsCertificate and cord for graduation

I wonder what other people think about the WVU Comm Department…. Hmmm….

Alexandria Kincaid ‘07“I will remember my internship experience for the rest of my life. The

organizational and communication skills I learned as well as the networks I

made will prove to be valuable throughout graduate school and my future career.”

Meagan Birmingham ’08“Becoming a communication studies major has

been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my

life. Overall it has made me more confident in

my abilities when venturing out into the

working world and allowed me the opportunity

to learn about myself and grow as an individual

so that I am prepared for a variety of ‘real world’ situations.”

I believe the Capstone course alone helped me secure the position through interview practice and resume building.

It has helped me identify and deal with different

personality types.

helped improve communication

skills

I’m in sales so I think Comm

Studies played a large role.

I was prepared to own my own business

How did Communication Studies help the

Alumni?

Higher level of thinking

and questioning.

The Capstone course alone helped me secure the position through interview

practice and resume building.

It has helped me identify and deal with different

personality types.

helped improve communication

skills

I’m in sales so I think Comm

Studies played a large role.

I was prepared to own my own business

How did Communication Studies help the

Alumni?

Communication Studies

forNow and in the

future!

Advice from Graduating Communication Studies Major: Get to know your professors. Talk to them after class. See them during office hours.

Advice from Graduating Communication Studies Major: Keep everything! Papers, projects, workbooks for future classes and your portfolio!

Do your internship early. Do two if possible

Advice from Graduating Communication Studies Major: Do your internship early. Do two if possible

Get work experience related to what you want to do when you graduate.

Advice from Graduating Communication Studies Major:

Get work experience related to what you want to do when you graduate.

These are details skills learned during my time at WVU. Some skills that were used in all positions throughout my career. ~Katherine Thweatt

• U.S. Government

• Private Sector

• Teaching Positions

• US Government

Data Analysis, Professional

Relationships, Assessment,

Measurement, Report Preparation, Content

Analysis,

Teaching, Content, Departmental

Participation, IRB, Hiring,

Methodology, Statistics, Problem Solving, Thinking

Course Coordination, Methodology, Publication, Planning, Hiring, IRB Procedures, Collegiality, Data Analysis, Programming (SAS made SQL Easy), Data Structure,

Database Establishment, Understanding Variables,

Presentations, Conference Participation, Communicating with

Anyone, Confidence to Apply skills in Health Care Environment, Self-Report

Development, Training

People Management, Program development, Protocol Development,

Manuscript Preparation, Manuscript Submission, Data

Assessment, Documentation,

Argumentation, Conference Attendance, Professional

Relationship Maintenance, Research, Measurement,

Data Querying

WVU Advising

Advising sessions beginMarch 8, 2012

You can now scheduleOnline!Go to:

http://WVUCOMMUNICATIONSTUD.ClickBook.net

Does anyone know the role of my academic advisor?

Your advisors are there to answer your questions, help solve your problems, and in some cases act as an

advocate for you when dealing with problems. They are not there to schedule your classes or get you into closed classes, and they are not responsible for your

errors.

I need some information about

WVU’s Career Services. Help!

Career Services-

304-293-2221 phone

What does WVU Career Services do?

mountaineer123@mix.wvu.edu

help@wvu.edu

-Assists students in finding jobs after college.

-Assists students in finding the field of study they are interested in.

-Hold career fairs to help employers find future job prospects.

… and MUCH MORE!

WVU Career Services

What is a Professional Field Experience?

History of the Field of Communication Studies

Communication Studies is descended from the ancient field of rhetoric. Defined by Aristotle as “knowing in each case, the available means of persuasion,” rhetoric was treated as an art form. This conceptualization persisted for the next 2400 years until the early 1900’s. At that point, scholars in this field began to wonder what the field had actually accomplished in all that time

I wonder if I have to do an internship…

All students are required to complete three credit hours of Comm 491. In most cases, the most relevant form of experience for Communication Studies careers is an internship. However, if you are interested in research-perhaps continuing on to graduate school, you may work on a research project. You must make sure your project is first approved by Andrea Weber.

Do I have to register for my Professional Field

Experience?

Yes! You must be registered for three credit hours of COMM 491 during the semester in which you complete your internship. You also need permission from PFE Coordinator (108 Armstrong Hall) to obtain permission to register. Permission can be obtained by providing a job description on letterhead for the organization you wish to work to the PFE Coordinator.three

I wonder how many hours I have to work for my internship…

PROFESSIONAL FIELD EXPERIENCE

Professional Field Experience requires students to spend 144 hours working in a professional environment in order to earn

three credit hours of 491 (what is required for graduation). This averages to about 9 hours a

week for an entire semester.

I did an internship this summer. Can I count

that?

No!

We do not allow internships to count retroactively. This is why it is so important for you to get your internship approved prior to completing it.

How do I obtain a Professional Field Experience/Internship?

There are a number of ways you can obtain an internship. You may get one on your own or through the Department of Communication Studies.

Being a Comm Major and Mountaineer

ROCKS!!!!

Now that I have my B.A. in Communication Studies… What do I do now?

So many

choices!

Go to: http://communicationstudies.wvu.edu/

And check out the Masters programs!

You can choose to work and get your Masters degree in a little as 2 years!

M.A. Corporate and Organizational Communication

Providing flexibility, classes typically include both Friday evening and all day Saturday on two weekends and an online component.

Students complete 36 hours of coursework usually over two years. Upon completion of coursework and a comprehensive exam, students are awarded the degree.

Program Coordinator: Dr Danielle Dolin-Bane

danielle.dolin-bane@mail.wvu.edu

More information can be found at:bit.ly/wvucorporatema

M.A. Instructional Communication

Classes are taught four weeks each summer in Charleston, Clarksburg, Parkersburg, and Wheeling. The program is designed for the professional educator who is employed full-time in the education setting.

Students complete 36 hours of coursework usually over two years. Upon completion of coursework and a comprehensive exam, students are awarded the degree.

Program Coordinator: Dr Matt Martinmmartin@wvu.edu

http://communicationstudies.wvu.edu/grad/ma-in-instructional-communication

M.A. Communication & Research

One Year, On-Campus Master’s Program 2012-2013

The deadline for application for admission is April 2, 2012

Contact: Dr. Keith Weber

kaweber98@yahoo.com

http://communicationstudies.wvu.edu/grad/ma

Ph.D., Communication Studies 2012-2013 Deadline

Ph.D., Communication Studies

2012-2013

The deadline for application for admission for the 2012-2013

academic year is February 3, 2012.

Contact Dr. Rebecca Chory Rebecca.chory@mail.wvu.edu

http://communicationstudies.wvu.edu/grad/phd

THE DAILY NEWScommunicationstudies.wvu.edu Communication Studies in the News! - 2011-2012

THE DAILY NEWScommunicationstudies.wvu.edu Communication Studies in the News! - 2011-2012

THE DAILY NEWScommunicationstudies.wvu.edu Communication Studies in the News! - 2011-2012

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Congratulations Renee Kisner25 years with

WVUAnd the

DepartmentOf

CommunicationStudies