Strategic Communication
A major or minor in strategic communication prepares students to conduct research and design messages in order to communicate effectively with various publics. After completing the core courses in the major or minor, students can specialize in advertising, health communication, or public relations.
Major Requirements
Major: Strategic Communication
Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 122
General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree
- A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
- General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Experience (F) | 1 | |
| Skills For Academic Success (Also offered with the following prefixes: ABEN, AGRI, BUSN, HD&E, ME, NURS, PHRM) | ||
| Communication (C) | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (R) † | 3 | |
| Science and Technology (S) † | 10 | |
| Humanities and Fine Arts (A) † | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) † | 6 | |
| Wellness (W) † | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D) *† | ||
| Global Perspectives (G) *† | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | May be satisfied with courses required in the major. Review major requirements to determine if a specific upper division writing course is required. |
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree – The completion of a minor program of study, a second major, or a second degree is required.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree – Second year language proficiency at college level required.
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences College Requirements
An additional 9 credits are required by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for all Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree programs of study, except the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, the Bachelor of Music degree, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree, and the Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AH&SS College Requirements | ||
Courses used to satisfy any general education requirement cannot be used to also count toward the AH&SS College Requirements. A minimum of three credits is required in each of the 3 following areas for a total of 9 credits. Choose only those courses with the prefixes listed for each area. A course with the WGS prefix can only be used in one area. | ||
| Area One: Humanities | 3 | |
ARB, ENGL, FREN, GERM, HIST, HUM, PHIL, RELS, SPAN, or WGS | ||
| Area Two: Social Sciences | 3 | |
ANTH, CJ, COMM, EMGT, POLS, SOC, or WGS | ||
| Area Three: Fine Arts | 3 | |
ARCH, ART, ENVD, LA, MUSC, or THEA | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Experience (F): | ||
| UNIV 189 | Skills For Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take UNIV 189.) | 1 |
| Communication (C): | ||
| ENGL 110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | College Composition II | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Business and Professional Writing | ||
| Writing in the Technical Professions | ||
| Creative Writing | ||
| Writing in the Sciences | ||
| Writing in the Health Professions | ||
| Visual Culture and Language | ||
| Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences | ||
| Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal | ||
| COMM 110 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (R): Select from current education list | 3 | |
| Science & Technology (S): | 10 | |
A one-credit lab must be taken as a co-requisite with a general education science/technology course unless the course includes an embedded lab experience equivalent to a one-credit course. Select from current general education list. | ||
| Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): | 6 | |
Courses needed to fulfill this category will be completed as part of the pre-communication requirements. | ||
| Wellness (W): Select from current general education list | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D): | ||
| COMM 216 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| Global Perspective: Select from current general education list | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 40 | |
| AH&SS College Requirements | 9 | |
| Pre-Communication Requirements: | ||
Students must complete the following 21 credits of selected courses with a grade of 'B' or 'A' to be a communication major. These courses may be repeated only once for grade improvement.. | ||
| ENGL 120 | College Composition II | 3 |
| COMM 110 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM 112 | Understanding Media and Social Change | 3 |
| COMM 114 | Human Communication | 3 |
| COMM 212 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 216 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Criminal Justice | ||
| Introduction to Political Science | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Professional Strategic Communication Major | ||
| COMM 200 | Introduction to Media Writing | 3 |
| COMM 301 | Rhetorical Traditions | 3 |
| or COMM 321 | Introduction to Communication Theory | |
| COMM 375 | Principles of Strategic Communication | 3 |
| COMM 431 | Communication Ethics and Law | 3 |
| COMM 465 | Convergence Media (Capstone) | 3 |
| COMM 474 | Communication Campaigns | 3 |
| COMM 477 | 3 | |
| COMM 496 | Field Experience | 3 |
| Major Electives | 12 | |
| 12 credits of 300-400 level COMM courses directed toward area(s) of specialization - Advertising, Health Communication, or Public Relations. Additional specializations may be added in the future. Consult with your advisor for current options and recommended electives. | ||
| Degree Requirements: Potential of 28 credits to reach 122. | 28 | |
| Total Credits | 122 | |
NOTES:
- Students specializing in Health Communication can apply up to 9 credits in Applied Health areas - Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science; Nursing; Pharmacy Practice; Psychology - toward major electives. These credits must be distinct from those being applied to the student's Minor requirements.
- No more than 6 credits from this communication major may be applied to any minor in the Department of Communication.
Minor Requirements
Strategic Communication Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 21
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| COMM 112 | Understanding Media and Social Change | 3 |
| COMM 200 | Introduction to Media Writing | 3 |
| COMM 375 | Principles of Strategic Communication | 3 |
| Professional Specialization | 12 | |
| Advanced Media Writing | ||
| Advertising Creative Strategies | ||
| Advertising Media Planning | ||
| Communication Ethics and Law | ||
| Convergence Media | ||
| Communication Campaigns | ||
| Organizational Advocacy and Issue Management | ||
| Risk and Crisis Communication | ||
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.75 in courses applied to the minor.
- No more than 6 credits from this communication minor may be applied to any major in the Department of Communication.
- A minimum of 9 credits must be taken at NDSU.
