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 list of approved general education courses is available here .
- 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, should they apply.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 39 | |
| * | 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 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Communication Requirements: | ||
Students must complete the following 19 credits of coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be admitted to the professional 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 189 | Skills for Academic Success | 1 |
| COMM 212 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 214 | Persuasive Speaking | 3 |
| Professional Strategic Communication Major | ||
| COMM 200 | Introduction to Media Writing | 3 |
| COMM 216 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMM 375 | Principles of Strategic Communication | 3 |
| COMM 377 | Advertising Media Planning | 3 |
| COMM 425 | Specialty Writing | 3 |
| COMM 431 | Communication Ethics and Law | 3 |
| COMM 472 | Public Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| or COMM 476 | Advertising Campaign Practicum | |
| or COMM 480 | Health Communication II | |
| COMM 496 | Field Experience | 3 |
| Select one from 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 | ||
| Electives: | 18 | |
| Six COMM courses or approved Applied Health courses selected in consultation with one's advisor. Students can specialize in Advertising, Public Relations, or Health Communication. | ||
| Total Credits | 64 | |
Program Note: Student enrollment is limited to one degree program offered by the Department of Communication.
Minor Requirements
Strategic Communication Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 21
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 112 | Understanding Media and Social Change | 3 |
| COMM 200 | Introduction to Media Writing | 3 |
| COMM 375 | Principles of Strategic Communication | 3 |
| Professional Specialization Electives: | 12 | |
| Business and Professional Speaking | ||
| Photography for the Media | ||
| Principles of Design For Print | ||
| Advertising Creative Strategies | ||
| Advertising Media Planning | ||
| Health Communication I | ||
| Patient-Provider Communication | ||
| Specialty Writing | ||
| Critical Approaches to Popular Culture | ||
| Digital Media and Society | ||
| Convergence Media | ||
| Public Relations Campaigns | ||
| Advertising Campaign Practicum | ||
| Health Communication II | ||
| 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.
- Student enrollment is limited to one degree program offered by the Department of Communication.
- A minimum of 9 credits must be taken at NDSU.
