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    Oct 06, 2024  
2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Communication


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OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0.

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: A grade of C- or better is required for all other CMJ courses to fulfill a major requirement.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: None.

Contact Information: Paul Grosswiler, Chair, 443 Dunn Hall, 581-1287


The Department of Communication and Journalism offers three different B.A. degrees. These degrees are in: Communication, Journalism, and Mass Communication.

The B.A. in Communication studies how humans use communication to produce cultures, institutions, and even our sense of self. The study of communication asks how we do this, how our basic ability to communicate allows us to weave a powerful web between and within individuals, cultures and organizations. Students pursue such questions as these: How do we use the power of language within personal relationships? How do the stories we tell in conversation provide meaning and significance to the identities we fashion for ourselves, or cultures? What communication practices do we engage in to maintain and build organizations? What rhetorical strategies do we employ to spin new social webs or tear down old ones? How do technologies extend and alter our abilities and practices? By engaging these questions students understand and critically evaluate human communication in their lives and in their careers.

Majors in Communication must complete a minimum of thirty (30) credits of specific CMJ courses and additional coursework external to the major.

The external coursework must include at least 9 credits in the areas of Writing and Language and at least 18 credits of coursework concentrated in an area outside of the CMJ Department.

The 9 credits of coursework in the areas of Writing and Language must include at least 3 credits in each of the two areas (6 credits from one area; 3 credits from the other).  The Writing area includes the following courses: ENG 205,  ENG 206, ENG 212, ENG 301, ENG 317, ENG 415, ENG 416 and ENG 418. CMJ 236 and CMJ 237 can also be used to meet part of this requirement for Communication majors.  The Language area includes: French, German, Spanish, American Sign Language or other non-English languages.  

At least 18 credits of coursework concentrated in an area outside of the CMJ Department must be completed. This requirement can be fulfilled by completing: (a) a Minor in another department, (b) an Interdisciplinary Curricula, or (c) a concentration of 6 courses (18 credits) taken in another department, with at least 12 of the 18 credit hours taken in coursework above the 100 level.  No CMJ or Honors courses can be used to meet any part of this requirement.

Requirements for Communication Majors


For students transferring equivalent courses from other colleges, a minimum of 24 credits of CMJ courses must be taken at the University of Maine for the degree, regardless of the number of equivalent courses accepted in transfer. The faculty will determine equivalency (if any) of transfer courses in the discipline. Some CMJ courses require the completion of one or more prerequisite courses.

A grade of “C-” or better is required in all CMJ courses submitted to satisfy departmental requirements for the major.

Honors students may count their Honors theses as their capstone experience instead of CMJ 485, as long as the topic and the faculty advisor are within the major. Students who count their Honors theses are required to take one additional course (3 credits) other than CMJ 102, 103 or 106 from the Major Course Requirements list below.

Core Course Requirements - 3 courses (9 credits)


Major Course Requirements: 7 courses (21 credits)


Choose from the following list of CMJ courses.  No more than 1 of CMJ 102/103/106; and at least 4 courses (12 credits) at 400 level or above.

Additional credits:


Students MAY take additional credits in department courses beyond the 30 required for the major, but must take at least 72 credit hours outside of CMJ courses.

Suggested curriculum for the B.A. in Communication


First Year - First Semester


First Year - Second Semester


Second Year - First Semester


Second Year - Second Semester


  • CMJ 2xx or 3xx Requirement Credits: 3
  • CMJ External Requirement Credits: 3
  • B.A. Upper Level Requirement Credits: 3
  • **Elective Credits: 6

Third Year - First Semester


  • CMJ 2xx or 3xx Requirement Credits: 3
  • CMJ External Requirement Credits: 3
  • General Education Ethics Credits: 3
  • B.A. Upper Level Requirement Credits: 3
  • **Elective Credits: 3

Third Year - Second Semester


  • CMJ 4xx requirement Credits: 3
  • General Education Science or Mathematics/Statistics Credits:3
  • CMJ External Requirement Credits: 3
  • B.A. Upper Level Requirement Credits: 3
  • **Elective Credits: 3

Fourth Year - First Semester


  • CMJ 4xx Requirement Credits: 6
  • CMJ External Requirement Credits: 9

Fourth Year - Second Semester


**Elective Credits


Elective Credits may be used to meet remaining General Education, college, B.A., or department requirements.

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