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Communication Studies

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Associate Degrees for Transfer

A.A.-T. in Communication Studies 2.0

The Associate in Arts in Communication Studies for Transfer Degree 2.0 program provides students with a major that fulfills the general requirements for transfer to the California State University. Students with this degree will receive priority admission with junior status to the California State University system. Students should work closely with their Folsom Lake College counselor to ensure that they are taking the appropriate coursework to prepare for majoring in Communication Studies at the institution they wish to transfer to because major and general education requirements may vary for each CSU and the degree may only transfer to specific institutions.



This program has the following completion requirements:



(1) Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:

(A) The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education – Breadth Requirements.

(B) A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.

(2) Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.



ADTs also require that students must earn a C or better or a "P" in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2024

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
COMM 301 Introduction to Public Speaking 3
COMM 321 Interpersonal Communication 3
A minimum of 12 units from the following: 12
List A At least 9 units should come from List A.
COMM 305 Oral Interpretation (3)
COMM 311 Argumentation and Debate (3)
COMM 315 Persuasion (3)
COMM 325 Intercultural Communication (3)
COMM 331 Group Discussion (3)
COMM 363 Introduction to Communication Theory (3)
COMM 341 Organizational Communication (3)
COMM 351 Mass Media and Society (3)
or JOUR 310 Mass Media and Society (3)
A minimum of 3 units from the following: 3
Group B: An additional 3 units from Group B or any course not used in Group A
ANTH 310 Cultural Anthropology (3)
COMM 361 The Communication Experience (3)
ENGWR 301 College Composition and Literature (3)
ENGWR 302 Advanced Composition and Critical Thinking (3)
PSYC 300 General Principles (3)
SOC 300 Introductory Sociology (3)
Total Units: 18

The Associate in Arts in Communication Studies 2.0 for Transfer (AA-T) degree may be obtained by completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, including (a) a minimum grade of "C" (or "P") for each course in the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program, and (b) either the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • explain the history, evolution, and multidisciplinary nature of human communication.
  • analyze evidence and reasoning to identify and provide appropriate and credible support for written and oral communication.
  • demonstrate individual responsibility, integrity, and respect in all communication interactions.
  • design and deliver effective and appropriate written, oral, and/or visual messages in a variety of personal, professional, and social contexts.
  • utilize both nonverbal and verbal communication strategies appropriate for diverse audiences in order to demonstrate communication competency.
  • differentiate amongst various theoretical perspectives within the discipline of Human Communication.

Career Information

Public Information; Human Resources Development; Corporate Training; Motivational Speaking; Political Speech Writing; Broadcasting; Advertising; Public Relations; Teaching; Organizational Administration; Negotiation and Mediation Services; Personnel Management; Customer Service; Corporate Imaging; Campaign Management; Marketing; Community Relations.

Associate Degrees

A.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Communication and English

The Interdisciplinary Studies degree is designed for students who wish a broad knowledge of arts and sciences plus additional coursework in a prescribed “Area of Emphasis”. This program is a good choice for students planning on transferring to the California State University or University of California. The student will be able to satisfy general education requirements, plus focus on transferable coursework that relates to a specific major and/or individual interest. This degree will have an "Area of Emphasis" in Communication and English. These courses emphasize the content of communication as well as the form and should provide an understanding of the psychological basis and the social significance of communication. Students will be able to assess communication as the process of human symbolic interaction. Students will also develop skills in the areas of reasoning and advocacy, organization, accuracy, and reading and listening effectively. Students will be able to integrate important concepts of critical thinking as related to the development of analysis and critical evaluation. Students will also learn to reason inductively and deductively in order to make important decisions regarding life and society at large. (Possible majors at a four-year institution include, but are not limited to: English, communication and philosophy.)



It is highly recommended that students consult a counselor to determine the classes within each area that will best prepare them for their intended transfer major.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2024

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
A minimum of 18 units from the following: 18
You must select courses from three different disciplines.
COMM 301 Introduction to Public Speaking (3)
COMM 311 Argumentation and Debate (3)
COMM 315 Persuasion (3)
COMM 331 Group Discussion (3)
COMM 361 The Communication Experience (3)
ENGRD 310 Critical Reading as Critical Thinking (3)
ENGWR 300 College Composition (3)
ENGWR 301 College Composition and Literature (3)
ENGWR 302 Advanced Composition and Critical Thinking (3)
PHIL 300 Introduction to Philosophy (3)
PHIL 320 Logic and Critical Reasoning (3)
PHIL 325 Symbolic Logic (3)
Total Units: 18

The Interdisciplinary Studies: Communication and English Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus general education requirements, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See FLC graduation requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • analyze critically, argue persuasively, and communicate clearly (Communication and English).

A.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Interdisciplinary Studies degree is designed for students who wish a broad knowledge of arts and sciences plus additional coursework in a prescribed “Area of Emphasis”. This program is a good choice for students planning on transferring to the California State University or University of California. The student will be able to satisfy general education requirements, plus focus on transferable coursework that relates to a specific major and/or individual interest. This degree will have an "Area of Emphasis" in Social and Behavioral Sciences. These courses emphasize the perspectives, concepts, theories, and methodologies of the disciplines typically found in the vast variety of disciplines that comprise study in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students will study about themselves and others as members of a larger society. Topics and discussions to stimulate critical thinking about ways people have acted in response to their societies will allow students to evaluate how societies and social subgroups operate. (Possible majors at a four-year institution include, but are not limited to: history, sociology, social studies, psychology, and family consumer science.)



It is highly recommended that students consult a counselor to determine the classes within each area that will best prepare them for their intended transfer major.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2024

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
A minimum of 18 units from the following: 18
Select courses from at least 3 different disciplines.
ADMJ 300 Introduction to Administration of Justice (3)
ADMJ 302 Community Relations: Multicultural Issues (3)
ADMJ 320 Concepts of Criminal Law (3)
ANTH 310 Cultural Anthropology (3)
ANTH 319 Visual Anthropology: Introduction to Ethnographic Film (3)
ANTH 323 Introduction to Archaeology (3)
ANTH 330 Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion (3)
ANTH 341 Introduction to Linguistics (3)
BUS 320 Concepts in Personal Finance (3)
   or ECON 320 Concepts in Personal Finance (3)
BUS 330 Managing Diversity in the Workplace (3)
BUS 340 Business Law (3)
BUS 345 Law and Society (3)
COMM 325 Intercultural Communication (3)
COMM 341 Organizational Communication (3)
COMM 351 Mass Media and Society (3)
COMM 363 Introduction to Communication Theory (3)
ECON 302 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
ECON 304 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
ECE 312 Child Development (3)
   or PSYC 372 Child Development (3)
ECE 314 The Child, the Family and the Community (3)
ECE 330 Infant and Toddler Development (3)
ECE 430 Culture and Diversity in Early Childhood Education (3)
ETHNS 300 Introduction to Ethnic Studies (3)
ETHNS 320 Introduction to African American Studies (3)
ETHNS 330 Introduction to Asian American Studies (3)
ETHNS 360 Introduction to Chicana/o/x Studies (3)
ETHNS 350 Introduction to Native American Studies (3)
GEOG 310 Human Geography: Exploring Earth's Cultural Landscapes (3)
GEOG 322 Geography of California (3)
HIST 307 History of World Civilizations to 1500 (3)
HIST 308 History of World Civilizations, 1500 to Present (3)
HIST 310 History of the United States (To 1877) (3)
HIST 311 History of the United States (1865 - Present) (3)
HIST 314 Recent United States History (3)
HIST 319 American Environmental History (3)
HIST 331 Women in American History (3)
HIST 344 Survey of California History: A Multicultural Perspective (3)
HIST 368 History of France (3)
JOUR 310 Mass Media and Society (3)
NUTRI 310 Cultural Foods of the World (3)
POLS 301 Introduction to Government: United States (3)
POLS 302 Comparative Politics (3)
POLS 310 Introduction to International Relations (3)
POLS 320 Introduction to Political Theory (3)
PSYC 300 General Principles (3)
PSYC 312 Biological Psychology (4)
PSYC 320 Social Psychology (3)
PSYC 335 Research Methods in Psychology (3)
PSYC 340 Abnormal Behavior (3)
PSYC 356 Human Sexuality (3)
PSYC 368 Cross Cultural Psychology (3)
   or SWHS 331 Cross Cultural Psychology (3)
PSYC 370 Human Development: A Life Span (3)
SJS 300 Introduction to Social Justice Studies (3)
SOC 300 Introductory Sociology (3)
SOC 301 Social Problems (3)
SOC 310 Marriage and the Family (3)
SOC 321 Race, Ethnicity and Inequality in the United States (3)
SOC 341 Sex and Gender in the U.S. (3)
SOC 379 Making Social Change (3)
SWHS 302 Introduction to Psychology of Human Relations (3)
Total Units: 18

The Interdisciplinary Studies: Social and Behavioral Sciences Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus general education requirements, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See FLC graduation requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • evaluate how societies and social subgroups operate (Social and Behavioral Sciences).

Certificate

Applied Communication Skills Certificate

Effective communication skills allow people to improve many areas of their lives, but especially their social, academic, and professional lives. Effective communication skills are among the top skills sought by organizations. The Certificate in Applied Communication Skills provides meaningful and marketable skills designed to further a student's personal, academic and professional growth. Courses in this certificate may be applied towards associate degree and/or transfer requirements.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2024

Certificate Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
COMM 301 Introduction to Public Speaking (3) 3
   or COMM 361 The Communication Experience (3)
A minimum of 9 units from the following: 9
COMM 311 Argumentation and Debate (3)
COMM 315 Persuasion (3)
COMM 321 Interpersonal Communication (3)
COMM 325 Intercultural Communication (3)
COMM 331 Group Discussion (3)
COMM 341 Organizational Communication (3)
COMM 351 Mass Media and Society (3)
Total Units: 12

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • design and relate messages clearly for effective and appropriate oral communication.
  • apply effective listening skills to comprehend spoken messages, analyze information critically, and consider multiple perspectives.
  • compose ideas clearly in effective, appropriate, and well-organized written messages.
  • demonstrate effective communication appropriate to diverse contexts and people.
  • demonstrate and apply effective group communication strategies.
  • demonstrate effective problem solving and conflict resolution skills.

Career Information

Virtually every employer survey identifies effective communication skills as highly desired and sought-after. Students can utilize their Applied Communication Skills in every employment context.