Requirements for Major in Applied Communication Studies

General Education courses must have been completed prior to the student’s declaration of a major.

Students must complete 36 credit hours in the major area of study and also complete at least 18 credit hours in a minor area of study. Students need a total of 124 credit hours to graduate (not including AD credits).

Majors must complete core requirements (12 credit hours) as well as track-specific required courses and applied communication studies elective courses at the 200 level or above. All Applied Communication Studies majors are required to pursue a minor course of study in addition to fulfilling the core and the track-specific requirements.

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 to remain in good academic standing. Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation, returned to undeclared status, and limited to a maximum of 12 hours of enrollment per term.

Graduation Requirements for Bachelor of Science in Applied Communication Studies:

• complete all general education requirements
• complete all specific program/track requirements
• complete all requirements for academic minor
• receive a C or higher in ACS 329 Communication Research Methods and ACS 330 Theories of Communication
• have a GPA of 2.0 or above for coursework completed at SIUE
• file an Application for Graduation by the first day of the term in which you plan to graduate

Graduation Requirements for Bachelor of Arts in Applied Communication Studies:

• complete all general education requirements, including 8 credit hours of the same foreign language as well as 4 courses in fine and performing arts in lieu of 4 life sciences, physical sciences, or social sciences courses
• complete all specific program/track requirements
• complete all requirements for academic minor
• receive a C or higher in ACS 329 Communication Research Methods and ACS 330 Theories of Communication
• have a GPA of 2.0 or above for coursework completed at SIUE
• file an Application for Graduation by the first day of the term in which you plan to graduate
  
  

Track-Specific Requirements

Notes:

• ACS 111 Introduction to Speech Communication does not count for major credit.
• For ACS 309 Independent Projects in Applied Communication Studies, ACS 419 Special Topics in Applied Communication Studies, and ACS 491Internship in Applied Communication Studies: no more than 3 credit hours, per course, may be counted toward the 36-hour major.
  
  

Interpersonal Communication Track

Prerequisites

(6 credit hours)

• ACS 101 Public Speaking
• ACS 103 Interpersonal Communication Skills

Core Requirements

(12 credit hours)

• ACS 200 Advanced Public Speaking (Grade C or better)
• ACS 329 Research Methods (Grade C or better)
• ACS 330 Communication Theory (Grade C or better)
• ACS 424 Senior Project in Interpersonal Communication

Track-Specific Courses

(15 credit hours of required courses + 9 credit hours of elective courses)

Required courses:

• ACS 201 Small Group Communication
• ACS 323 Interpersonal Communication Theory and Applications
• ACS 421 Computer Mediated Communication
• ACS 422 Family Communication
• ACS 434 Nonverbal Communication

Recommended electives:

• ACS 203 Introduction to Organizational Communication
• ACS 210 Interracial Communication
• ACS 304 Communication and Conflict
• ACS 305 Listening
• ACS 311 Intercultural Communication
• ACS 331 Gender and Communication
• ACS 423 Topics in Interpersonal Communication
• ACS 430 Persuasion and Social Influence
• ACS 433 Language and Communication
• ACS 491 Internship in Applied Communication
  
  

Corporate and Organizational Communication Track

Prerequisites

(6 credit hours)

• ACS 101 Public Speaking
• ACS 103 Interpersonal Communication Skills

Core Requirements

(12 credit hours)

• ACS 200 Advanced Public Speaking (Grade C or better)
• ACS 329 Research Methods (Grade C or better)
• ACS 330 Communication Theory (Grade C or better)
• ACS 409 Senior Project in Corporate and Organizational Communication

Track-Specific Courses

(15 credit hours of required courses + 9 credit hours of elective courses)

Required courses:

• ACS 203 Introduction to Organizational Communication
• ACS 300 Communication in Interviewing
• ACS 303 Training and Development

• ACS 304 Conflict and Communication
• ACS 403 Organizational Communication Theory and Application (Grade C or better)
  
  

Recommended electives:

• ACS 201 Small Group Communication
• ACS 210 Interracial Communication
• ACS 213 Introduction to Public Relations
• ACS 311 Intercultural Communication
• ACS 323 Interpersonal Communication Theory and Application
• ACS 331 Gender and Communication
• ACS 370 Health Communication
• ACS 430 Persuasion and Social Influence
• ACS 434 Nonverbal Communication
• ACS 491 Internship in Applied Communication
  
  

Public Relations Track

Prerequisites

(6 credit hours)

• ACS 101 Public Speaking
• ACS 103 Interpersonal Communication Skills

Core Requirements

(12 credit hours)

• ACS 200 Advanced Public Speaking (Grade C or better)
• ACS 329 Research Methods (Grade C or better)
• ACS 330 Communication Theory (Grade C or better)
• ACS 415 Public Relations Campaigns II: Implementation and Evaluation

(Senior Project in Public Relations)

Track-Specific Courses

(18 credit hours of required courses + 6 credit hours of elective courses)

Required courses:

• ACS 213 Introduction to Public Relations
• ACS 312 Public Relations Theory and Applications
• ACS 313 Public Relations Writing (blocked with 315)
• ACS 315 Technology Applications in Public Relations (blocked with 313)
• ACS 413 Case Studies in Public Relations
• ACS 414 Public Relations Campaigns I: Research and Planning
• ACS 415 Public Relations Campaigns II: Implementation and Evaluation

Recommended electives:

• ACS 201 Small Group Communication
• ACS 210 Interracial Communication
• ACS 300 Communication in Interviewing
• ACS 304 Communication and Conflict
• ACS 311 Intercultural Communication
• ACS 331 Gender and Communication
• ACS 430 Persuasion and Social Influence
• ACS 431 Public Relations Visual Communication
• ACS 432 Social Media for Public Relations
• ACS 434 Nonverbal Communication
• ACS 470 Risk and Crisis Communication
• ACS 491 Internship in Applied Communication