Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication (COMC) utilizes Temple's unique setting as an urban institution to prepare students to be tomorrow's communication professionals in the areas of public advocacy; science, health, environmental and risk (SHER); and conflict management. The advocacy area focuses on analyzing and creating strategic messages in socio-political activities and community outreach. The SHER area emphasizes investigating and promoting communication practices about health, the sciences, the environment, and security. The conflict management area focuses on training students to apply communication practices that manage conflict within communities, institutions, and organizations. The Communication major's integrated and dynamic curriculum offers those students who wish to help bring about positive change a gateway to law school, advanced graduate programs, as well as working in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: CO-COMC-BA

Contact Information

Joy Pierce, Chair

Thomas S. Wright, Assistant Chair

Sheila Easley, Senior Administrative Specialist
COMC@temple.edu

Communication Department Office
Weiss Hall, Room 216
215-204-5790

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Communication.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2025-2026. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2025 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Requirements

The degree of Bachelor of Arts may be conferred upon a student majoring in Communication by the recommendation of the faculty and upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 semester hours of credit with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 overall and in the major.

Students must meet the following requirements:

  1. University requirements:
    • All students are required to complete the General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
    • All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses in their major at Temple University. The specific writing-intensive courses for this major are COMC 2696 and COMC 3296.
  2. Lew Klein College of Media and Communication requirements, including KLN 1001 and KLN 1002.
  3. Minimum of 45 credit hours in Communication courses.
  4. Maximum of 59 credit hours may be taken in Communication courses.
  5. A C- or higher grade must be attained in all required Communication courses.
  6. No more than 12 semester hours of transfer credits may be applied to Communication requirements.

BA in Communication Requirements

Communication (COMC) Core Courses
Select one of the following:3
Presentations for Policy Change
Honors Presentations for Policy Change
Presentations for the Digital Workplace
COMC 1112Introduction to Communication3
COMC 1113Persuasion Theory and Practice3
COMC 2111Argumentation and Advocacy3
COMC 2112Communication Theory3
Support Areas: Complete six (6) courses
Two Writing Intensive Courses:
COMC 2696Professional Writing for Science, Health, and Policy Issues3
COMC 3296Speechwriting3
One Methods Course
COMC 3801Communication Research Methods3
One Culture Course
Select one of the following:3
Intercultural Communication
Communication, Culture and Identity
One Experience Course
Select one of the following:3
Study Away Internship
Internship
COMC 3187
Directed Research
Senior Seminar
COMC 4111Careers for Social Impact3
Content Areas: Complete any four (4) courses
Select four of the following:12
Advocacy
Resistance, Protests, and Social Movements
Countercultural Communication: Opposition, Subversion, Transgression
Social Activism and Community Organizing
Podcasting for Civic Engagement
Conflict Management
Conflict and Communication Behavior
Intercultural and Cross-Cultural Conflict
Conflict and Influence: Identity, Emotion and Power
Multiparty Conflict Processes: Dialogue, Facilitation and Multiparty Mediation
Science, Health, Environment and Risk (SHER)
Communication and Behavior Change
Misperceptions and Misinformation
Communication, Attitudes, and Opinion
Narrative Persuasion
Total Credit Hours45

Suggested Academic Plan

Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.

Bachelor of Arts in Communication

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2025-2026 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
Select one of the following: 3
Presentations for Policy Change  
Honors Presentations for Policy Change  
Presentations for the Digital Workplace  
COMC 1112 Introduction to Communication 3
KLN 1001 Klein First-Year Seminar 1
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW]
or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
4
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] 4
 Credit Hours15
Spring
COMC 1113 Persuasion Theory and Practice 3
KLN 1002 Klein College Introduction to Professional Development 1
COMC Content Area Course 3
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Year 2
Fall
COMC 2112 Communication Theory 3
COMC 2696 Professional Writing for Science, Health, and Policy Issues [WI] 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
COMC 2111 Argumentation and Advocacy 3
COMC 3701
Intercultural Communication
or Communication, Culture and Identity
3
COMC Content Area Course 3
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Year 3
Fall
COMC 3801 Communication Research Methods 3
Select one of the following: 3
Study Away Internship  
Internship  
COMC 3187
 
Directed Research  
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Electives 7
 Credit Hours16
Spring
COMC 3296 Speechwriting [WI] 3
COMC Content Area Course 3
Electives 10
 Credit Hours16
Year 4
Fall
COMC Content Area Course 3
Electives 13
 Credit Hours16
Spring
COMC 4111 Careers for Social Impact 3
Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours124

Accelerated Programs

Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The following accelerated program is available to students in the Communication BA:

Lew Klein College of Media and Communication