Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies is a studies-based interdisciplinary major. It features the academic (aesthetic, analytical, critical, historical, theoretical) and interdisciplinary study of communication as represented by the departments included within the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication.
Designed to ensure flexibility and choice, Communication Studies allows students a chance to fully investigate multiple fields in the communications discipline. Emphasis is placed on providing an overview of Communication while also accentuating personal academic growth. Personal choice and options allow students a chance to complete the degree in a timely manner.
In this interdisciplinary program, Communication Studies students must select one of the following concentrations as a distinctive area of investigation:
- Communication and Entrepreneurship
- Contemporary Media Environments
- Global and Community Engagement
- Production (for Temple Japan students only)
- Communication Studies Thesis (the Major of Distinction concentration, which is available for advanced scholars)
The flexibility of the Communication Studies program offers students access to the field experiences, internships and study away experiences vital to a comprehensive education. Students with a number of skill sets and academic interest areas are often drawn to this innovative program and graduates are poised for a number of professional and academic possibilities, such as graduate, law or professional school. Graduates of this program will be well-suited to pursue a variety of positions across numerous aspects of the communications field.
Students receive cross-curricular expertise through foundation and core courses. Academic rigor and student choice are at the very core of the program. Choices allow a student flexibility, and curricular oversight ensures a solid, academically robust education. Courses are designed to allow student progress to be monitored at yearly intervals. Experiential learning is promoted, particularly during the junior and senior years. Cross cultural exchanges and experiences are integral aspects of the program's design. Advanced scholars have a distinct and individualized concentration.
Global and Community Engagement Concentration
The Global and Community Engagement concentration examines the growth and impact of the worldwide community, emphasizing its historical development and its role in the expanding international public sphere. Courses cover a range of topics, including public diplomacy and the influence of global media, while also focusing on international public opinion. The concentration also examines citizen engagement within communication, shaped by policy and regulation, providing students with historical and contemporary examples of public action. An in-depth look at social movements, civic journalism, and artistic expression offers insight into issues of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and environmental activism.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: CO-CMST-BA
Contact Information
Scott Gratson, PhD, Program Director
Annenberg Hall, Room 9C
215-204-6434
sgratson@temple.edu
Kisha Hence, Assistant Program Director
Annenberg Hall, Room 9C
215-204-6603
khence@temple.edu
Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies.
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 Studies by the recommendation of the faculty and upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 semester hours (s.h.) of credit with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 overall and in the major. Students must meet:
- 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 the major at Temple University.
- Lew Klein College of Media and Communication requirements, including KLN 1001 and KLN 1002.
- Minimum of 42 s.h. in Communication Studies.
- Each course that fulfills a requirement for the major must be passed with a C- or better.
- Maximum of 30 s.h. in any one Klein department may be counted toward the degree.
- A maximum of 4 s.h. of Internship credit may be counted toward the degree.
- A maximum of 8 s.h. combined of Independent Study and/or Special Projects may be counted toward the degree.
- No more than 8 s.h. in Kinesiology and Dance activities courses.
- Students may participate in study away programs.
- Transfer students are required to complete a minimum of 24 s.h. of major courses at Temple.
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Communication Studies majors may minor in established Klein minors. The Communication Studies student who declares a minor must complete the entire program requirements for both the major and the minor. Courses listed for both the Communication Studies major and Klein minor will only apply towards one of the curriculums. If the class is part of an array of courses, students will be required to take a different course to satisfy the major requirement.
Communication Studies: Global and Community Engagement Concentration Requirements
- All Communication Studies majors must take two foundation courses:
Course List Code Title Credit Hours CMST 1111 Communication and Public Life 3 Select one of the following: 3 Introduction to Media Analysis Communicating Organizational Change Global Communication and Leadership Total Credit Hours 6 - All majors will take five additional core courses. Students will select one course each from the categories below. Students should plan to meet the prerequisites for courses in their selected concentration by taking appropriate core courses.
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Core Courses CMST 2111 Communications Seminar 1 3 Communication Theory Select one of the following: 3 Introduction to Media and Society Introduction to Advertising Journalism and Society Introduction to Media Theory Research Methods Select one of the following: 3 Introduction to Brand Strategy and Research Journalism Research Media Research 1 Analysis Select one of the following: 3 Introduction to Art Direction: Visual Communication Presentations for Policy Change or COMC 1911Honors Presentations for Policy Change Media and Popular Culture 1 Cross-Cultural Perspectives Select one of the following: 3 Intercultural Communication Communication, Culture and Identity Total Credit Hours 15 - 1
Course has prerequisites.
- In consultation with a faculty advisor, a student must take seven courses (minimum 21 credits) from the list below.
- Within the concentration, a student must take at least one course from at least three different departments.
- At least four courses in the concentration must be taken at the 3000 or 4000 level. At least one of these four must be taken at the 4000 level.
- Students must have met the prerequisites for courses in their concentration by taking the appropriate core courses (see above).
- All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses in the major. Writing-intensive courses end in the numbers 96, 97 and 98 and are noted (WI) in the list below.
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Global and Community Engagement Concentration Options Select seven courses (minimum 21 credits) from the following: 21 Advanced Writing for Academic and Professional Communication Persuasion Theory and Practice Resistance, Protests, and Social Movements Argumentation and Advocacy Speechwriting Social Activism and Community Organizing Communication, Culture and Identity 1 Journalism Law and Ethics Photography Documentary Photography Experimental Journalism Race and Racism in the News Ethical Issues in Journalism Gender and American Mass Media Journalism and Globalization The Entrepreneurial Journalist Foreign Studies in Journalism Understanding Media and Its Power Travel Writing (WI) 2 The Video Game Industry and Game Culture Technology and Culture Media Images and Analysis Media and Cultural Differences Media and the Environment Media and Social Justice Information Technology Policy Public Media Law and Ethics of Digital Media Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Media Representation Psychological Processing of Media The Role of Information in Society Media Campaigns for Social Change Media and Globalization (WI) Media and Children (WI) Mobile Media British Media and Telecommunication Leading Groups and Team Building Total Credit Hours 21 - 1
Courses in various categories can only be counted once.
- 2
Permission of Klein Study Away Director or Assistant Director required.
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 Studies with a Concentration in Global and Community Engagement
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2025-2026 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| CMST 1111 | Communication and Public Life | 3 |
| Select one of the following (Communication Theory): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Media and Society | ||
| Introduction to Advertising | ||
| Journalism and Society | ||
| Introduction to Media Theory | ||
| 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 | |
| KLN 1001 | Klein First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| KLN 1002 | Klein College Introduction to Professional Development | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Media Analysis | ||
| Communicating Organizational Change | ||
| Global Communication and Leadership | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMST 2111 | Communications Seminar | 3 |
| Select one of the following (Analysis): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Art Direction: Visual Communication | ||
| Presentations for Policy Change or Honors Presentations for Policy Change | ||
| Media and Popular Culture | ||
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | 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 Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following (Cross-Cultural Perspectives): | 3 | |
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Communication, Culture and Identity | ||
| Select one of the following (Research Methods): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Brand Strategy and Research | ||
| Journalism Research | ||
| Media Research | ||
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| One GCE Concentration Course - any level | 3 | |
| One Writing-Intensive GCE Concentration Course - any level | 3 | |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| One 3000-4999 GCE Concentration Course | 3 | |
| One 3000-4999 GCE Concentration Course | 3 | |
| Electives | 10 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| One 3000-4999 Writing-Intensive GCE Concentration Course | 3 | |
| One GCE Concentration Course - any level | 3 | |
| Electives | 10 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| One 4000-4999 GCE Concentration Course | 3 | |
| Electives | 13 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 124 | |
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 programs are available to students in the Communication Studies BA:
Lew Klein College of Media and Communication