Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies: Major of Distinction (Thesis Track)

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies.

The Major of Distinction is an academically rigorous program for students who wish to construct an interdisciplinary curriculum that meets their individual interests across the Klein departments. In the Major of Distinction, each student works individually with a faculty advisor from a relevant Klein department to build a curriculum that goes beyond the offered tracks. The student completes five courses, four of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level, and in the senior year completes a two-semester thesis. A student in the Major of Distinction must have completed three semesters of a foreign language (or equivalent with the approval of the Director of Communication Studies) by the time of graduation. If appropriate to the student's research, an advanced methods or theory course may be required by the student's faculty advisor.

Students apply for a Major of Distinction in the second semester of their sophomore year. To be considered, students must be on schedule to complete their Foundational and Core Communications courses by the end of their sophomore year. Also, students must have earned at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in their Foundational and Core Communications courses along with a 3.25 overall GPA. Students must submit an application to the Director of Communication Studies that includes a statement of student's interest, a proposed curriculum, and a support letter from a full-time Klein faculty member willing to act as the student's faculty advisor.

Once accepted into the Major of Distinction and in consultation with his or her faculty advisor and the Director of Communication Studies, each student constructs his or her own curriculum. The curriculum must contain five courses, four of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level, and include courses from at least three of the Klein majors. Courses selected should be designed to lead to the senior-year thesis.

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:

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 the major at Temple University.
2. Lew Klein College of Media and Communication requirements, including KLN 1001.
3. Minimum of 42 s.h. in Communication Studies.
4. Each course that fulfills a requirement for the major must be passed with a C- or better.
5. Maximum of 27 s.h. in any one Klein department may be counted toward the degree.
6. A maximum of 4 s.h. of Internship credit may be counted toward the degree.
7. A maximum of 8 s.h. combined of Independent Study and/or Special Projects may be counted toward the degree.
8. No more than 8 s.h. in Kinesiology and Dance activities courses.
9. Students may participate in study away programs.
10. Transfer students are required to complete a minimum of 24 s.h. of major courses at Temple.

11. 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: Major of Distinction (Thesis Track) Requirements

1. All Communication Studies majors must take the following two foundation courses:

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credit Hours
   CMST 1111	Communication and Public Life	3
   MSP 1021	Introduction to Media Analysis	3
   Total Credit Hours		6

2. All majors will take five additional core courses. Students will select one course each from the categories below (15 credits). Students should plan to meet the prerequisites for courses in their selected track (see below) 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
   ADV 1101	Introduction to Media and Society
   ADV 1102	Introduction to Advertising
   JRN 1111	Journalism and Society
   MSP 1011	Introduction to Media Theory
   Research Methods
   Select one of the following:		3
   ADV 2141	Introduction to Brand Strategy and Research
   JRN 2101	Journalism Research
   MSP 2141	Media Research 1
   Analysis
   Select one of the following:		3
   ADV 2151	Introduction to Art Direction: Visual Communication
   MSP 2421	Media Popular Culture 1
   CSI 1111	Introduction to Public Speaking
   or CSI 1911	Honors Introduction to Public Speaking
   Cross-Cultural Perspectives
   Select one of the following:		3
   CSI 3701	Intercultural Communication
   CSI 3702	Communication, Culture and Identity
   Total Credit Hours		15

   1	Course has prerequisites.

3. In the Major of Distinction, each student works individually with a faculty advisor from a relevant Klein department to build a curriculum that goes beyond that offered by the established tracks.

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credit Hours
   Major of Distinction Coursework		21
   One Klein course at any level		3
   Four 3000+ Klein courses		12
   CMST Thesis Hours		6
   Language Proficiency
   Language 1001 level
   Language 1002 level
   Language 1003 level

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: Major of Distinction Track

Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year