About

Are you interested in journalism, media studies, public relations or interpersonal/organizational communication? Would you like to put your skills to the test to improve the quality of life of others?

Pursue a dynamic career in communication and become a competitive professional in the national workforce. The School of Communication educates tomorrow's leaders today, through rigorous course study, professional training using cutting-edge technologies and through collaboration with business professionals and community leaders.

With an exceptional internship program and a plethora of real-world opportunities offered through student organizations including the National Broadcast Society and the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter, you will have the experience, training and the network to enter the field you choose.

ECU Advantage

Our students shine at internship placements including NBC, TNT, MTV, Live Nation, Pittsburgh Sports Radio, E!, Man v. Food, with major athletic teams and in high profile public relations firms. Some of our most famous alumni include Scott Avett (Avett Brothers) and Emily Procter (CSI: Miami). Our most celebrated future success story? You.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Laura C. Prividera (102 Joyner East; 252-328-5304; privideral@ecu.edu)

The Communication, BS has concentrations in interpersonal/organizational communication, journalism, media studies and public relations. Students must be admitted to the School of Communication prior to pursuing a major. Admission may be requested upon acceptance to ECU. Students are required to meet with a School of Communication's advisor in order to apply. Entering freshmen must have a minimum 3.0 un-weighted high school GPA before declaring the major.

To continue as a communication major, the student must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher for the interpersonal/organizational and media studies concentrations. The journalism and public relations concentrations require students to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

A continuing or transfer student may apply for admittance their first semester at ECU. Transfer of writing courses and core skill courses in public relations and journalism from outside institutions will be considered on a case by case basis. Transcripts from the institution of transfer, a syllabus and writing or production samples may be requested.​

A minimum grade of C- (1.7) is required in all COMM courses that count toward the major. In addition, a minimum grade of C- (1.7) must be achieved in all COMM prerequisites before students can advance in the curriculum.

Students majoring in communication cannot minor in communication.

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

    2. Core - 6 s.h.
    • COMM 1001 - Introduction to Communication
    • COMM 1003 - Introduction to Mass Media
    3. Concentration area - 33-36 s.h.

    (Choose one)

      Interpersonal/Organizational Communication - 33 s.h.
        Concentration core - 21 s.h.
        • COMM 2010 - Communication Criticism
        • COMM 2030 - Communication Research
        • COMM 2410 - Public Speaking
        • COMM 3110 - Persuasion Theories
        • COMM 3142 - Small Group Communication
        • COMM 3152 - Interpersonal Communication
        • COMM 3160 - Organizational Communication
        Choose 3 s.h. from:
        • COMM 3172 - Media Effects
        • COMM 3190 - Health Communication
        • COMM 3380 - Mediated Communication
        • COMM 3550 - Social Media and Strategic Communication
        • COMM 4032 - Mass Media Law
        • COMM 4040 - Media, Culture, and Society
        • COMM 4905 - Media Ethics
        Choose 3 s.h. from:
        • COMM 3180 - Intercultural Communication
        • COMM 3700 - Race, Ethnicity and Media
        • COMM 4135 - Gender and Communication
        Choose 3 s.h. COMM electives
          Capstone course - 3 s.h.
          • COMM 4060 - Special Problems in Communication OR
          • COMM 4080 - Senior Communication Capstone
        Journalism - 36 s.h.
          Concentration core - 21 s.h.
          • COMM 2225 - Video News Production
          • COMM 2300 - Journalism Foundations
          • COMM 2340 - Development of American Journalism
          • COMM 2500 - Media Writing and Reporting
          • COMM 3390 - International News
          • COMM 3393 - Producing the News
          • COMM 3421 - In-Depth Reporting
          Choose 9 s.h. from:
          • COMM 3300 - Entrepreneurial Journalism
          • COMM 3310 - Copy Editing and Design
          • COMM 3330 - Feature Writing
          • COMM 3350 - Creative Design in Publishing
          • COMM 3430 - Electronic News Performance
          • COMM 3500 - Web Design for Communication Professionals
          • COMM 3550 - Social Media and Strategic Communication
          • COMM 4091 - Internship–Seminar
          Choose 3 s.h. from:
          • COMM 3172 - Media Effects
          • COMM 3520 - Sports Media Survey
          • COMM 3700 - Race, Ethnicity and Media
          • COMM 4032 - Mass Media Law
          • COMM 4040 - Media, Culture, and Society
          • COMM 4046 - Digital and Media Literacy
          • COMM 4135 - Gender and Communication
          • COMM 4905 - Media Ethics
          Capstone course - 3 s.h.
          • COMM 4300 - Multimedia Storytelling Capstone
        Media Studies - 33 s.h.
          Concentration core - 18 s.h.
          • COMM 2010 - Communication Criticism
          • COMM 2030 - Communication Research
          • COMM 2410 - Public Speaking
          • COMM 3110 - Persuasion Theories
          • COMM 3172 - Media Effects
          • COMM 4040 - Media, Culture, and Society
          Choose 6 s.h. from:
          • COMM 3380 - Mediated Communication
          • COMM 3500 - Web Design for Communication Professionals
          • COMM 3520 - Sports Media Survey
          • COMM 3550 - Social Media and Strategic Communication
          • COMM 4046 - Digital and Media Literacy
          Choose 3 s.h. from:
          • COMM 3180 - Intercultural Communication
          • COMM 3700 - Race, Ethnicity and Media
          • COMM 4135 - Gender and Communication
          Choose 3 s.h from:
          • COMM 3142 - Small Group Communication
          • COMM 3152 - Interpersonal Communication
          • COMM 3160 - Organizational Communication
          • COMM 3190 - Health Communication
          • COMM 4091 - Internship–Seminar
          • COMM 4130 - Conflict and Communication
          Capstone course - 3 s.h.
          • COMM 4060 - Special Problems in Communication OR
          • COMM 4080 - Senior Communication Capstone
        Public Relations - 33 s.h.
          Concentration core - 15 s.h.
          • COMM 2030 - Communication Research
          • COMM 2120 - Public Relations Principles
          • COMM 3104 - Public Relations and Corporate Writing

          • COMM 4032 - Mass Media Law OR
          • COMM 4905 - Media Ethics

          • COMM 4180 - Public Relations Strategies
          Choose 9 s.h. from:
          • COMM 2225 - Video News Production
          • COMM 2410 - Public Speaking
          • COMM 3310 - Copy Editing and Design
          • COMM 3350 - Creative Design in Publishing
          • COMM 3430 - Electronic News Performance
          • COMM 3500 - Web Design for Communication Professionals
          • COMM 3540 - Digital Media for Communication Campaigns
          • COMM 3550 - Social Media and Strategic Communication
          • COMM 4046 - Digital and Media Literacy
          • COMM 4091 - Internship–Seminar
          Choose 3 s.h. from:
          • COMM 3180 - Intercultural Communication
          • COMM 3390 - International News
          • COMM 3700 - Race, Ethnicity and Media
          • COMM 4135 - Gender and Communication
          • COMM 4185 - International Public Relations
          Choose 3 s.h. from:
          • COMM 3110 - Persuasion Theories
          • COMM 3160 - Organizational Communication
          • COMM 3172 - Media Effects
          • COMM 3190 - Health Communication
          • COMM 3520 - Sports Media Survey
          • COMM 4040 - Media, Culture, and Society
          • COMM 4130 - Conflict and Communication
          Capstone course - 3 s.h.
          • COMM 4500 - Public Relations Campaigns
      4. Minor and/or electives to complete requirements for graduation.

      Students who major in communication cannot minor in communication.

        For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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