Curriculum
Major and Minor Requirements
40 credits
Students are required to complete 40 credits for the Strategic Commuinication Studies major with or without a concentration and 48 credits to complete the major if they complete both concentrations. Students can choose one of three paths through the major:
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- Choose their own path
- Choose to complete one of the two concentrations (Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing or Public Advocacy Leadership)
- Choose to complete both concentrations, which requires completion of an additional 8 credits of Communication courses
Foundation Courses:
(16 credits)
- COMM 102 Public Speaking and the Public Sphere (HE, HM, J1)
- COMM 103 Media and Society (HE, HM, T1)
- COMM 105 Introduction to Human Communication (SS, SW, T1)
- A 300-level course called Communicating Ethically
Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing Concentration (PRAM)
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- COMM 336: Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations Campaign Design (SW, T3)
And 4 credits from each of the following goal areas:
Message Design:
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- COMM 240: Digital Video Communication
- COMM 245: Introduction to Media Writing (WR)
- COMM 283A: Public Relations Branding (2 credits)
- COMM 283B: Advertising Branding (2 credits)
- COMM 346: Strategic Communication Campaigns Design Experience (EX)
Analysis:
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- COMM 282A: Public Relations
- COMM 338: Strategic Social Media Marketing and Analysis (EX)
- COMM 379B: Rhetoric of Advertising (HE, TF)
- COMM 384C Gender, Media and Political Campaigns
Communication and Community:
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- COMM 312 Rhetorical Dimensions of Sport (CS)
- COMM 314 Public Health Marketing (EL, SW, T3)
- COMM 330: Apology & Crisis Communication
Public Advocacy & Leadership (PAL) Concentration
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- COMM 300 level: Advocacy and Leadership required course
And 4 credits from each of the following goal areas:
Message Design:
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- COMM 220 Debate & Democracy (BN, T1)
- COMM 225 Argumentation & Advocacy (HE, T1)
Analysis:
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- COMM 110 Voices Unheard (CI)
- COMM 248 Media & Youth: (HE, M3, WRIT, EX)
- COMM 251 Communication & Conflict (J1)
- COMM 265 Small Group Comm (SW, J1)
- COMM 277A: Listening for Justice (HE, TF, BN)
- COMM 278A Rhetoric of Social Change (HE, MF)
- COMM 352 Health Communication (SW, T3)
Communication and Community:
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- COMM 305 Gender, Voice & Power (CS)
- COMM 341 News & Democracy (HE, T3)
- COMM 347: Media Effects (QR, SW)
- COMM 353A Intercultural Health Communication (JF)
- COMM 361 Fat Studies (CS)
- COMM 378A Environmental Rhetoric (HE, MF, BN)
- COMM 379A Freedom of Speech (HE, BN, TF)
Elective Courses:
Each student completing a concentration chooses an additional 8-12 elective credits in Strategic Communication Studies, beyond the required courses in a concentration. Students may complete up to 4 credits of electives from a list of approved courses in other departments.
Additional Strategic Communication Studies courses include:
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- COMM 304: Political Communication
- COMM 310: Black Civil Rights Rhetoric
- COMM 342: Communicating in an AI Era (M3)
- COMM 350: Intercultural Communication (GLO)
- COMM 350A: Intercultural Communication (EX, GLO)
- COMM 351: Gender and Communication (SW, J3)
- COMM 358: Family Communication
- COMM 367: Organizational Communication
- COMM 384C: Rhetoric of Popular Music
- COMM 387D: Media, Law, and Society
- COMM 397: Internship (EX)
Elective Courses from other departments that will count toward the major:
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- ART 217: Introduction to Photography
- ART 218: Introduction to Computer Art
- ART 317: Intermediate/Advanced Photography
- ART 318: Intermediate/Advanced Computer Art
- ART 333A: Computer Art: Portrait (2 credits)
- ART 333D Computer Art: Narrative (2 credits)
- Data 162: Introductory Data Analysis and Visualization (2 credits)
- ENG 311: Creative Nonfiction
- ENG: 217 Creative Inquiries
- SOC 206: Qualitative Methods
- SOC 279A: Quantitative Methods
- PSYC 221 Applied Behavioral Statistics
- Psych 235: Research Methods
Acceptance to Major Requirements:
- Course Requirements: COMM 102, 103, and 105 (must complete 2 of 3 to be accepted to major; must complete all 3 to graduate with COMM major)
- Minimum Grade and/or GPA for required courses: GPA 2.0
- Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0
College of Saint Benedict
Saint John’s University
Kelly Berg, Ph.D.
Chair, Communication Department
SJU Quad 440
320-363-2589
Laura Schmitz
Department Coordinator
SJU Quad 451
320-363-3030