NSU | Language and Communication

♦ Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies

What can you do with a Bachelor's Degree in English?

English majors can think logically, write clearly, communicate effectively, organize information persuasively, and interpret language in a precise way. This means that English major are prepared for interesting, productive, and lucrative careers in a variety of fields, including business, government service, medicine, law, architecture, advertising, journalism, technical writing, publishing, banking, and teaching.

In other words, being an English major means that you will have the core skills needed to succeed at nearly any career you choose!

Bachelor's Degree in English

The Department of Language and Communication offers courses leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Students may choose three courses of study: Literature, Professional Writing, and Film

◊ 6 semester hours of first-year writing

English 1010: Composition and Rhetoric I
English 1020: Composition and Rhetoric II (Note: English 1020 is a prerequisite for all English courses above the 1000-level.)
45 semester hours of English courses, with 39 of those hours coming from upper-level course (courses numbered 3000 or 4000)
minor in a compatible field. Click here for information about minoring in a Foreign Language or in Communication. Many other minors are available at NSU, as well. For more information on minors, click here to look at the online catalog.
120 total semester hours required for a Bachelor's degree

Literature Concentration

Students in the literature concentration receive a comprehensive overview of American, British, and world literature. They may also choose courses covering topics such as women's writing, southern literature, folklore, and critical theory.
Students concentrating in literature complete the following survey courses, designed to provide a firm grounding in various genres, eras, and geographic locations:

English 2110: Introduction to Literature
English 3100: Survey of American Literature I, Beginnings - 1865
English 3150: Survey of American Literature II, 1865 - Present
English 3160: Survey of British Literature I, Beginnings - 1800
English 3170: Survey of British Literature II, 1800 - Present

In addition to the basic requirements listed above, literature students select 3 hours from the following linguistics courses:

English 3200: Advanced Grammar · English 4000: History of the English Language
English 4100: Language in Society
English 4110: Fundamentals of Linguistics
English 4660: Syntactical Theories

as well as the following 2 courses:

English 4420: Literary Criticism
English 4050: Literature Capstone Course

In addition to the above requirements, students must complete 12 hours of advanced English literature courses. To view descriptions of these courses, click here to view the online catalog.

Professional Writing Concentration

The Professional Writing concentration takes courses in many genres of writing, with particular emphasis on rhetoric and technical composition. The following lower-level courses are required of students concentrating in professional writing:

2 courses from the sophomore literature sequence:
- English 2110: Introduction to Literature
- English 2070: Major Writers in World Literature
English 2510: Argumentative Writing
English 2610: Introduction to Analytical Writing

In addition to the basic requirements listed above, students must select 3 hours from each of the following categories:

English 3200: Advanced Grammar
English 4660: Syntactical Theories
English 4100: Language in Society
English 4110: Fundamentals of Linguistics
English 4660: Syntactical Theories

In addition to the above requirements, students must complete 18 hours of advanced writing courses. For descriptions of these courses, click here to view the online catalog.

Folklife/Southern Culture Concentration

The folklife and southern culture concentration student will take courses in literature, folklife, and southern studies. The following courses are required of students in this concentration:

English 2110 and English 2070
English 4670 Folklore
English 4650 The Southern Renaissance

In addition to the above courses, students must take eighteen hours in literature of the American South and/or Folklore (NOTE: Nine hours MAY BE taken in ligustics, writing, American or British literature).

Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies

What can you do with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication?

Communication covers a vast area of study and can include everything from giving speeches to broadcasting or writing for a magazine. Communication Majors have the ability to speak well in public, understand communication verbally and interpersonally and be able to handle negotiations. They can also understand how communication works in the business setting, within groups, across cultures and understand the art of argumentation. However, some Communication Majors have the ability to write for a publication, produce a television broadcast, or run a radio station. Because communication is such a broad field, communication helps prepare the majors for jobs in many fields including business, government service, human relations, public relations, production, broadcasting on different mediums, and more.

The Major in Communication Studies equips students with the requisite communication skills necessary in a wide variety of occupational environments.

The Department of Language and Communication offers courses leading to the Bachelor's Degree of Arts degree in Communication. Students may choose three courses of study: Organizational, Rhetoric, and Mass Communication.

Students seeking a major in Communication must complete 21 semester hours in the Communication core

Communication 1020:Voice and Diction
Communication 2020: Mass Media and Society
Communication 2500: Interpersonal Communication
Communication 3120: Group Dynamics
Communication 3210: Interviews on Organization Settings
Communication 4110: Communication Theory
English 3230: Technical Composition
24 semester hours in one of three available concentrations
Orientation 1010
All students enrolled in the Communication major must select a minor. Students who complete a second major outside of English or Communication satisfy the minor requirement.
120 total Semester Hours required for a Bachelor’s Degree

Organizational Communication

This focus prepares students for corporate and organizational careers. Required communication courses will focus on leadership styles and skills, meaningful interview techniques both for hiring and gathering facts, the impact of nonverbal communication on organizational culture and strategies to improve organizational culture and communication.

Communication 3020: Intercultural Communication
Communication 3040: Nonverbal Communication
Communication 4120: Organizational Communication
Communication 4280: Communication and Power

In addition, students must also chose twelve (12) semester hours from among:

Communication 2050: Essentials of Network Design and Operation

Communication 3060: Public Relations Principle
Communication 4130: Communication Research Methods
Communication 4220: Organizational Culture and Communication
Communication 4250: Conflict Management
Communication 4270: Leadership
Communication 4290: Advance Topics in Organizational Communication or Communication 4310: Globalization and International Communication

Rhetoric

This focus prepares students for professions centered on giving or writing speeches. Examples include a political speech writer, lawyer, minister, inspirational speaker, or corporate trainer. Required courses include speech, debate, and the theories and techniques of persuasion.

Communication 2010: Advanced Public Speaking
Communication 2050: Argumentation and Debate
Communication 4010: Rhetorical Analysis
Communication 4030: Rhetorical Theory

In addition to the previous courses, students must take an additional twelve (12) semester hours from among:

Communication 3050: Communication Law
Communication 3060: Public Relations Principle
Communication 3100: Parliamentary Procedure
Communication 3440: Basic Video Techniques
Communication 4020: Business Educational and Professional Speaking
Communication 4120: Organizational Communication
Communication 4270: Leadership

Mass Communication

The Mass Communication Concentration prepares students for varied roles in the mass communications and journalism industry. These include public relations specialists, TV reporter or producer, reporter for online/print publications, producer of films or commercials, or radio station management/production. Your preparation for employment will include courses in media writing, communications law, new media, graphic design, video production, and so much more.

Communication 2510: Writing for Mass Media
Communication 3050: Communication Law
Communication 3060: Public Relations Principle
Communication 3430: Radio News Writing
Communication 3440: Basic Video Techniques
Communication 3530: Visual Communication
Communication 3600: Public Relations Writing

In addition, the students will have to take three (3) semester hours in an upper-level Communication courses.

Minors

The Department of Language and Communication offers courses leading to three minors: English, Speech, and Foreign Language. A minor in Foreign Language may focus on Spanish, French, or German.

The English Minor

Students pursuing an English minor complete 24 hours of course work in English, with the following specific requirements:
English 1010: Composition and Rhetoric I
English 1020: Composition and Rhetoric II
6 hours of English at the 2000-level. For more information on these courses, click here to see the online catalog.
3 semester hours of 3000- or 4000-level English courses

The Foreign Language Minor

Students can earn a minor in foreign language by completing 21 semester hours in one language. Language options include:

French
Spanish

For more information about the Foreign Language Minor, click here to view the online catalog or the Spanish web site.

The Speech Communication Minor

The Speech Communication minor requires the completion of 24 semester hours as outlined below:

Communication 1010: Fundamentals of Speech
Communication 1210: Oral Interpretation
Communication 2050: Argumentation and Debate
Communication 3120: Group Dynamics
Communication 4010: Rhetorical Analysis
Communication 4020: Business, Educational, and Professional Speaking
Communication 4030: Rhetorical Theory

For more information about the Speech Communication Minor, click here to view the online catalog or the Communication web site.

For a checklist and sample course trajectory for all of our concentrations, click here.