Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Communication is a major within the School of Education. If you have questions regarding this program, please contact dsu.hawk@dickinsonstate.edu or call 1-800-279-HAWK.
Degree Requirements:
- General Education Courses
- Major Courses
- Elective Courses
Degree available in Bismarck, Williston, DSUlive, and online.????
This major is focused on providing the next generation of professionals with the communication fundamentals they need to succeed in a multimedia, multimodal, and information-rich environment. This major allows students to focus more on media production or business communication while still gaining the fundamental speaking, presenting, reading, and writing literacies necessary for various relationships, professions, and democratic participation. The goal of this major is to help produce better communicators who understand the theories of communication studies as the theories apply to their everyday lives, work sites, and more. All courses can be offered as online asynchronous to appeal across NDUS, tribal reservations, and neighboring states. Students can focus on either concentration: Media Literacy and Production or Professional and Applied Communication.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Develop Advanced Communication Skills: Students will demonstrate proficiency in public speaking, writing, and professional communication, adapting their skills to diverse audiences and contexts in both formal and informal settings.
- Apply Communication Theories to Practical Situations: Students will critically analyze and apply communication theories to solve real-world problems in media production, business communication, and interpersonal contexts.
- Utilize Digital and Multimedia Tools for Communication: Students will acquire and apply practical skills in digital media production, including video production, graphic design, and social media campaigns, to effectively communicate in a multimedia, multimodal environment.
- Engage in Ethical and Inclusive Communication Practices: Students will develop an understanding of the ethical implications of communication and practice inclusiveness, including cultural sensitivity, in their professional and interpersonal interactions.
- Analyze and Research Communication Strategies: Students will conduct research to evaluate and create effective communication strategies for business, public relations, marketing, and organizational communication, using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Demonstrate Leadership and Collaboration in Communication: Students will demonstrate the ability to lead and collaborate in group communication settings, applying effective communication techniques to enhance group dynamics, decision-making, and problem-solving.
Requirements
Fundamentals of Communication Courses
All students are required to complete the Fundamentals of Communication courses.
| COMM 212 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 213 | Professional Speaking and Presenting | 3 |
| COMM 216 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMM 235 | Introduction to Digital Media | 3 |
| COMM 280 | Understanding Film and Television | 3 |
| COMM 313 | Persuasion | 3 |
| COMM 320 | Contemporary Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 300 | Professional and Technical Writing | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 24 |
Students must select either the Media Literacy and Production or Professional and Applied Communication concentration. In their selected concentration, students will complete 21 credits and an additional nine credits in the non-selected concentration. Thus, students will complete a total of 30 credits between the two concentrations.
Media Literacy and Production Concentration
Professional and Applied Communication Concentration
| BADM 336 | Management and Leadership | 3 |
| BADM 346 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| BADM 356 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| BADM 357 | Visual Merchandising, Design, and Storytelling | 3 |
| BADM 369 | Business Ethics and Critical Thinking | 3 |
| BOTE 210 | Business Communication | 3 |
| COMM 215 | Introduction to Journalism | 3 |
| COMM 317 | Organizational and Group Communication | 3 |
| COMM 321 | Dialogue, Listening and Politics | 3 |
| COMM 410 | Public Relations | 3 |
| COMM 412 | Integrated Marketing Communication | 3 |
| ENTR 366 | Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MRKT 301 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MRKT 340 | Advertising, Sales Promotion, and Digital Media | 3 |
| MRKT 357 | International Marketing | 3 |
| MRKT 466 | Consumer Behavior and Consumption | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 30 |
Students must also complete a Special Topics Seminar (rotating course offerings that offer narrower examination of specific topics) and an Experiential Learning component.
Special Topics - Student must select three credits from the following:
| COMM 299 | Special Topics, Readings | 1-6 |
| COMM 399 | Special Topics, Readings | 1-6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Experiential Learning - Student must select three credits from the following:
| COMM 494 | Independent Study, Undergraduate Research | 1-6 |
| COMM 495 | Service Learning | 1-6 |
| COMM 496 | Study Tours | 1-6 |
| COMM 497 | Communication Internship, Externship, Cooperative Education | 1-6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |