Undergraduate Program in Professional Communication
College of Applied Studies
Website: https://pc.fsu.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/professional-communication
Faculty: Parker; Teaching Faculty I: Reed; Teaching Faculty I: Sellers; Visiting Faculty I: Lawrence
Students in the Professional Communication program at the Panama City campus receive a broad understanding of fundamental communication processes. The overall program combines courses that are theoretically based with those that are professionally oriented. Courses include interviewing, persuasion, communication research methods, principles of advertising, introduction to public relations, communication for organizing and a communication internship. Students in professional communication may pursue careers in information and media, as well as prepare for graduate study. Representative job titles relating to this major include information specialist, radio/TV executive, media manager, public opinion researcher, speech writer, online content manager, and many others.
The College of Applied Studies also offers programs of study leading to the terminal master's degree in Corporate and Public Communication. Consult the Graduate Bulletin or School Website for information regarding graduate programs.
Note: Students not formally admitted to the professional communication degree program are prohibited from enrolling in more than eighteen semester hours of coursework in professional communication. SPC 1017 and SPC 2608 do not count toward this 18 semester hour limit.
Admission Information
This is not a limited access program. Students transferring from another institution are strongly encouraged to earn an AA before matriculating at Florida State University and should apply for admission to the College of Applied Studies before transferring to Florida State University. Students who transfer must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher on all college coursework considered for admission. Students may also enter the professional communication degree program as first time in college (FTIC) students. For more information, contact Angela Sexton at asexton@fsu.edu or call (850) 770-2178.
Requirements
Computer Skills Competency
All undergraduates at Florida State University must demonstrate basic computer skills competency prior to graduation. As necessary computer competency skills vary from discipline to discipline, each major determines the courses needed to satisfy this requirement. Undergraduate majors in professional communication satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of "C–" or higher in CGS 2060, CGS 2100, or COM 4470.
Oral Communication Competency
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met through appropriate high school speech training or with an approved college-level course. COM 3110 (Communication for Business and the Professions), IDS 2491 (Communication Matters – Personal Responsibility in Public Speaking), SPC 2608 (Public Speaking), SPC 4620 (Strategic Speech Making), and SPC 4360 (Interviewing) will also satisfy this requirement.
Language Requirement
All students must meet the foreign language admission requirement. Students do not have an additional language requirement for the BS degree. The BA degree requires proficiency in a foreign language.
Required Minor
Professional Communication majors must fulfill minor requirements outside the Communication major. Students should check with the minor department for specific requirements. Minors must be approved by an advisor. A 15 hour interdepartmental minor is also possible, providing that the coursework is outside the Communication major and approved in advance.
Major Program of Studies in Professional Communication (36 Hours)
No grade below a "C–" will be accepted for any course in the major. Maintenance of a 2.0 cumulative GPA is required. The College of Applied Studies reserves the right to refuse admission or discontinue enrollment of any student at any time, if, in the judgment of the faculty, the student does not meet departmental or major standards.
Eight Core Courses (24 Hours):
ADV 3008 Principles of Advertising (3)
COM 3120 Communication for Organizing (3)
COM 3310 Communication Research Methods (3)
COM 4945r Communication Internship (3)
PUR 3000 Introduction to Public Relations (3)
PUR 3100 Writing for Public Relations (3)
SPC 4360 Interviewing (3)
SPC 4540 Persuasion (3)
Advanced courses (12 Hours):
Students select four courses from a list of approved courses.
If courses used to satisfy major requirements are used to meet the General Education requirements, no more than four semester hours of the General Education Requirements may also be counted towards the major requirements.
Major Tracks
Communicating in a Diverse World (15 hours) in the following courses:
One of the following:
MMC 2000 Introduction to Mass Media (3),
COM 3120 Communicating for Organizing (3)
One of the following:
SPC 4711 Gender and Communication (3)
COM 3432 Media and Representation (3)
Each of the following:
SPC 4710 Intercultural Communication (3)
COM 4xxx Global Communication (3)
COM 4603 Internet and Society (3)
*COM 4xxx (courses are being approved)
Digital Media Communication (12 hours) in the following courses:
COM 3521 Introduction to Digital Media Campaigns (3)
RTV 3001 Media Techniques (3)
COM 4470 Desktop Multimedia (3)
COM xxxx Introduction to Digital Communication Strategy and Planning (3)
*COM 4xxx (courses are being approved)
Combined Bachelor's/Master's Pathway
Students who are admitted into the combined bachelor's/master's pathway in professional communication may be permitted to dually count up to twelve credit hours of graduate communication coursework towards both the BS and the MS degrees. Interested students should consult their faculty advisor for more information about the combined pathway. More information about the professional communication BS/MS pathway can be found at https://pc.fsu.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/professional-communication.
Requirements for a Minor in Professional Communication
Students interested in pursuing the Professional Communication minor should email staff at the College of Applied Studies to request that it be added to their official records. To obtain the minor, you must complete 12 hours of coursework chosen only from the following selections, receiving no lower than a grade of (C-) in any of them: ADV 3008, Principles in Advertising; COM 3120, Communication for Organizing; COM 4132, Communication and Stress Management*; COM 4431, Rhetoric of a Global Corporation*; SPC 3231, Contemporary Rhetorical Theory*; PUR 3000, Introduction to Public Relations; SPC 3513, Argumentation*; SPC 4360, Interviewing; SPC 4445, Group Dynamics & Leadership; SPC 4620, Strategic Speech Making.
*Noted selections are currently only offered online. At least six hours of the Professional Communication minor must be taken within the College of Applied Studies. Courses taken to meet the minor may not be applicable to any other requirement. For additional information, please visit: https://appliedstudies.fsu.edu/undergraduate-minors/professional-communication.
Requirements for a Minor in Communicating in a Diverse World
Students interested in pursuing the Communicating in a Diverse World minor should email staff at the College of Applied Studies to request that it be added to their official records. To obtain the minor you must complete 15 hours of coursework chosen from the following selections, receiving no lower than a grade of (C-) in any of them.
One from the following: MMC 2000 Introduction to Mass Meida, COM 3120 Communicating for Organizing; one from the following: SPC 4711 Gender and Communication, Com 3432 Media and Representation; each of the following: SPC 4710 Intercultural Communication, COM 4xxx Global Communication, COM 4603 Internet and Society.
*COM 4xxx (course is being approved) Panama City campus only.
Requirements for a Minor in Digital Communication
Students interested in pursuing the Digital Communication minor should email staff at the College of Applied Studies to request that it be added to their official records. To obtain a minor you must complete 12 hours of coursework chosen from the following selections, receiving no lower than a grade of (C-) in any of them: COM 3521 Introduction to Digital Media Campaigns, RTV 3001 Media Techniques, COM 4470 Desktop Multimedia, COM xxxx Introduction to Digital Communication, Strategy and Planning.
*COM xxxx (course is being approved)
Honor Society
Lambda Pi Eta is the official Communication Studies honor society of the National Communication Association (NCA) and a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS). Lambda Pi Eta honor society recognizes the achievements of both undergraduate and graduate students, promotes scholarly activities, and rewards outstanding scholastic performance. The organization works to stimulate interest in the communication discipline. For more information, please contact Dr. Laurie Lawrence at llawrence@fsu.edu.
Definition of Prefixes
Undergraduate Courses
For listings relating to graduate coursework, consult the Graduate Bulletin.