Communication, B.A. MAP

Major Academic Plans

Major Academic Plans (or MAPS) show the courses you might take each semester to meet your degree requirements in 4 years. Students at Cal Poly Humboldt follow many different paths to graduation. Your educational and career goals, as well as personal interests all contribute to determining the courses you take. We encourage you to discuss course options with an advisor.

The General Education and All-University Requirements in this MAP are in effect for students entering Cal Poly Humboldt with the catalog year of 2023-24. Refer to your degree audit for details on your major and GE catalog year.

Set yourself up for academic success in challenging classes. Add a 1-unit Supplemental Instruction (SI) session.

Explore the Supplemental Instruction

options to see if there’s a match with a class you are taking.

Year 1

You need to earn a C- or higher in Lower Division GE Area A and Lower Division GE Area B: Math courses. These four courses must be completed by the time you have earned 60 units. Credit earned for math support course (MATH 3) will not count toward GE, major or graduation units.

Semester 1 (15-17 Units)

GE Area A: Written Communication ENGL 102 - Composition and Rhetoric A Units: 3 OR ENGL 104 - Accelerated Composition and Rhetoric Units: 3
Optional ENGL 110 - Academic Literacies Support and Seminar Units: 2
GE Area B: Mathematics MATH 103 - Mathematics as a Liberal Art Units: 3 OR (MATH 103I - Mathematics as a Liberal Art with Integrated Support Units: 3 AND MATH 3 - Support for Mathematics as a Liberal Art Units: 1 ) ^[1]
GE Area A: Oral Communication COMM 100 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication Units: 3
GE Area A: Critical Thinking COMM 103 - Critical Listening and Thinking Units: 3 (recommended)
Major and GE Area D: COMM 105 - Introduction to Human Communication Units: 3

^[1] Credit earned for math support course (MATH 3) does not count toward GE, major or graduation units.

Semester 2 (15-16 Units)

GE Area A: Written Communication ENGL 103 - Composition and Rhetoric B Units: 3 ) ^[2]
Optional: ENGL 110 - Academic Literacies Support and Seminar Units: 2
GE Area C: Humanities / Major COMM 108 - Oral Interpretation Units: 3 (recommended)
LD GE Area E: Lifelong Learning
Units: 3
American Institutions / GE Area D: Social Science U.S. History Units: 3
Elective Units: 3

^[2] (If ENGL 104 was taken last semester take an elective. other GE or major course in place of ENGL 103

Year 2

Semester 3 (15 units)

Lower Division GE Area B: Physical Science Units: 3
Lower Division GE Area C: Arts Units: 3
Major (Core) COMM 108 - Oral Interpretation Units: 3 OR COMM 110 - Intercollegiate Speech and Debate Units: 1-3 ^[3]OR COMM 310 - Advanced Intercollegiate Speech and Debate Units: 1-3 ^[3]OR COMM 214 - Persuasive Speaking Units: 3
Elective Course Units: 3
Elective Course Units: 3

^[3] No more than 3 units of COMM 110 and COMM 310 may be used to fulfill the Public Communication Skills requirement.

Semester 4 (15 Units)

Lower Division GE Area B: Life Sciences with lab Units: 3
Lower Division GE Area C: Arts OR Humanities Units: 3
American Institutions: U.S. and California Government Units: 3
Major (Core): COMM 213 - Interpersonal Communication Units: 3 OR COMM 312 - Group Communication Units: 4 OR COMM 324 - Nonverbal Communication Units: 4
Elective Course Units: 2-3 (as needed)

Year 3

Semester 5 (15 Units)

Upper Division GE Area B: Math & Science Units: 3
Major (Core) and GWAR: COMM 319W - Communication Research Units: 4
Major (Core): COMM 300 - American Public Discourse Units: 3 OR COMM 315 - Communication and Social Advocacy Units: 4
GE Area F: Ethnic Studies Units: 3
Elective Course Units: 1-2 (as needed)

Semester 6 (15 Units)

Major / UD GE Area C / DCG Domestic COMM 300 - American Public Discourse Units: 3
Major / UD GE Area D / DCG Domestic COMM 309B - Gender and Communication Units: 3
Major (Core): COMM 404 - Theories of Communication Influence Units: 4 OR COMM 411 - Organizational Communication Units: 4 OR COMM 415 - Communication Theory Units: 4
Upper Division GE Area B: Math & Science
Units: 3
Elective Courses Units: 2

Year 4

Semester 7 (15 Units)

Major (Core): COMM 404 - Theories of Communication Influence Units: 4 OR COMM 414 - Rhetorical Theory Units: 4 OR COMM 415 - Communication Theory Units: 4
Major (Core): COMM 411 - Organizational Communication Units: 4 OR COMM 416 - Social Advocacy Theory and Practice Units: 3
Major (Core): COMM 480 - Seminar in Speech Communication Units: 1-4 (A single 3-4 unit course is required)
Elective Units: 3
Elective Units: 0-2 (as needed)

Semester 8 (12-15 Units)

Major (Core) COMM 490 - Capstone Experience Units: 2
Major (Elective) Units: 1-4 ^[4]
Elective Units: 3
Elective Units: 3
Elective Units: 3

^[4] Complete 1-4 units of major electives to reach the 45 unit major requirement.