Skip to main content
Department of Communication Communication
  1. HOME
  2. Undergrad
  3. Degree Programs
  4. Communication Major

 

The Communication Major

Communication offers a theoretically-oriented investigation of how discourses, communication systems, media institutions, built environments, and human activity together shape economic, political, and cultural life. Our interdisciplinary curriculum is rich in hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in designing and producing media, conducting fieldwork, and bridging social divides through participation at faculty directed, regional community sites.

We teach a wide variety of reading and research methods, including qualitative data collection, textual analysis, historical research, critical theory, intersectionality, and discourse analysis. That means you’ll learn how to interpret and analyze media texts, read and decode digital publications and data, evaluate the role of technology and social change in cultural production, and critique representations of social reality in relation to power differentials, systemic stereotyping, and historical erasures. Our courses also provide students space to engage ininformed, reflective, and mindful dialogue about difficult social issues, confronting subjects such as race, gender, sexuality, class, policing, and war. 

Graduates complete the Communication major with a solid liberal arts background necessary for graduate studies in communication and many other disciplines, and for professional work in a number of communication- and media-related fields, including primary and secondary education. 


13 REQUIRED COURSES

All courses for the major must be taken for a letter grade; a grade of C– or better is required.

*Courses marked with an asterisk may not be petitioned for substitution. 

1 Lower Division Core Course
  • COMM-010: Introduction to Communication*
4 Upper Division Core Courses 
  • COMM-100A: Communication, the Person, and Everyday Life*
  • COMM-100B: Communication, Culture, and Representation*
  • COMM-100C: Communication, Institutions, and Power*
  • COMM-190: Junior Seminar*
8 Upper Division Communication Course Electives 
  • Two courses numbered COMM-120 to 189*
  • Six courses numbered COMM-101 to 189

Download Communication Major Requirement Checklist


COMM Major Elective Pathways

Interested in courses in these specific areas? 

  • Activism & Social Justice
  • Art, Culture & Creativity
  • Disability, Health & Science
  • Environmental & Political Communication
  • Language & Global Flows
  • Technology, Data & Internet
  • Skills-Based Practice Courses

Or, do you want to:

  • Study film, TV, music and pop culture?
  • Make Media?
  • Work in journalism?
  • Pursue a career in marketing or PR?
  • Focus on digital media?

Check out our COMM Major Elective Pathways and Media Industries Pathways webpages for suggested courses.

Course Exceptions and Petitions

Petition to count courses outside of the Communication Department towards the COMM major:
  • Students may petition a maximum of 2 upper division courses taken outside of the department to count towards the major's Intermediate Elective requirement. (Examples: EAP / Study Abroad, courses in other UCSD departments, and/or courses at other UC campus).
  • These courses must be upper division (numbered 100+), at least 4 units, and must be passed with a C- grade or higher.
  • Courses must be related to our department's curriculum and oriented towards communication theory or production skills (as opposed to business/management related best practices).  
  • Complete an Undergraduate Student Petition, including:
    • the title of the course,
    • the number of units,
    • the course description (from the course catalog),
    • how the course relates to the major
    • attach the course's syllabus, which must include the texts/readings required
  • Submit your completed petition via the COMM UG Petition Form. The department's Faculty Advisor will review it and you will be notified of the result via the VAC.


Petition to count Academic Internship Program (AIP) 197 towards the COMM major:
  • Students may petition to count a maximum of one AIP-197 (4 units) towards the  major's Intermediate Elective requirement. 
  • Once the AIP-197 grade is posted to the your Academic History, complete an Undergraduate Student Petition. Include in the body of the petition:
    • the name of the company/organization,
    • the start and end date,
    • the name of your AIP Faculty Advisor (must be a member of the Communication Department faculty).
    • Attach a copy of your AIP Learning Agreement.
  • Submit your completed petition via the COMM UG Petition Form. The department's Faculty Advisor will review it and you will be notified of the result via the VAC.



Petition to count COMM-198 (Directed Group Study in Communication) or COMM-199 (Independent Study in Communication) towards the COMM major: 
  • Students who enroll in COMM-198 or 199 may petition to count one of these courses (4 units max) towards the major's Intermediate Elective requirement. 
  • To enroll in these courses, students must first submit a Special Studies Course application. These independent study courses are only offered for a P/NP grade.
  • Complete an Undergraduate Student Petition:
    • detail in the body of the petition the work completed in the course
    • include the name of Communication Department Faculty Mentor
  • Submit your completed petition via the COMM UG Petition Form. The department's Faculty Advisor will review it and you will be notified of the result via the VAC.

Major Residency Requirement

The COMM Major courses below must all be taken in residency at UCSD. They cannot be transferred or taken abroad. 

  • COMM-010: Introduction to Communication
  • COMM-100A: Communication, the Person, and Everyday Life
  • COMM-100B: Communication, Culture, and Representation 
  • COMM-100C: Communication, Institutions, and Power
  • COMM-190: Junior Seminar
  • 6 COMM Upper Division Electives

Please see your College Advising Team regarding non-major residency requirements.

Guidance for Newly Admitted COMM Students

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ADMISSION TO UCSD AND WELCOME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION!

We invite you to read through our information and guidance on our Newly Admitted Students webpage.

4 Year Quarter-by-Quarter Plan for COMM Majors

The COMM major is very flexible, with much of the major consisting of electives for you to choose from. Below is a sample quarter-by-quarter plan, demonstrating at a glance how you can complete the COMM major in four years:

COMM 4 year qxq plan

 For more specific quarter-by-quarter plans, including how the COMM major fits into your College's requirements and University requirements, check out the Academic Planning webpage.

To begin building your own personalized long-term plan, download the Academic Planning Worksheet and save a copy. 

2 Year Quarter-by-Quarter Plan for COMM Majors

The COMM major is very flexible, with much of the major consisting of electives for you to choose from. Below is a sample quarter-by-quarter plan, demonstrating at a glance how you can complete the COMM major in six quarters / two years:

COMM quarter by quarter plan

 For more specific quarter-by-quarter plans, including how the COMM major fits into your College's requirements and University requirements, check out the Academic Planning webpage.

To begin building your own personalized long-term plan, download the Academic Planning Worksheet and save a copy.