Program: Communication Studies, Health Communication Concentration, B.A. - University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2024)

May 27, 2024

Undergraduate Catalog | 2024-2025

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Undergraduate Catalog | 2024-2025

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The Health Communication concentration examines the role of communication in understanding, promoting, and maintaining health. Emphasis is placed on the social construction of health, structural and social determinants of health, patient-provider communication, communication in healthcare organizations, interpersonal and family communication about health, mental health, gender, spirituality, disability, and aging.

All program-level Admissions and Progression Requirements are in addition to theUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte Admission Requirements.

Admission Requirements

Freshmen and Transfers

Students who apply for the Communication Studies major are initially classified as Pre-Communication Studies majors until they meet the following requirements.

See University Admission Requirements
Minimum GPA: 2.0
Pre-Major/Prerequisite Courses: Students planning to change to or declare Communication Studies as their major must have received a minimum grade of C in the following:
- COMM 1101
- COMM 2100(may be attempted a maximum of two times)
- COMM 2104
- STAT 1220or STAT 1222
Students who do not meet requirements for admission because of special circ*mstances may petition the Department of Communication Studies for acceptance into the program.
Transferable Credit Hours: 24

Currently Enrolled Students

Declaration of Major: Students are initially classified as Pre-Communication Studies (PCOM) majors until they meet the above requirements. Change of Major forms are accepted year-round after the student has attended a Communication Studies orientation/advising session.
Students matriculated at UNC Charlotte and planning to change or declare Pre-Communication Studies as their major must have an overall GPA of at least 2.0.

Pre-Communication Studies

Students who apply for the Communication Studies major are initially classified as Pre-Communication Studies majors until they meet the following requirements: cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above and successful (grade C or above) completion ofCOMM 1101,COMM 2100,COMM 2104and eitherSTAT 1220orSTAT 1222. Students matriculated at UNC Charlotte and planning to change or declare Pre-Communication Studies as their major must have an overall GPA of at least 2. 0.

Degree Requirements

The program leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies requires 120 credit hours.

In addition to completing the core course requirements for the Communication Studies major, students mayalso complete coursework in a specific concentration of study, or electives as specified for those students who are completing the major without a concentration.Courses that are required within a particular concentration or used as electives within the concentration cannot simultaneously be used to fulfill Major Course requirements. The concentrations are designed to provide students with the opportunity to pursue more extensive study in the communication context most relevant to their professional and social goals.

General Education Courses (31-32 credit hours)

For details on required courses, refer to the General Education Program.Total hours to satisfy General Education Requirements may vary as some general education requirements may be double-counted in the major with departmental approval. Please see your advisor for information.

Foreign Language Requirement (0-8 credit hours)

For details on required courses, refer to the .

Communication Studies Core Courses (21 credit hours)

The Communication Studies Core Courses are designed to provide a thorough understanding of fundamental communication processes and are structured into two categories:

General Theory/Skills Courses (15 credit hours)

COMM 1101 - Public Speaking (3)
COMM 2100 - Introduction to Communication Theory (3)
COMM 2101 - Introduction to Rhetorical Theory (3)
COMM 2104 - Communication Studies Foundations (3)
COMM 3101 - Persuasion (3)

Research Methodology Courses (6 credit hours)

COMM 3100 - Communication Research Methods (3)
STAT 1222 - Introduction to Statistics (3)

Concentration Courses (18 credit hours)

Required Concentration Courses (12 credit hours)

COMM 3051 - Topics in Health Communication (3)
COMM 3115 - Health Communication (3)
COMM 4410 - Professional Internship (3 or 6)
COMM 4615 - Seminar in Health Communication (3)

Elective Concentration Courses (6 credit hours)

Select from the following:

AFRS 2170 - Introduction to Health and Environmental Issues in the Africana World (3)
AFRS 2172 - Black Sexuality and Health (3)
AFRS 3250 - African Americans and Health Communication (3)
AFRS 3261 - Psychology of the Black Experience (3)
AFRS 4630 - Environmental and Public Health in Africa (3)
AFRS 4652 - Race, Health, and the African Diaspora (3)
ANTH 3122 - Culture, Health, and Disease (3)
ANTH 3124 - Food, Nutrition, and Culture (3)
ANTH 2127 - Environmental Anthropology (3)
ANTH 2141 - Our Place in Nature: Introduction to Biological Anthropology (4)
ANTH 3020 - Topics in Cultural Anthropology (3) *
ANTH 3090 - Topics in Anthropology (1 to 3) *
ANTH 3125 - Food and Globalization (3)
ANTH 3143 - Race and Anthropology (3)
ANTH 3145 - Anthropological Genetics (3)
ANTH 3222 - Culture, Health, and Disease (3)
ANTH 4020 - Topics in Cultural Anthropology (3) *
ANTH 4090 - Topics in Anthropology (1 to 3) *
CJUS 3366 - Domestic Violence (3)
CJUS 4350 - Victims and the Criminal Justice System (3)
CJUS 4351 - Violence and the Violent Offender (3)
CJUS 4360 - Drugs, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System (3)
CJUS 4363 - Gender, Race, and Justice (3)
CJUS 4372 - Drug Analytics (3)
COMM 3051 - Topics in Health Communication (3)
COMM 4410 - Professional Internship (3 or 6) *
EXER 3260 - Nutrition for the Physically Active (3)
GRNT 3115 - Health and the Aging Process (3)
or HLTH 3115 - Health and the Aging Process (3)
GRNT 3125 - Older Worker and Retirement (3)
or SOCY 3125 - Older Worker and Retirement (3)
GRNT 3267 - Sociology of Dying, Death, and Bereavement (3)
or SOCY 3267 - Sociology of Dying, Death, and Bereavement (3)
GRNT 4260 - Women: Middle Age and Beyond (3)
or HLTH 4260 - Women: Middle Age and Beyond (3)
or WGST 4260 - Women: Middle Age and Beyond (3)
(3)
(3)
HIST 2140 - Disease and Medicine in History (3)
HIST 2170 - Latino/as in the United States, 1846 to Present (3)
HIST 3155 - Health and Healing in Africa (3)
or AFRS 3155 - Health and Healing in Africa (3)
HLTH 2101 - Healthy Lifestyles (3)
NURS 4000 - Topics in Nursing (1 to 3) *
PHIL 2220 - Healthcare Ethics (3)
PHIL 3273 - Philosophy and the Body (3)
PSYC 2130 - Introduction to Social Psychology (3)
PSYC 2160 - Introduction to Health Psychology (3)
RELS 3300 - Religion and Healing (3)
SOCY 2169 - Sociology of Health and Illness (3)
SOCY 4168 - Sociology of Mental Health and Illness (3)
SPAN 3222 - Spanish for Medical and Healthcare (3)
SPAN 4050 - Selected Topics in Spanish (1 to 3)
COMM 2xxx-4xxx Communication Studies Elective

Note:

*Requires advisor approval.

Unrestricted Elective Courses

As needed to complete the credit hours required for graduation.

Degree Total = 120 Credit Hours

Progression Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C or better in COMM 1101, COMM 2100, COMM 2104and STAT 1222, and a 2.0 GPA overall in their major courses.

Honors Program

For details about the Honors Program in Communication Studies, visit the program page.