Degree Requirements

College of Communication Policy

A total of 32 courses and 128 semester credit hours are required for the degree. No more than 16 credits completed with the grade of D may be accepted for the degree. Students who have met the major course requirements are still required to complete 128 credits.

Degrees must be completed within seven years after a student first matriculates. Credits received seven or more years before a student’s expected date of graduation are not transferable.

For undergraduates, an overall grade point average of 2.0 and 2.0 in communication courses is required for graduation.

Graduate degree candidates must have a 3.0 overall grade point average for graduation.

Undergraduate Curricula Requirements

Freshman-Sophomore Curriculum

During their first semester, communication students take three liberal arts courses and COM CO 101 The World of Communication, the core communication course. In subsequent semesters of the first two years, course requirements allow for limited flexibility while ensuring that some depth of knowledge is achieved. Students should become familiar with the requirements and give careful thought to the choices they make.

The required courses for all COM undergraduate students are as follows:

• COM CO 101 The World of Communication (must be completed with a C or higher for students entering COM in Fall 2011 and later)
• COM CO 201 Introduction to Communication Writing

A variety of other communications courses, designated by the appropriate department, may be taken in the freshman and sophomore years.

A normal undergraduate program consists of 32 courses, totaling 124–128 credit hours.

Students take four English literature and composition courses; two history courses; two math/science courses (including one statistics course); two language courses; two courses in the social sciences; one philosophy course; and one liberal arts elective. The College of Communication is unique in requiring a philosophy course; its administration and faculty feel that, in a digital age, communication students must have an awareness of ethics, logic, and reasoning. The precise curriculum requirements are available in the Student Services office, Room 123, at the College of Communication, or on the Student Services website.

Junior-Senior Curriculum

For the last two years of undergraduate study, students choose a major within one 
of the College’s departments. The program of study in each department includes professionally oriented courses as well as liberal arts courses. These courses are specified in the program section for each department.

Computer Requirement

Students are not required to have their own personal computers on campus; computer labs are available in the College and at other campus locations. However, entering freshmen should be familiar with computers and have a working knowledge of word-processing­ and e-mail applications. These skills should be acquired before entering the College of Communication.

The Information Technology office offers various free computer training courses on campus and the Personal Computing Support Center can assist students. The College offers a brief computer and e-mail/news groups training program during summer and fall on-campus freshman orientation sessions.

All students are required to have a free University computer network account. The first-year course, COM CO 101 The World of Communication, exchanges class assignments and other course information via e-mail and a class website.

If students bring computers to campus, they should be either Windows or Apple OS compatible; both are used in the College. The majority of Boston University residence halls are wireless allowing students direct access to the campus network. To learn more about what type of computer is required to access the network, visit www.bu.edu/resnet.

Language Requirement

Students are required to have at least a year of proficiency in a foreign language. Students who score 560 or above on the College Entrance Examination Board SAT subject test in a foreign language, score a 3 on a foreign language or literature Advanced Placement exam, or who place into the third semester or higher in the Boston University placement exam are exempt from the College of Communication language requirement and may replace it with electives. These students are encouraged, however, to continue in advanced courses. All other students should contact the College of Communication Student Services office regarding their language requirement status.

Residency Requirement

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Communication, dual-degree program students, IUT students, or students continuing from the College of General Studies may need to meet a minimum of 48 semester hours (three semesters) in residence at the College of Communication and Boston University.  Transfer students are not exempt from this residency requirement. Summer courses are not counted towards the residency requirement. It should be noted that Physical Education, Recreation & Dance; the Reserve Officers Training Program; and certain other 1- and 2-credit courses will not count towards the 48-credit-hour requirement.