Requirements for Communication Science and Rhetorical Studies
A minimum of 10 courses and at least 30 credits are required for the major.1
Fundamentals
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| COM ARTS 260 | Communication and Human Behavior | 3 |
Core-Part One
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Rhetoric in Politics and Culture | |
| Great Speakers and Speeches | |
| Rhetoric of Campaigns and Revolutions | |
Core-Part Two
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Quantitative Research in Communication | |
| Persuasion and Social Influence | |
Applied Communication
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 3 |
| Argumentation and Debate | |
| Theory and Practice of Group Discussion | |
| Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | |
| Theory and Practice of Interpersonal Communication |
Theory-History-Criticism
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 9 |
| Topics in Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture | |
| Topics in Communication and Social Dynamics | |
| Topics in Rhetoric and Communication Science | |
| The Rhetoric of Reproductive Justice | |
| Gender and Communication | |
| Rhetoric and Health | |
| Introduction to Health Communication | |
| Media and Human Behavior | |
| Social Media as Literature | |
| Human Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) | |
| Social Media & Well-Being | |
| Online Communication and Personal Relationships | |
| Introduction to Rhetoric in Politics and Culture | |
| Introduction to Quantitative Research in Communication | |
| The Discourse of Dictators, Demagogues & Extremists | |
| Persuasion and Social Influence | |
| Rhetoric of the U.S. Presidential Election | |
| Great Speakers and Speeches | |
| Communication and Conflict Resolution | |
| Rhetoric of Campaigns and Revolutions | |
| Intercultural Communication & Rhetoric | |
| The Rhetoric of Religion | |
| Topics in Digital Studies (Communication Science & Rhetoric) | |
| Global Technology & Digital Culture | |
| The Psychology of Communication | |
| Contemporary Political Discourse | |
| Rhetoric of the Cold War | |
| Nature of Criticism-The Public Arts of Communication | |
| Rhetoric and Power on the Internet | |
| Communication and Health Inequalities | |
| Digital Storytelling for Social Media | |
| Communication and Interethnic Behavior | |
| Classical Rhetorical Theory | |
| Rhetoric of Globalization and Transnationalism | |
| Communication in Complex Organizations | |
| Dynamics of Online Relationships | |
| Special Topics in Rhetoric and Public Address | |
| Special Topics in Communication Science | |
| Mass Media and Youth | |
| Health Communication in the Information Age | |
Radio-TV-Film
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Contemporary Media | |
| Film Comedy | |
| Topics in Film and Media Studies | |
| The Business and Culture of Disney | |
| Music Industries and Popular Culture | |
| Critical Internet Studies | |
| Race, Ethnicity, and Media | |
| Introduction to Film | |
| Television Industries | |
| Film Genres | |
| Introduction to Film and TV Production | |
| History of the Animated Film | |
| Documentary Film: Representation and Reality | |
| Sports Media | |
| Ethics of Entertainment Media | |
| Gender, Sexuality, and the Media | |
| Latinx/es and Media | |
| Asian Americans and Media | |
| Indian Cinema in the U.S. and Beyond | |
| Media and National Identity | |
| Sound Cultures: Podcasting and Music | |
| Cultural History of Broadcasting | |
| Television Criticism | |
| Critical Film Analysis | |
| French Film | |
| Global Media Cultures | |
| New Media and Society | |
| Italian Film | |
| Global Art Cinema | |
| Avant-Garde Film | |
| Editing and Post-production for Video and Film | |
| Writing for Television and Film | |
| Filming on Set: Film & Television Workshop | |
| Producing for Internet TV and Film | |
| Television Genres | |
| Media Audience Cultures | |
| Digital Game Cultures | |
| Contemporary Hollywood Cinema | |
| The American Film Industry in the Era of the Studio System | |
| Special Topics in Media and Cultural Studies | |
| Special Topics in Production | |
| Special Topics in Film | |
| Documentary Film and TV Production | |
| Advanced Screenwriting | |
| Capstone Films and Pilots Techniques: Film & Television Workshop | |
| Capstone Films and Pilots Production: Film & Television Workshop | |
| Film Theory | |
Electives:2
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 6 |
| Introduction to Digital Communication | |
| Study Abroad in Communication Arts Introductory Topics | |
| Introduction to Contemporary Media | |
| Communication and Human Behavior | |
| Argumentation and Debate | |
| Theory and Practice of Group Discussion | |
| Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | |
| Theory and Practice of Interpersonal Communication |
| Directed Study | |
| Directed Study | |
| Film Comedy | |
| Topics in Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture | |
| Topics in Communication and Social Dynamics | |
| Topics in Rhetoric and Communication Science | |
| Disability and the Media | |
| Topics in Film and Media Studies | |
| The Rhetoric of Reproductive Justice | |
| Gender and Communication | |
| Rhetoric and Health | |
| Introduction to Health Communication | |
| The Business and Culture of Disney | |
| Media and Human Behavior | |
| Music Industries and Popular Culture | |
| Social Media as Literature | |
| Human Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) | |
| Social Media & Well-Being | |
| Online Communication and Personal Relationships | |
| Critical Internet Studies | |
| Race, Ethnicity, and Media | |
| Introduction to Film | |
| Television Industries | |
| Film Genres | |
| Introduction to Film and TV Production | |
| History of the Animated Film | |
| Documentary Film: Representation and Reality | |
| Sports Media | |
| Introduction to Rhetoric in Politics and Culture | |
| Introduction to Quantitative Research in Communication | |
| The Discourse of Dictators, Demagogues & Extremists | |
| Persuasion and Social Influence | |
| Rhetoric of the U.S. Presidential Election | |
| Great Speakers and Speeches | |
| Communication and Conflict Resolution | |
| Rhetoric of Campaigns and Revolutions | |
| Intercultural Communication & Rhetoric | |
| The Rhetoric of Religion | |
| Ethics of Entertainment Media | |
| Topics in Digital Studies (Communication Science & Rhetoric) | |
| Global Technology & Digital Culture | |
| The Psychology of Communication | |
| Gender, Sexuality, and the Media | |
| Latinx/es and Media | |
| Asian Americans and Media | |
| Indian Cinema in the U.S. and Beyond | |
| Technology and Development in Africa and Beyond | |
| Media and National Identity | |
| Sound Cultures: Podcasting and Music | |
| Cultural History of Broadcasting | |
| Television Criticism | |
| Critical Film Analysis | |
| French Film | |
| Global Media Cultures | |
| New Media and Society | |
| Italian Film | |
| Global Art Cinema | |
| Avant-Garde Film | |
| Editing and Post-production for Video and Film | |
| Writing for Television and Film | |
| Filming on Set: Film & Television Workshop | |
| Producing for Internet TV and Film | |
| Contemporary Political Discourse | |
| Rhetoric of the Cold War | |
| Nature of Criticism-The Public Arts of Communication | |
| Rhetoric and Power on the Internet | |
| Study Abroad in Communication Arts | |
| Communication and Health Inequalities | |
| Digital Storytelling for Social Media | |
| Television Genres | |
| Media Audience Cultures | |
| Digital Game Cultures | |
| Contemporary Hollywood Cinema | |
| The American Film Industry in the Era of the Studio System | |
| Communication and Interethnic Behavior | |
| Classical Rhetorical Theory | |
| Rhetoric of Globalization and Transnationalism | |
| Communication in Complex Organizations | |
| Dynamics of Online Relationships | |
| Special Topics in Media and Cultural Studies | |
| Special Topics in Production | |
| Special Topics in Rhetoric and Public Address | |
| Special Topics in Communication Science | |
| Special Topics in Film | |
| Mass Media and Youth | |
| Health Communication in the Information Age | |
| Documentary Film and TV Production | |
| Advanced Screenwriting | |
| Capstone Films and Pilots Techniques: Film & Television Workshop | |
| Capstone Films and Pilots Production: Film & Television Workshop | |
| Film Theory | |
| Senior Thesis | |
| Senior Thesis | |
| Directed Study | |
| Directed Study | |
Footnotes
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
| First Year |
|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|
| COM ARTS 100 (meets Communication A) | 3 | COM ARTS 260 (meets Humanities or Social Science Breadth) | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning A | 4 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Language (if needed) | 4 | Language (if needed) | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | Biological Science Breadth | 3 |
| COUN PSY 125 (optional) | 1 | Elective | 3 |
| | 15 | | 16 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|
| COM ARTS 272 (meets Communication B, Social Science Breadth, and COM ARTS applied) | 3 | COM ARTS Core Part One (meets Humanities Breadth) | 3 |
| COM ARTS 361 (meets Quantitative Reasoning B, Social Science Breadth, and COM ARTS Core Part Two) | 3 | Science Breadth (Biological Science, if BS) | 3 |
| Physical Science Breadth | 3 | Intermediate/Advanced COMP SCI, MATH, or STAT (if BS) or Intermediate/Advanced Elective | 3 |
| Literature Breadth | 3 | Elective | 6 |
| Elective | 3 | INTER-LS 210 (optional) | 1 |
| Declare the major | | |
| | 15 | | 16 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|
| COM ARTS Theory-History-Criticism (with Social Science Breadth) | 3 | COM ARTS Radio-TV-Film (with Humanities Breadth) | 3 |
| COM ARTS 335 (meets Literature Breadth and Theory-History-Criticism) | 3 | Intermediate/Advanced Elective | 12 |
| Intermediate/Advanced COMP SCI, MATH, or STAT (if BS) or Intermediate/Advanced Elective (if BA) | 3 | |
| Science Breadth (Physical Science, if BS) | 3 | |
| Intermediate/Advanced Elective | 3 | |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|
| COM ARTS Theory-History-Criticism | 3 | COM ARTS Major Elective | 3 |
| COM ARTS Major Elective | 3 | Intermediate/Advanced Elective | 10 |
| Intermediate/Advanced Elective | 9 | |
| | 15 | | 13 |
| Total Credits 120 |
