Communication Arts and Sciences: Pathways
A degree in Communication Arts & Sciences provides graduates with great flexibility upon graduation. We have designed these pathways to provide students with ideas about how grouping courses together can lend to a particular area of strength. Students may follow these pathways or design pathways of their own based on interest and future plans.
Required Courses for all Pathways
CAS 301: Rhetorical Theory
CAS 303: Communication Theory
CAS 311: Methods of Rhetorical Criticism
CAS 204: Communication Research Methods
Recommended Courses for all Pathways
CAS 101N: Introduction to Human Communication
CAS 297: Careers in Communication
CAS 495: Internship
Interpersonal & Intercultural Communication Pathway
Students who follow the interpersonal and intercultural communication pathway will learn how perception and meaning, while situated within cultural contexts, function in human communication. Students choosing this pathway may be interested in careers in social services, health, education, management, and international relations.
CAS 203: Interpersonal Communication
CAS 280W: Storytelling and Speaking
CAS 404: Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
CAS 405: Family Communication Theory
CAS 422: African American Communication
CAS 455: Gender Roles in Communication
CAS 470: Nonverbal Communication
CAS 471: Intercultural Communication Theory and Research
Health Communication Pathway
Students who choose this pathway will learn about the role of communication in health and health care. Courses in this pathway focus on the function of communication in health care organizations, health promotion campaigns, and in daily provider-patient interaction. Students choosing this pathway may be interested in careers in health care, the pharmaceutical industry, hospital administrators, and public policy professions.
CAS 203: Interpersonal Communication
CAS 253: Health Communication
CAS 404: Conflict Resolution and Negotiation.
CAS 405: Family Communication Theory
CAS 426W: Communication Ethics
CAS 452W: Organizational Communication
CAS 455: Gender Roles in Communication
CAS 470: Nonverbal Communication
Organizational Communication Pathway
This pathway leads to communication-driven careers in corporate and non-profit organizations where leadership, decision-making, interviewing, and teamwork are essential. Students choosing this pathway may be interested in a management, entrepreneurial, human resources, or a training and development career.
CAS 250: Small Group Communication
CAS 252: Business and Professional Communication
CAS 271N: Intercultural Communication
CAS 280W: Storytelling and Speaking
CAS 404: Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
CAS 426W: Communication Ethics
CAS 452W: Organizational Communication
CAS 455: Gender Roles in Communication
Public Advocacy and Strategic Communication Pathway
This pathway leads to careers where effective message design, analysis, persuasion, and argumentation are daily activities. Courses focus on the analysis of political power, all types of persuasive campaigns, and social movements, nationally and internationally. Students choosing this pathway may be interested in professions in governmental, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and non-profit agencies, as well as jobs in political consulting, lobbying, and public communication offices. Students interested in law school will also benefit from following this pathway.
CAS 200: Language, Culture, and Communication
CAS 222: Foundations of Community and Civic Engagement
CAS 271: Intercultural Communication
CAS 404: Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
CAS 415: Rhetoric of Television and Film
CAS 426W: Communication Ethics
CAS 452W: Organizational Communication
CAS 470: Nonverbal Communication
