Options in the Major
Undergraduate students who major in Communication Arts declare one of the following options:
Communication Science & Rhetorical Studies
The Communication Science & Rhetorical Studies option emphasizes social, psychological, and practical aspects of communication and human behavior. Students focus on public, mass, online, organizational, group, and interpersonal communication. They develop qualitative and quantitative research skills, conceptual and analytical thinking, and effective oral and written communication.
Radio, Television, & Film
The Radio, Television, & Film option focuses on the history, theory, criticism, cultural uses, and production practices of television, film, radio, and digital media. Majors complete a media production course in order to gain a concrete understanding of the possibilities of these media. Emphasis is on critical analysis, creative expression, and an understanding of how media functions in our society.
Comm Arts Major Requirements
Please see the Academic Guide for a complete list of courses and when they were last taught.
Communication Arts Major Handout
Communication Arts Major Handout with Digital Studies Certificate Notations
Communication Science & Rhetorical Studies
10 courses, 30 credits
1 course: Fundamentals
- 260 Communication & Human Behavior
2 courses: Core Courses (Course can only be applied to one requirement within the major.)
- 360 Intro. to Rhetoric in Politics and Culture
or - 370 Great Speakers & Speeches
or - 372 Rhetoric of Campaigns & Revolutions
AND - 361 Intro. to Quantitative Research in Communication
or - 368 Persuasion & Social Influence
1 course: Applied Communication
- 262 Argumentation & Debate
- 266 Theory & Practice of Group Discussion
- 272 Intro. to Interpersonal Communication
3 courses: Theory-History-Criticism
- 310 Topics in Rhetoric and Communication Science
- 316 Gender and Communication
- 317 Rhetoric and Health
- 318 Intro to Health Communication
- 325 Media and Human Behavior
- 335 Social Media as Literature
- 344 Social Media & Well-Being
- 345 Online Communication and Personal Relationships
- 360 Intro. to Rhetoric in Politics and Culture
- 361 Intro. to Quantitative Research in Communication
- 368 Persuasion & Social Influence
- 369 Rhetoric of the U.S. Presidential Election
- 370 Great Speakers & Speeches
- 371 Communication and Conflict Resolution
- 372 Rhetoric of Campaigns & Revolutions
- 373 Intercultural Communication & Rhetoric
- 374 Rhetoric of Religion
- 377 Topics in Digital Studies-Comm Science/Rhetoric
- 402 Psychology of Communication
- 470 Contemporary Political Discourse
- 472 Rhetoric and Technology
- 474 Rhetoric of the Cold War
- 476 Nature of Criticism
- 509 Digital Media and Political Communication
- 518 Communication and Health Inequalities
- 522 Digital Storytelling for Social Media
- 525 Media, Deliberation, and Public Issues
- 565 Communication & Interethnic Behavior
- 570 Classical Rhetorical Theory
- 573 Rhetoric of Globalization and Transnationalism
- 575 Communication in Complex Organizations
- 577 Dynamics of Online Relationships
- 610 Special Topics in Rhetoric and Public Address
- 612 Special Topics in Communication Science
- 616 Mass Media & Youth
- 617 Health Communication in Information Age
1 course: Radio, TV, Film
2 courses: Electives
- Comm Arts courses numbered 200-699, excluding Com Arts 605, 614, 615
Radio, Television, & Film
10 courses, 30-31 credits
1 course: Fundamentals
- 250 Survey of Contemporary Media
2 courses: Radio, TV, Film Core
- 350 Introduction to Film
- 351 Television Industries
1 course: Production
- 355 Intro. to Media Production
Advanced Production Electives:
- 465 Editing & Post-Production: Video & Film
- 466 Writing for TV & Film
- 467 Cinematography & Sound Recording
- 468 Producing for Internet TV and Video
- 609 Special Topics in Production
- 651 Advanced Video Production and Direction
- 659 Advanced Motion Picture Production Workshop
3 courses: Theory-History-Criticism
- 300 Film Comedy
- 313 Topics in Film and Media Studies
- 323 Business and Culture of Disney
- 330 Music Industries and Popular Culture
- 346 Critical Internet Studies
- 347 Race, Ethnicity, & Media
- 354 Film Genres
- 357 History of the Animated Film
- 358 History of Documentary Film
- 359 Sports Media
- 375 Ethics of Entertainment Media
- 418 Gender, Sexuality, and the Media
- 419 Latino/as and Media
- 420 Asian Americans and Media
- 443 Indian Cinema in the U.S. and Beyond
- 448 Media and National Identity
- 449 Sound Cultures: Podcasting and Music
- 450 Cultural History of Broadcasting
- 451 Television Criticism
- 454 Critical Film Analysis
- 455 French Film
- 458 Global Media Cultures
- 459 New Media and Society
- 460 Italian Film
- 461 Global Art Cinema
- 463 Avant-Garde Film
- 540 Television Genres
- 545 Media Audience Cultures
- 547 Digital Game Cultures
- 552 Contemporary Hollywood Cinema
- 556 American Film Industry — Era of Studio System
- 608 Special Topics in Media & Cultural Studies
- 613 Special Topics in Film
- 669 Film Theory
1 course: Communication Science & Rhetorical Studies
2 courses: Electives
- Comm Arts courses numbered 200-699, excluding Com Arts 605, 614, 615
Honors in the Communication Arts Major (Effective Summer 2020)
Communication Arts honors in the major is intended for students who are eager to undertake an in-depth examination of the field’s historical foundation, fundamental theories, and modes of criticism. Honors in the major is especially appropriate for students who are considering graduate work in communication. Communication Arts offers two honors tracks:
- Communication Science and Rhetorical Studies
- Radio, Television, and Film
Declaring Honors in the Major
Students who wish to pursue honors in the major in Communication Arts must first declare the standard Communication Arts major and then apply for admission to the department honors program.
To be accepted into an honors track, students must have
- Completed the Fundamentals course for their track:
- Com Arts 250 for the Radio, Television, and Film track
- Com Arts 260 for the Communication Science and Rhetorical Studies track
- Completed the two core courses for their track
- Earned at least a 3.5 grade point average in their Communication Arts coursework
To earn honors in the major in Communication Arts, students must satisfy both the standard major requirements and a set of additional requirements:
Major Coursework Requirements:
- Complete four theory, history, criticism requirement courses numbered 400 and above from the declared honors track to satisfy the theory, history, criticism requirements for the major.
- Three of the theory, history, criticism courses must be completed on campus. Communication Arts online courses meet this requirement.
- Complete a minimum of 11 courses, 33 credits.
Capstone: Senior Honors Thesis, Com Arts 681, Senior Honors Thesis, and Com Arts 682, Senior Honors Thesis
Students pursuing honors in the major need to submit a two-page thesis proposal to the Communication Arts Undergraduate Committee by the end of the 9th week of their second semester of junior year.
In the proposal:
- Outline your goals and elaborate on specific topic(s) for the thesis
- Indicate how the course work you’ve taken thus far has prepared you to write the thesis
- Nominate a faculty member in your track who might supervise the thesis and provide a rationale for this choice
Upon acceptance of the proposal by the Com Arts Undergraduate Committee and the faculty mentor, the student enrolls in Com Arts 681 and Com Arts 682 for the capstone component in order to complete the thesis during the senior year.
The completed thesis has to be approved by both the thesis advisor and a second Communication Arts faculty member chosen in consultation with the thesis advisor.
GPA requirements: Achieve a GPA of 3.5 in all Communication Arts courses and an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in courses taken at UW-Madison at the time of graduation.
Communication Science & Rhetorical Studies Honors
1 Course: Fundamentals
- 260 Communication & Human Behavior
2 Courses: Core Courses
- 360 Intro. to Rhetoric in Politics and Culture
or - 370 Great Speakers & Speeches
or - 372 Rhetoric of Campaigns & Revolutions
AND - 361 Intro to Quantitative Research in Communication
or - 368 Persuasion & Social Influence
1 Course: Applied
- 262 Argumentation & Debate
- 266 Theory & Practice of Group Discussion
- 272 Intro. to Interpersonal Communication
4 Courses: Theory-History-Criticism
- 402 Psychology of Communication
- 470 Contemporary Political Discourse
- 474 Rhetoric of the Cold War
- 476 Nature of Criticism
- 509 Digital Media and Political Communication
- 518 Communication and Health Inequalities
- 522 Digital Storytelling for Social Media
- 565 Communication & Interethnic Behavior
- 573 Rhetoric of Globalization & Transnationalism
- 575 Communication in Complex Organizations
- 577 Dynamics of Online Relationships
- 610 Special Topics in Rhetoric *
- 612 Special Topics in Communication Science *
- 616 Mass Media & Youth
- 617 Health Communication in Information Age
1 Course: Radio, TV, & Film
2 Courses: Honors Thesis
- 681 Senior Honors Thesis (semester 1)
- 682 Senior Honors Thesis (semester 2)
Radio, Television, Film Honors
1 Course: Fundamentals
- 250 Survey of Contemporary Media
2 Courses: Core Courses
- 350 Introduction to Film
- 351 Television Industries
1 Course: Production
- 355 Introduction to Media Production
4 Courses: Theory-History-Criticism
- 418 Gender, Sexuality, and the Media
- 419 Latino/as and Media
- 420 Asian Americans and Media
- 443 Indian Cinema and Beyond
- 448 Media and National Identity
- 449 Sound Cultures: Podcasting and Music
- 450 Cultural History of Broadcasting
- 451 Television Criticism
- 454 Critical Film Analysis
- 455 French Film
- 458 Global Media Cultures
- 459 New Media and Society
- 460 Italian Film
- 461 Global Art Cinema
- 463 Avant-Garde Film
- 540 Television Genres *
- 545 Media Audience Cultures
- 547 Digital Game Cultures
- 552 Contemporary Hollywood Cinema
- 556 American Film Industry — Era of Studio System
- 608 Special Topics in Media & Cultural Studies *
- 613 Special Topics in Film *
- 669 Film Theory
1 Course: Communication Science & Rhetorical Studies
2 Courses: Honors Thesis
- 681 Senior Honors Thesis (semester 1)
- 682 Senior Honors Thesis (semester 2)
* Can take multiple times with different topics
Distinction in the Major
Students who are not enrolled for Honors in the major, and who have earned a 3.75 or higher GPA in their Com Arts major courses (200-699) are eligible for Distinction in the major if declared in Com Arts by end of fall 2021. The advisor will send graduating seniors additional information towards the end of their final semester. The major GPA is calculated in the DARS report.