Pre-Communication Studies, A.A. (General Transfer)

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Academic Program Code: 523

The focus of the Communication Studies academic program is to study the ways people use messages to generate meaning in contexts such as personal and professional settings as well as across cultures and in the media.

This academic program lays the foundation for students to transfer to a 4-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. The courses provide a solid preparation for advanced study of Communication and are transferable to colleges and universities in Michigan. A major in Communication Studies can be tailored to a student’s interests and career goals. Colleges and universities in Michigan offer a variety of Communication Studies majors such as Advertising and Public Relations, Interpersonal Communication, Broadcasting, Organizational Communication, Multi-Media Journalism, Film, Video and Media Studies, Human Resources Management, Health Communication, and Applied Speech Communication.

Depending on the area of specialization, students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies are prepared for jobs in a variety of fields including, but not limited to, customer service and sales, human resources, teaching, community outreach and advocacy, politics, business, marketing, media affairs, public relations, and broadcasting.

By declaring this Pre-Major, students are on track to graduate with both an Associate of Arts degree from GRCC and a bachelor’s degree from a 4-year institution.

General Education Courses

Select a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work from the General Education course list. Course work must be selected as directed in the areas below.

English Composition and Communications

EN 101 - English Composition I Credit Hours: 3
Select an EN or COM course from the list below (based on your transfer requirements).
EN 102 - English Composition II Credit Hours: 3
OR
COM 131 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
OR
COM 135 - Interpersonal Communication Credit Hours: 3

Humanities

Select two (2) Humanities General Education Electives from two (2) different subject areas. Only one (1) Foreign Language course can be used for the Humanities requirement.

Humanities General Education - Elective Credit Hours: varies by course
Humanities General Education - Elective Credit Hours: varies by course

Social Sciences

Select two (2) Social Sciences General Education Electives from two (2) different subject areas.

Social Sciences General Education - Elective Credit Hours: varies by course
Social Sciences General Education - Elective Credit Hours: varies by course

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Natural Sciences

Select two (2) Natural Sciences General Education courses from two (2) different subject areas; one (1) must be a lab.

Nat Sci Lab/Non Lab General Education - Elective Credit Hours: varies by course
Nat Sci Lab General Education - Elective Credit Hours: varies by course

Mathematics

Select one (1) Mathematics General Education Elective.

Mathematics General Education - Elective (Must meet MTA requirements) Credit Hours: varies by course

General Education Total Credit Hours

30 (minimum)

Program Courses

COM 131 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
COM 135 - Interpersonal Communication Credit Hours: 3

Program Elective Courses

Select a minimum of five (5) Program Elective courses from the following. Courses should be selected based on your identified program or major at the 4-year transfer institution that you plan to attend. For assistance, please see a GRCC advisor or faculty member, in addition to viewing the “Transfer Notes” section below.

COM 235 - Gender and Communication Credit Hours: 3
COM 236 - Intercultural Communication Credit Hours: 3
COM 250 - Organizational Communication Credit Hours: 3
COM 254 - Mass Media Credit Hours: 3
COM 266 - Fundamentals of Public Relations Credit Hours: 3
Open Course - Elective Credit Hours: varies by course
Open Course - Elective Credit Hours: varies by course
Open Course - Elective Credit Hours: varies by course
If transferring to Grand Valley State University, you should select COM 235, COM 236, COM 250, COM 254, and COM 266.

If transferring to Ferris State University, you should select COM 235, COM 236, COM 250, and Open Electives.

If transferring to Eastern Michigan University, you should select COM 235, COM 236, COM 250, and Open Electives.

If transferring to Western Michigan University, you should select COM 235, COM 236, COM 254, and Open Electives.

If transferring to Central Michigan University, you should select COM 236, COM 250, and Open Electives.

Open Elective Courses

Once you have completed the above coursework, you can take other GRCC courses to complete your degree. For maximum transferability, all courses should be selected based on your identified program or major at the 4-year transfer institution that you plan to attend. The number of elective credit hours that you will need to complete this Pre-Major will depend on the number of credit hours that remain in order for you to reach the 60 credits needed to graduate. For assistance in developing an academic plan, please see a GRCC advisor or faculty member.

Total Credit Hours

Transfer Notes

Be aware that many 4-year institutions limit the number of credits that you can transfer from GRCC, and have final determination regarding the transferability and applicability of GRCC courses. Contact the 4-year institution to which you intend to transfer for assistance with course selections and verification of the transferability and applicability of courses/credits. It is recommended that you meet with an advisor to review the requirements for this program and have any questions about transfer answered prior to completing this degree program at GRCC.