Nov 22, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Catalog

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


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: 2024-2025 Academic Programs

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 Transfer Notes & Michigan Transfer Agreement


The coursework needed to complete this program is listed below.  The courses commonly transfer and satisfy 4-year program requirements at 4-year institutions in Michigan. 

To ensure maximum transferability of individual courses, all course selections should be based on the degree, major, minor, or academic interest at the 4-year transfer institution students plan to attend.

Students should research and utilize all transfer resources available to maximize the number of GRCC courses that transfer and apply to their 4-year program.

Because transferability of courses varies by institution, students should contact the 4-year institution they plan to attend to obtain detailed information about transfer requirements. The 4-year institutions ultimately make the decisions about how each course will be used to meet their program requirements.

GRCC advisors and faculty are available to help students navigate transfer resources and create an individualized transfer plan, including selection of courses, which meets all GRCC and transfer institution requirements.

Graduates of this program will earn an Associate of Arts degree from GRCC and may be eligible to earn the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) credential.

Admission requirements to 4-year institutions and 4-year programs vary. Students should review the specific admission requirements for the institution and program to which they are transferring.

MiTransfer Pathways


This GRCC academic program is associated with the MiTransfer Pathways Agreement for Communications. More information about the MiTransfer Pathways Agreement and requirements, can be found here: GRCC MiTransfer.

General Education Courses


Select a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework from the General Education course list. Select coursework as directed below.  Use transfer resources available to select coursework based on the transfer requirements of the bachelor’s degree program and institution to which you are transferring. See the “Program Elective Courses” section for courses that may also satisfy GRCC General Education Courses   Requirements.

English Composition and Communications


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.

Social Sciences


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

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.

Mathematics


Select one (1) Mathematics General Education Elective.

General Education Total Credit Hours


30 (minimum)

Program Elective Courses


Select a minimum of two (2) courses from the list below based on your transfer requirements. You may be able to select more than the minimum number of courses required for this section depending on the program and degree requirements at the institution to which you are transferring.

Open Elective Courses


The remaining number of courses needed to complete the program will depend on the number of credit hours remaining needed to reach the 60 credits required for graduation. Course selections should be made based on transfer requirements. 

Total Credit Hours


60

In What Order Should I Take Classes?


In What Order Should I Take Classes?

Please select courses from the Priority I list.  Select courses based on the number of credits you are taking in the semester, for example, if you are a part time student you do not have to take all of the courses listed.  If you are unable to schedule Priority I courses, move to and select from the list of Priority II, Priority III, and Priority IV courses.

Priority I Priority II

EN 101 - English Composition I  

General Education Course-Mathematics

General Education Course

General Education Course

COM 131 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking    

EN 102 - English Composition II  

General Education Course

General Education Course

General Education Course - Natural Sciences (Lab/Non)

COM 135 - Interpersonal Communication  

Priority III Priority IV

General Education - Natural Sciences (Lab/Non)

Program Elective Course

Program Elective Course

Open Elective Course

Open Elective Course

Open Elective Course

Open Elective Course

Open Elective Course

Open Elective Course

Open Elective Course

NOTE: This priority schedule assumes the student is prepared to take the courses listed. If prerequisites are required, additional semesters may be required to complete this degree.

Meet with an Academic Program Advisor and consult my Academic Progress for specific degree requirements.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: 2024-2025 Academic Programs