Communication

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The B.S. in Communication requires a total of 124 credit hours, including 44 credit hours of major requirements. Of the remaining credit hours, 32 are free electives, 24 meet Rensselaer requirements in the humanities, arts, and social sciences, and 24 are taken in math and science.

First Year

Fall

BIOL 1010 - Introduction to Biology Credit Hours: 3
(See footnote 2 below)
COMM 1510 - Introduction to Communication Theory Credit Hours: 4
MATH 1500 - Calculus for Architecture, Management, and HASS Credit Hours: 4
WRIT 2110 - Rhetoric and Writing Credit Hours: 4
or HASS Elective

Spring

HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4
One Literature (LITR) course Credit Hours: 4

COMM 2610 - Introduction to Visual Communication Credit Hours: 4
MATH 1620 - Contemporary Mathematical Ideas in Society Credit Hours: 4

Second Year

Fall

Major Requirement Credit Hours: 4
(See footnote 1 below)
HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4
Science Elective Credit Hours: 4
Major Requirement Credit Hours: 4

Spring

Major Requirement Credit Hours: 4
HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4
Math/Science Elective Credit Hours: 4
Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

Third Year

Fall

Major Requirement Credit Hours: 4
HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4
Math/Science Elective Credit Hours: 4
Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

Spring

Major Requirement Credit Hours: 4
Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 4
Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

Fourth Year

Fall

Major Requirement Credit Hours: 4
HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4
Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

Spring

Major Requirement Credit Hours: 4
Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
Free Elective Credit Hours: 4

Footnotes

Major Requirement (44 credit hours required); all communication majors are required to take COMM 1510 and COMM 2610. Students who are following the General Communications major (i.e., those who are not following the Graphic Design Concentration) are also required to take WRIT 2110, and one LITR course of their choice. The remaining 28 credit hours are comprised of courses taken from the Communication and Media Department. Courses with the codes COMM, LANG, LITR, and WRIT fulfill the requirement.
BIOL 1010 is not required if first major is Engineering.