2025-2026 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Degree Core Requirements 1 | ||
COMM 1004 | First-Semester Experience in Communication | 1 |
COMM 1014 | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
COMM 2024 | Media Writing | 3 |
COMM 2084 | Media and Society | 3 |
COMM 2094 | Communication and Issues of Diversity | 3 |
COMM 2124 | Introduction to Communication Research | 3 |
COMM 4024 | Communication Law | 3 |
Subtotal | 19 | |
Major Requirements | ||
CMST 2034 | Visual Media | 3 |
CMST 2064 | The Tradition of Rhetoric and Societal Change (PATHWAY-2) | 3 |
CMST 3064 | Persuasion | 3 |
CMST 3214 | Professional Communication (PATHWAY-1A) | 3 |
CMST 4714 | Senior Seminar in Communication | 3 |
COMM 3900 | Bridge Experience | 0 |
Major Restricted Electives | ||
Choose two from one category and three from the other; must include at least one course at the 4000-level | 15 | |
Theory Electives | ||
Introduction to Health Communication (PATHWAY-3) | ||
Health Communication Campaigns | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Public Advocacy | ||
Topics in Media Criticism | ||
Topics in Communication | ||
Introduction to Sports Media (PATHWAY-3) | ||
Media and Politics | ||
Media Effects | ||
International Communication | ||
Social Media Theory and Practice | ||
Communication Ethics | ||
New Communications Technology | ||
Principles of Public Relations (PATHWAY-3) | ||
Corporate Communication | ||
Organizational Communication | ||
Application Electives | ||
Digital Publishing | ||
Persuasive Public Speaking | ||
Digital Advocacy Campaigns | ||
Web Content Management Strategies | ||
Communication Internship | ||
Writing and Digital Media | ||
Grant Proposals and Reports | ||
Developing Online Content | ||
Introduction to Media Production Technology | ||
Social Media Analytics | ||
Subtotal | 30 | |
Free Electives | ||
Complete 26 credits of minor, cognate, or double major and electives | 26 | |
Subtotal | 26 | |
Pathways to General Education | ||
Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
COMM 1015 & COMM 1016 | Communication Skills and Communication Skills 2 | 6 |
Select one Pathway 1a course | 3 | |
Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
Select two Pathway 2 courses | 6 | |
Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | ||
Select two Pathway 3 courses | 6 | |
Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | ||
Select two Pathway 4 courses | 6 | |
Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | ||
Select two 5F courses | 6 | |
Select one 5A courses | 3 | |
Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
Select one 6A course | 3 | |
Select one 6D course | 3 | |
Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
Select one Pathway 7 course | 3 | |
Subtotal | 45 | |
Total Credits | 120 |
In addition to the requirements shown, students must complete the following to reach 120 credits for graduation:
Students who transfer into the major after their first year may substitute ENGL 1105 First-Year Writing and ENGL 1106 First-Year Writing for COMM 1015 Communication Skills and COMM 1016 Communication Skills. Those transfer students should take COMM 2004 Public Speaking for Pathways Concept 1A and COMM 2014 Communication Principles of Teamwork for 3 of the required credits hours toward Pathways Concept 3. Students may need to take a different number of credit hours in certain categories due to substitutions or transferring from other majors. Please consult with your academic advisor.
A student will be certified as making satisfactory progress toward a degree by meeting these requirements:
2 years of single foreign or classical language or American Sign Language in middle or high school, OR
Credit by examination for a foreign or classical language or American Sign Language (This option is available only to students who learned a foreign language without the benefit of formal training.), OR
6 college-level semester credits in a single foreign or classical language or American Sign Language. These credits are in addition to the 120 required for graduation.
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Credits | |
COMM 1004 | First-Semester Experience in Communication | 1 |
COMM 1015 | Communication Skills | 3 |
Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | 3 | |
Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | 3 | |
Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | 3 | |
Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | 3 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring Semester | ||
COMM 1014 | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
COMM 1016 | Communication Skills | 3 |
Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | 3 | |
Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | 3 | |
Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
COMM 2024 | Media Writing | 3 |
COMM 2084 | Media and Society | 3 |
COMM 2094 | Communication and Issues of Diversity | 3 |
Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | 3 | |
Restricted Electives | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring Semester | ||
CMST 2064 | The Tradition of Rhetoric and Societal Change (PATHWAY-2) | 3 |
COMM 2124 | Introduction to Communication Research | 3 |
CMST 2034 | Visual Media | 3 |
Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | 3 | |
Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
CMST 3064 | Persuasion | 3 |
Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | 3 | |
Pathway 1a | 3 | |
Restricted Electives | 3 | |
Free Electives | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring Semester | ||
CMST 3214 | Professional Communication (PATHWAY-1A) | 3 |
COMM 3900 | Bridge Experience | 0 |
Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | 3 | |
Restricted Electives | 3 | |
Restricted Electives | 3 | |
Free Electives | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
COMM 4024 | Communication Law | 3 |
Restricted Electives | 3 | |
Free Electives | 3 | |
Free Electives | 3 | |
Free Electives | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring Semester | ||
CMST 4714 | Senior Seminar in Communication | 3 |
Free Electives | 3 | |
Free Electives | 3 | |
Free Electives | 3 | |
Free Electives | 2 | |
Credits | 14 | |
Total Credits | 120 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Theory Electives | ||
ADV 2134 | Introduction to Health Communication | 3 |
ADV 4324 | Health Communication Campaigns | 3 |
CMST 3124 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
CMST 3134 | Public Advocacy | 3 |
CMST 4224 | Topics in Media Criticism | 3 |
CMST 4244 | Topics in Communication | 3 |
JMC 2074 | Introduction to Sports Media | 3 |
JMC 3254 | Media and Politics | 3 |
JMC 4014 | Media Effects | 3 |
JMC 4264 | Social Media Theory and Practice | 3 |
JMC 4334 | Communication Ethics | 3 |
JMC 4374 | New Communications Technology | 3 |
PR 2044 | Principles of Public Relations | 3 |
PR 3324 | Corporate Communication | 3 |
PR 4074 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
Application Electives | ||
CMST 3024 | Digital Publishing | 3 |
CMST 3074 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 3 |
CMST 4174 | Digital Advocacy Campaigns | 3 |
CMST 4214 | Web Content Management Strategies | 3 |
COMM 4204 | Communication Internship | 1-6 |
ENGL 3844 | Writing and Digital Media | 3 |
ENGL 4804 | Grant Proposals and Reports | 3 |
ENGL 4814 | Developing Online Content | 3 |
JMC 1114 | Introduction to Media Production Technology | 3 |
JMC 4064 | Social Media Analytics | 3 |
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