Program: Business Communication, BA - University of Scranton

Apr 02, 2025

Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

For more information about the Communication and Media department, visit its website.

Business Communication courses focus on three core goals for students: to develop strong oral and written communication skills, to learn a range of strategies relating to interpersonal, intercultural, gender, and small group communication–all necessary for effective leadership within organizations–and most importantly, to understand the commanding role that integrated and aligned communication strategies play in the modern business environment in the digital age. Additionally, emphasis is placed on the development of both persuasive communication techniques and the use of graphics and visual presentations software to create highly professional presentations. Students receive a strong foundation of coursework in a broad range of communication strategies and theories to develop enhanced team building and leadership skills necessary in a modern professional environment. Courses explore the importance of effective intercultural communication, the development of interpersonal leadership skills, and the role of social media and technology in the modern marketplace.

Department Core Courses

A student wishing to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Communication must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 36 credits from the department’s course offerings. Included among these 36 credits are five core courses required for all Department of Communication and Media majors:

COMM 101 - Communication and Society
COMM 112 - (FYOC, FYDT) Foundations of Public Speaking
COMM 205 - (EPW) Writing for Communication
COMM 210 - (EPW) Logical and Rhetorical Analysis
COMM 215 - Introduction to Communication Theory

Business Communication Requirements

To the department core courses, the following requirements are added for Business Communication majors:

COMM 228 - (D) Intercultural Communication
COMM 230 - Principles of Business Communication
COMM 315 - The Art of the Pitch
COMM 430 - Advanced Business Communication Strategies

In consultation with an advisor, Business Communication majors choose three (3) additional COMM courses for a total of nine (9) credits.

Business Communication Curriculum

	*Department and Number - Descriptive Course Title*	*Fall Cr.*	*Spr. Cr.*
First Year
GE EP LEVEL I - GE EP LEVEL II/MAJOR	COMM 108 - (FYW) Essential Writing Skills ¹ — COMM 205 - (EPW) Writing for Communication	3	3
MAJOR - GE EP LEVEL I/MAJOR	COMM 101 - Communication and Society — COMM 112 - (FYOC, FYDT) Foundations of Public Speaking	3	3
GE FREE ELECT	FREE ELECT - Free Elective	3
GE HUMN	(CH, CL, CA, CF, CI) HUMN ELECT - Humanities Electives	3	3
GE S/BH	S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Elective		3
GE PHIL - T/RS	PHIL 120 - Introduction to Philosophy — T/RS 121 - (P) Theology I: Introduction to the Bible	3	3
GE EP LEVEL I	First Year Seminar²
		15	15
Second Year
MAJOR/ EP Level II - MAJOR	COMM 210 - (EPW) Logical and Rhetorical Analysis — COMM 215 - Introduction to Communication Theory	3	3
MAJOR	COMM 230 - Principles of Business Communication	3
MAJOR ELECT	COMM ELECT - Communication Elective	3
MAJOR FREE ELECT	FREE ELECT - Free Electives		6
GE HUMN	(CH, CL, CA, CF, CI) HUMN ELECT - Humanities Elective		3
GE PHIL - T/RS	PHIL 210 - Ethics — T/RS 122 - (P) Theology II: Introduction to Christian Theology	3	3
GE S/BH	S/BH ELECT - Social Behavioral Elective	3
		15	15
Third Year
MAJOR	COMM 315 - The Art of the Pitch — COMM 228 - (D) Intercultural Communication	3	3
MAJOR ELECT	MAJOR ELECT - Communication Elective		3
GE FREE ELECT	FREE ELECT - Free Electives	6	6
GE QUAN	COMM 240 - (Q) Communications Research Methods ³		3
GE PHIL - T/RS	PHIL ELECT - Philosophy Elective or T/RS ELECT - T/RS elective	3
GE NSCI	NSCI ELECT - Natural Science Electives	3	3
		15	15
Fourth Year
MAJOR ELECT - MAJOR	COMM ELECT - Communication Elective — COMM 430 - Advanced Business Communication Strategies	3	3
FREE ELECT	FREE ELECT - Free Electives⁴	9	9
GE HUMN	(CH, CL, CA, CF, CI) HUMN ELECT - Humanities Elective	3
GE NSCI	NSCI ELECT - Natural Science Elective		3
		15	15
	Total: 120 Credits

¹The Department of Communication & Media prefers students fulfill (FYW) requirements by completing COMM 108 . However WRTG 107 or WRTG 105 and WRTG 106 may be substituted.

²The selection of a First Year Seminar is likely to fulfill requirements both for the First Year Seminar and a General Education Requirement. Talk with your advisor if you have any questions.

³The Department of Communication & Media prefers students fulfill the (Q) requirement by completing COMM 240 . However, another (Q) course may be substituted.

⁴The Communication Department & Media strongly recommends complete 3-6 credits of a credit-satisfactory (CS) internship in the GE free elective area.

Business Communication, BA

Department Core Courses

Business Communication Requirements

Business Communication Curriculum

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

Total: 120 Credits