Communication

RATIONALE:
Rationale for the change requiring a minimum grade of C in each of the three courses: The current program requires that students must have completed IHCOMM 171, COMM 175, and IHPHIL 100 in order to apply for admission to the program. They must earn at least a C and achieve a GPA of at least 2.5 in the three courses required for admission to the major. We are deleting the requirement that students must achieve a GPA of at least 2.5 in the three courses. This was a holdover from the old 3 credit model which should have been deleted. Once a student is in the major, s/he must only maintain a C in each course that is counted toward the major. We see little need in requiring a 2.5 to be admitted followed by a 2.0 to remain a major. Thus, we believe the requirement to earn a grade of C in each course is sufficient and provides a more consistent requirement.

Rationale for the change of elective choice to 300 or 400 level: The current program requires that at least one elective course must be at the 400 level. The new requirement will expand that to one elective course at the 300 or 400 level. Both 300 and 400 level courses generally involve a theoretical component or advanced research skills. Most of our 400 level courses are Research Methods courses, and a Research Methods course is already required of majors. In addition, majors are also required to take the capstone Senior Project course, which is also at the 400 level. The goal of the original requirement was to ensure that students could not complete the major without taking any upper-level courses, and that goal is achieved through other major requirements and Research Methods course offerings. Allowing 300 level courses to count towards the Electives requirement will expand the opportunities for students to take courses in areas of particular interest, while still ensuring that majors take upper-level courses that involve a theoretical component or advanced research skills.