» Recommended Classes for First-Year Communication Studies Majors

Here are the classes that we recommend you take during your first year as a Communication Studies major at Chapman. 

For your first semester, we recommend taking 12-15 credits (most classes are 3 credits; those with labs are 4). You must be enrolled in 12 credits to be considered a full-time status student. The recommended courses below will put you at 15 credits per semester (fall and spring). 

Introductory Math Requirement

As an incoming first-year student, you must take a math assessment. If you place into Math 100 (Learning and Studying Mathematics for Understanding), then you must enroll in this course in your first year (fall or spring semester). For more information, visit our Math Assessment webpage. 

General Education Classes

You can choose a General Education (GE) class from any GE category – it’s your choice. In general, the following GE areas are recommended to begin/complete during your first year:

  • GE Language Study (strongly recommended)
  • GE Quantitative Inquiry

Note: Some GE courses may “double count” with your major or minor. Students can share up to 9 credits between major and GE requirements and can share up to 6 credits between minor and GE requirements. Visit the General Education Program site to review the GE policies and see a list of approved courses for each GE area.You may be able to fulfill some of your GE requirements with classes from your major and/or minor. 

You can learn more about general education on our General Education: How it Works page.

 

Fall Semester

Communication (COM) Majors are part of the Block Scheduling program for first-year students in the Fall 2023 semester. You will be pre-registered by the department in two COM courses in May/June. You can then build the rest of your schedule around these required major courses.

FFC 100 - You Choose! 
Credits: 3

All first-year students at Chapman have to take First Year Foundations. The class will introduce you to college and there is a different topic for every major.

Certain major programs require that their students take a specific FFC course, or give you a choice from a list of FFC courses specific to the major. If you are in a major that doesn't require you to take a specific FFC course, then you will be directed to choose from a listing of all FFC course options for Fall semester. See the First-Year Focus GE page for your major’s list of FFC options.

COM 100 and 102 or 110 (will be pre-registered in these classes) 
Credits: 6

Note: COM is part of the Block Scheduling program. If you are a first year student, you will be pre-registered in COM 100 and either COM 102 or COM 110 in May/June. You can then build the rest of your schedule around these required major courses.

  • COM 100 - Introduction to Communication Studies (3 credits)
  • COM 102 - Public Speaking in a Diverse Society (3 credits)
  • COM 110 - Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)

GE class or minor exploration 
Credits: 3

GE class or minor exploration
Credits: 3

Spring Semester

COM 151
Credits: 3

COM 211 or COM 212
Credits: 3

COM 102 or COM 110
Credits: 3

GE class or minor exploration 
Credits: 3

GE class or minor exploration
Credits: 3 

 

Supplemental Information for Communication Studies:​

  • The School of Communication strongly recommends taking a statistics course as your Quantitative Inquiry (QI) GE, such as MATH 203.