Description

The Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) with a focus in communication/journalism includes courses that are commonly required for these majors and meets lower division general education requirements at all Oregon public universities. A degree in communication/journalism can lead to a career in teaching, the hospitality industry, broadcast and cyber media, human resources, business management, public relations, politics, law or the arts.

Learning Outcomes

Arts & Letters

1. Interpret and engage in the Arts & Letters, making use of the creative process to enrich the quality of life; and

2. Critically analyze values and ethics within a range of human experience and expression to engage more fully in local and global issues. 

Cultural Literacy

1. Identify and analyze complex practices, values, and beliefs and the culturally and historically defined meanings of difference.  

Health

1. Explain the relationship between human behavior and health.

Mathematics

1. Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems; and

2. Recognize which mathematical concepts are applicable to a scenario, apply appropriate mathematics and technology in its analysis, and then accurately interpret, validate, and communicate the results.

Science or Computer Science

1. Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models and solutions and generate further questions;

2. Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner; and

3. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment. 

Social Science

1. Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior; and

2. Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live.

Speech/Oral Communication

1. Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals;

2. Respond to the needs of diverse audiences and contexts; and

3. Build and manage relationships.

Writing and Information Literacy

1. Read actively, think critically, and write purposefully and capably for academic and, in some cases, professional audiences;

2. Recognize and articulate the need for information, and then locate, evaluate, and ethically utilize that information to communicate effectively; and
3. Demonstrate appropriate reasoning in response to complex issues.

Entrance Requirements

While this program has no formal entrance requirements, individual courses may have prerequisites which must be met prior to enrollment.

Course Requirements

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
General Education/Foundational
Health:
Choose 3 credits 1		3
Mathematics:
Choose one course		4
Oral Communication:
Choose one course		3-4
Writing:
WR 121	Academic Composition	4
WR 122	Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition	4
or WR 227	Technical Writing
General Education/Discipline studies
Cultural Literacy:
One course from the following categories must be designated as cultural literacy on the Discipline Studies list (credits count once).
Arts and Letters:
Choose three courses from at least two prefixes 2		9-12
Social Science:
Choose four courses from at least two prefixes 3		12-16
Science/Math/Computer Science:
Choose four courses from at least two prefixes including at least three laboratory courses in biological and/or physical science		12-20
Electives
Choose enough electives to reach the minimum of 90 credits for the AAOT 4		39
Total Credits		90-106

1	HHPA activity courses (1 credit each) are not to be duplicated.
2	Speech communication majors should consider courses with ART, HUM, ENG, PHL, SP or TA prefixes.
3	Speech communication majors interested in quantitative communication studies should consider courses with a PSY or SOC prefix. Speech communication majors interested in rhetoric and public address should consider courses with an HST or PS prefix.
4	Related courses to consider: Any course with a COMM prefix

Advising Notes

Oregon public universities offer a variety of programs for speech communication majors who seek a bachelor’s or more advanced degree. Some Oregon two-year and four-year colleges have required speech courses that are 4 credits, so students transferring to those colleges may find it helpful to take one of the 1 credit courses, such as COMM 250 Listening, COMM 252 Team Skills, COMM 253 Conflict Management or COMM 255 Free Expression and Public Assembly to supplement one of the 3 credit speech courses.

Oregon State University – Cascades offers a speech communication minor; contact its Admissions office for more information. OSU’s (Corvallis) department of Speech Communication offers undergraduate programs leading to BA or BS degrees, with concentrations in communication or theatre arts. Additionally, students at OSU can complete a minor either in communication or theatre arts, as well as one in the multimedia minors. At the graduate level they participate in the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program.

Oregon Tech's Communications Department offers a BS in Communication Studies, with an optional certificate in Dispute Resolution. They also offer minors in Human Communication or
Technical Communication.

Southern Oregon University’s Department of Communication provides students the opportunity to develop verbal and nonverbal communication knowledge and skills through exploration of human communication, mass media studies and journalism. In addition to these three degree programs, the department offers four minor options to support a variety of goals: human communication, journalism, media studies and public relations.

The University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication offers majors in six areas: advertising, electronic media, communication studies, magazine journalism, news-editorial or public relations.

Western Oregon University’s Speech Communication Department offers a 57-hour major and a 27-hour minor in speech communication. In the liberal arts tradition, their program emphasizes classic texts of rhetoric, modern communication theory and the latest developments in mass media and communication technology.

Performance Standards

• Academic Requirements:
  • Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to earn a COCC certificate or degree.
  • Options for additional standards:
    • All courses in the program must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

Sample Plan

Sample Plan Grid

First Term		Credits
Discipline Studies Arts & Letters 2		3-4
MTH 105	Math in Society (higher)	4
Oral Communication:		3-4
WR 121	Academic Composition	4
	Credits	14-16
Second Term
Elective (recommend COMM 115)		4
Discipline Studies Social Science 3		3-4
Discipline Studies Arts & Letters 2		3-4
Health (3 credits with HHP or HHPA prefix) 1		3
WR 122 or WR 227	Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition Technical Writing	4
	Credits	17-19
Third Term
Discipline Studies Social Science 3		3-4
Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science		3-5
Discipline Studies Arts & Letters 2		3-4
Elective (recommend COMM 218)		3
Elective (recommend COMM 219)		4
	Credits	16-20
Fourth Term
Discipline Studies Social Science 3		3-4
Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science		3-5
Elective (recommend COMM 220)		3
Elective (recommend COMM 230)		3
Elective (recommend COMM 234)		3
	Credits	15-18
Fifth Term
Discipline Studies Social Science 3		3-4
Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science		3-5
Elective (recommend COMM 241)		4
Elective (recommend COMM 242)		4
Elective (recommend COMM 250)		1
	Credits	15-18
Sixth Term
Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science		3-5
Elective (recommend COMM 270)		3
Elective (recommend COMM 252)		1
Elective (recommend COMM 253)		1
Elective (recommend COMM 255)		3
Elective		2-4
	Credits	13-17
	Total Credits	90-108