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Communication Studies

Are you curious about human interactions and why some are successful and supportive, and others are not? Do you wonder what creates communication styles and how to communicate with others different from you? Does improving your communication skills in relationships and in your future careers appeal to you? If so, then SCC's Communication Studies program may be for you.

Each and every CMST class emphasizes competence, which is communication strategies that are both appropriate and effective. Our classes include the study of communication involved in interpersonal relationships, small groups, public speaking, conflict management, leadership, public relations, workplaces, and with people from other cultures and genders.

This two-year program prepares you to transfer to a four-year college or university to obtain a major or minor in communication studies or enter the workplace with effective and marketable communication skills.

As communication is everywhere, this field of study is relevant in all situations and relationships. Many graduates from this 2-year program, or 4-year degree go on to work in management, human resources, broadcast announcers, human resources, marketing, and sales to name a few. With a focus on communication studies, you will be equipped to competently communicate in order to support, educate, and lead others in your future.

AA-DTA Program Learning Outcomes

Communication Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Create, organize, present, and adapt effective verbal and nonverbal messages to diverse audiences in diverse contexts
2. Explain the active listening process and the skills necessary  to understand verbal and nonverbal information
3. Demonstrate the ability to critically think: summarize, interpret, and evaluate written discourse 
4. Write clear, well-focused and well-organized papers using documentation
5. Select and integrate textual evidence within academic essays
6. Create expository essays using traditional academic forms and standards
7. Appropriately use college-level language skills, i.e., grammar and punctuation

Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Recognize a problem and identify the information required to solve it
2. Develop and apply appropriate algebraic models (e.g. numerical, graphical and symbolic) to obtain a solution to the problem
3. Explain the process of reasoning used to arrive at the solution

Humanities Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate, in writing or verbally, awareness that different contexts and/or world views produce different human creations
2. Identify and explain diverse cultural customs, beliefs, traditions, and lifestyles
3. Identify ideologies, practices and contributions that persons of diverse backgrounds bring to our multicultural world
4. Use evidence or sound reasoning to justify a position

Social Sciences Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Describe the methods used for conducting research within the various disciplines of the social sciences
2. Evaluate the credibility of information regarding topics within the social sciences and differentiate between information derived from empirical sources and information derived from opinion, folklore, and/or emotions
3. Identify the impact of social, cultural, historical, political, geographical, and/or religious factors on behavior
4. Express increased engagement and confidence in the ability to apply course material for the purpose of improving self,  relationships,  community, society, and/or the world

Math and Science Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Select, use, or develop an appropriate model including numerical, graphical, or symbolic representations
2. Use evidence or sound reasoning to justify a position or draw conclusions using appropriate terminology and symbolism
3. Demonstrate laboratory skills including making qualitative and quantitative observations about natural systems
4. Ascertain and critically evaluate the interrelationships within complex systems

Health Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Our students will be able to develop an appreciation of  physical activity as a lifelong pursuit and means to better health.
2. Our students will be able to recognize the physical and mental benefits of increased activity.
3. Our students will be able to examine the effects of nutrition, rest and other lifestyle factors that contribute to better health.
4. Our students will be able to demonstrate motor skill performance of various physical activities.
5. Our students will be able to define the various health components of fitness and determine the lifestyle factors for development of physical fitness and training strategies.
6. Our students will be able to identify common health and fitness myths and trends involved with the evolving nature of physical education. 
7. Our students will be able to utilize physical activity as a tool to manage stress.

Breaking Ground on Your Pathway


Plan Your Courses

Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you. You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.

Prepare for College-level Math

Math placement is required for this program. If your math placement is below MATH& 107, you’ll need to take the following sequence of courses, starting from the level you placed into:
AE 48 → MATH 87 → MATH 88 → MATH& 107

Placement

English placement is not required for this program.

Associate in Arts (AA) is the community college degree designed to transfer to most bachelor's of arts degrees at all public and many private Washington four-year institutions. A candidate for the AA-DTA degree must complete 90 quarter credits in academic courses numbered 100 and above with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and meet specific distribution requirements.

Program Map for

Print/Download

Choose program map:

Total Program Credits: 93


Program Courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CMST&210
Interpersonal Communication  
5
ENGL&101
English Composition I  
5
GUID 102
Strategies for Success  
3
MATH&107
Math in Society  
5
Total Credits
 
18

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CMST 250
Managing Conflict Through Communication  
5
SOC& 101
Introduction to Sociology  
5
 
Choose any 100-level PE class  
1
 
Health Electives  
3
Total Credits
 
14
Health Electives: Choose 3 credits Health Electives: Choose 3 credits  
HLTH 101
Health and Wellness  
3
HLTH 104
Stress Management  
3

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CMST 227
Intercultural Communication  
5
PSYC&100
General Psychology  
5
 
Math/Science Group B Non-Lab Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
15
Math/Science Group B Non-Lab Electives: Choose 5 credits Math/Science Group B Non-Lab Electives: Choose 5 credits  
ENVS 104
Environmental Conservation  
5
GEOL&100
Survey of Earth Science  
5
OCEA&101
Intro to Oceanography  
5

Fourth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CMST 226
Gender Communication  
5
 
Humanities Electives  
5
 
Math/Science Group B Lab Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
15
Humanities Electives: Choose 5 credits Humanities Electives: Choose 5 credits  
ART& 100
Art Appreciation  
5
HUM 201
Humanities, Past, Present, and Future  
5
Math/Science Group B Lab Electives: Choose 5 credits Math/Science Group B Lab Electives: Choose 5 credits  
BIOL 100
Environmental Biology  
5
ENVS&101
Intro to Env Science  
5
GEOL&101
Intro Physical Geology  
5

Fifth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CMST&230
Small Group Communication  
5
 
Choose any 100-level PE class  
1
 
General Electives  
5
 
Social Science Group B Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
16
General Electives: Choose 5 credits General Electives: Choose 5 credits  
CMST 287
Communication in Organizations  
5
GEOG&100
Introduction to Geography  
5
PSYC&200
Lifespan Psychology  
5
SOC& 201
Social Problems  
5
Social Science Group B Electives: Choose 5 credits Social Science Group B Electives: Choose 5 credits  
HIST&214
Pacific NW History  
5
HIST&219
Native American History  
5
POLS&101
Intro to Political Science  
5

Sixth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CMST&220
Public Speaking  
5
PHIL&120
Symbolic Logic  
5
 
General Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
15
General Electives: Choose 5 credits General Electives: Choose 5 credits  
CMST 280
Public Relations and Social Media  
5
CMST 287
Communication in Organizations  
5
GEOG&100
Introduction to Geography  
5
PSYC&200
Lifespan Psychology  
5
SOC& 201
Social Problems  
5

Estimated costs for completing this program

 
WA Resident
Non-Resident
International
Tuition
$ 9,733
$ 11,570
$ 22,036
Books
$ 1,227
$ 1,227
$ 1,227
Course Fees
$ 10
$ 10
$ 10
Institutional Fees
$ 672
$ 672
$ 3,195
Total Costs
$ 11,642
$ 13,478
$ 26,467

Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.

  • Amy Anderson
    Amy Anderson
    Communication Studies Instruct
    B.S., Eastern Washington University; M.A., Gonzaga University; Ed.D., Grand Canyon University
    Amy.Anderson@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-8055
  • Ann Culton
  • Thomas Ghezzi
    Thomas Ghezzi
    Instructor
    Thomas.Ghezzi@scc.spokane.edu
    N/A
  • Stacy Hudson
    Stacy Hudson
    Instructor
    Stacy.Hudson@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7366
  • Angela Smith
    Angela Smith
    Communication Studies Instruct
    A.A., Spokane Falls Community College; B.A., M.S., Eastern Washington University
    Angela.Smith@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7024
  • Cindy Trujillo
    Cindy Trujillo
    Communication Studies Instruct
    B.A., University of Washington; M.A., University of Montana
    Cindy.Trujillo@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-8027
  • Angela Wizner
    Angela Wizner
    Communication Studies Instruct
    B.A., M.A., California State University, Long Beach; additional study: University of Oregon
    Angela.Wizner@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7185

Have a question? Let's hear it.

Cindy Trujillo

Communications Department Chair
Cindy.Trujillo@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8027