Communication - Associate of Arts Degree (AA)

AA - 2 Years (NB)
Explore MoreAbout This Program

Degree Quick Facts

  • Instructional School: Social Sciences and Public Affairs
  • Department: Communication, Marketing, and Media Arts
  • Program Code: COMM.AA
  • Program Type: Academic Transfer
  • Available Fully Online: No
  • Eligible for Federal Financial Aid: Yes

NOTE: Courses required for this program may have an additional fee; more information can be found on the Special Course Fees web page.

Degree Requirements

Course Course Title Min Credits
General Education Requirements 1
CWI 101Connecting With Ideas3
Global Perspectives course3
ENGL 101Writing and Rhetoric I (GEM 1)3
ENGL 102Writing and Rhetoric II (GEM 1)3
COMM 101Fundamentals of Oral Communication (GEM 2)3
GEM 3 - Mathematical Ways of Knowing course3
GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course 24
GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course 33
GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course3
GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course 33
GEM 6 - Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing course3
GEM 6 - Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing course 33
Major Requirements
COMM 112Argumentation and Debate3
COMM 221Interpersonal Communication3
COMM 231Public Speaking3
COMM 290Communication Capstone2
Select 12 elective credits from the following courses:12
COMM 114
Intercollegiate Speech and Debate 4
COMM 160
Communication and Culture
COMM 268
Introduction to Video Production
COMM 269
Introduction to Audio Production
COMM 271
Introduction to Mass Media
COMM 293
Communication Internship
Minimum Credit Hours Required60
1

Students must select an "E" designated course to fulfill one of their General Education requirements.

2

Must include a lab component.

3

Course must come from a different discipline.

4

May be taken up to four semesters.

Degree Plan

The course sequence listed below is strongly recommended in order to complete your program requirements. Please register for each semester as shown using the Student Planning tool in myCWI. Plans may be modified to fit the needs of part-time students by adding additional semesters. Consult your advisor for any questions regarding this course sequence plan.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredit Hours
COMM 101 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (GEM 2) 3
CWI 101 Connecting With Ideas 3
ENGL 101 Writing and Rhetoric I (GEM 1) 3
PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy (Recommended GEM 5) 1,2 3
Communication ElectiveSelect a course from the list below 3
 Total Semester Credit Hours15
Spring
ENGL 102 Writing and Rhetoric II (GEM 1) 3
MATH 143 Precalculus I: Algebra (Recommended GEM 3) 1,3 3
PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology (Recommended GEM 6) 1 3
GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course 4 4
Communication ElectiveSelect a course from the list below 3
 Total Semester Credit Hours16
Second Year
Fall
COMM 112 Argumentation and Debate 3
COMM 221 Interpersonal Communication 3
PHIL 111 World Religions (Recommended Global Perspectives) 1 3
GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course 5 3
Communication ElectiveSelect a course from the list below 3
 Total Semester Credit Hours15
Spring
COMM 231 Public Speaking 3
COMM 290 Communication Capstone 2
GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course 5 3
GEM 6 - Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing course 5 3
Communication ElectiveSelect a course from the list below 3
 Total Semester Credit Hours14
 Minimum Credit Hours Required60

*Students must select an "E" designated (Ethical Reasoning) course to fulfill one of their General Education requirements.*

1

This general education (GE) course is recommended by the department as the most beneficial GE option for students in this program. Please note that students may fulfill their GE requirement by completing another course from the designated general education category.

2

This course fulfills the Ethical Reasoning requirement for an associate degree from CWI.

3

Communication majors are encouraged to take the Math Diagnostic upon acceptance to CWI if they did not submit ACT or SAT scores for math placement. The Math Diagnostic will inform the student if a review course such as MATH 097, MATH 098, or MATH 099 is needed prior to enrolling in their chosen GEM 3 course. If a student changes majors at the AA or BA level, or is considering graduate school, the Department of Communication, Marketing, and Media Arts recommends enrolling in MATH 143.

4

Must include a lab component.

5

Course must come from a different discipline.

Communication Electives

Course Course Title Min Credits
Select 12 credits from the following course options:
COMM 114Intercollegiate Speech and Debate 13
COMM 160Communication and Culture3
COMM 268Introduction to Video Production3
COMM 269Introduction to Audio Production3
COMM 271Introduction to Mass Media3
COMM 293Communication Internship1-3
1

COMM 114 Intercollegiate Speech and Debate may be taken up to four semesters. Students who are interested in this course are encouraged to enroll during their first semester at CWI to utilize the full four semesters during which the course can be taken.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Understand the role communication plays in human experience.
  • Produce communication appropriate to audience, purpose and context.
  • Develop an understanding of major theories and frameworks in the field of communication.
  • Demonstrate an ability to analyze diverse messages and engage in communication inquiry.
  • Conduct communication research using APA guidelines.
  • Engage in self-reflection to develop personal and professional goals.

(The CWI Communication program learning outcomes are based on the 2013 work underwritten by the Lumina Foundation in collaboration with community college and university faculty members of the National Communication Association.)

Z-Degree Pathway for Communication Majors

The courses included in a Z-degree Pathway below offer at least one class section that uses one of the following types of course materials/textbooks:

Classification of Instructional Materials Cost to Student
Open Education Resources (OER) $0
Low-Cost Textbook $30 or less
  • Open Education Resources: According to the Idaho State Board of Education, Open Education Resources (OER) are "teaching, learning, and research materials that reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license, such as a Creative Commons license, that permits free use and repurposing by others." OER have no cost to students and are available on the first day of class.
  • Low-Cost Textbooks: Required textbooks and/or other course materials that cost the student a total of $30 or less (excluding special course fees) per class and may be purchased at the CWI Bookstore.

Please note that not all sections of a particular course will utilize OER, as notated in the table below. Students can verify that a specific section uses OER or low-cost textbooks by looking for the following symbol next to the section listing in Student Planning at the time of registration:

     

IMPORTANT: There may be changes to the courses utilizing OER or low-cost textbooks throughout the academic year. Students should always refer to Student Planning in myCWI for the most up-to-date Z-degree class information.

Course Course Title Min Credits
General Education Requirements
CWI 101Connecting With Ideas3
Global Perspectives course3
ENGL 101Writing and Rhetoric I3
ENGL 102Writing and Rhetoric II3
COMM 101Fundamentals of Oral Communication3
GEM 3 - Mathematical Ways of Knowing course3
  • GEM 3 OER Options: MATH 118 & MATH 118L (some sections - see Student Planning), MATH 123 (some sections - see Student Planning), MATH 143 (some sections - see Student Planning), MATH 147 (some sections - see Student Planning), MATH 170 (some sections - see Student Planning), or MATH 175 (some sections - see Student Planning)
GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course4
GEM 4 - Scientific Ways of Knowing course3-4
GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course3
GEM 5 - Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing course3
GEM 6 - Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing course3
GEM 6 - Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing course3
Major Requirements
COMM 112Argumentation and Debate3
COMM 221Interpersonal Communication3
COMM 231Public Speaking3
COMM 290Communication Capstone2
Select 12 elective credits from the following courses: 212
COMM 114
Intercollegiate Speech and Debate
COMM 160
Communication and Culture
COMM 268
Introduction to Video Production
COMM 269
Introduction to Audio Production
COMM 271
Introduction to Mass Media
COMM 293
Communication Internship
Minimum Credit Hours Required60
1

This course fulfills the Ethical Reasoning requirement for an associate degree from CWI.

2

All elective courses use OER; however, special course fees for supplies and tournament registration fees may be required for COMM 114.

IMPORTANT: Unless otherwise noted, all of the courses required for this degree are taught using OER.