B.A. in Communication

The Campus Media Center includes the newspaper offices, a visual media production studio, and the low-watt broadcast radio station. There is also a second studio for visual media production located in the Warde Academic Center.

SXU highlights high-impact practices through the AAC&U taxonomy of hips. They include first-year seminars, common intellectual experiences, learning communities, writing intensive courses, collaborative assignments and projects, undergraduate research, diversity/global learning, e-portfolios, service learning, community-based learning, internships, and capstone courses and projects.

Communication constructs the social world.

Communication is relational.

Communication is collaborative.

Communication is strategic.

Communication is symbolic.

Communication is adaptive.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Describe the communication discipline and its central questions.
   1. Explain the origins of the communication discipline.
   2. Summarize the broad nature of the communication discipline.
   3. Categorize the various career pathways for students of communication.
   4. Articulate the importance of communication expertise in career development and civic engagement.
   5. Examine contemporary debates within the field.
   6. Distinguish the communication discipline from related areas of study.
   7. Identify with intellectual specialization(s) in the communication discipline.

2. Employ communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts
   1. Explain communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts.
   2. Synthesize communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts.
   3. Apply communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts.
   4. Critique communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts.

3. Engage in communication inquiry.
   1. Interpret communication scholarship.
   2. Evaluate communication scholarship.
   3. Apply communication scholarship.
   4. Formulate questions appropriate for communication scholarship.
   5. Engage in communication scholarship using the research traditions of the discipline.
   6. Differentiate between various approaches to the study of communication.
   7. Contribute to scholarly conversations appropriate to the purpose of inquiry.

4. Create messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context.
   1. Locate and use information relevant to the goals, audiences, purposes and contexts.
   2. Select creative and appropriate modalities and technologies to accomplish communicative goals.
   3. Adapt messages to the diverse needs of individuals, groups and contexts.
   4. Present messages in multiple communication modalities and contexts.
   5. Adjust messages while in the process of communicating.
   6. Critically reflect on one's own messages after the communication event.

5. Critically analyze messages
   1. Identify meanings embedded in messages.
   2. Articulate characteristics of mediated and non-mediated messages.
   3. Recognize the influence of messages.
   4. Engage in active listening.
   5. Enact mindful responding to messages.

6. Demonstrate the ability to accomplish communicative goals (self-efficacy).
   1. Identify contexts, situations and barriers that impede communication self-efficacy.
   2. Perform verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors that illustrate self-efficacy.
   3. Articulate personal beliefs about abilities to accomplish communication goals.
   4. Evaluate personal communication strengths and weaknesses.

7. Apply ethical communication principles and practices.
   1. Identify ethical perspectives.
   2. Explain the relevance of various ethical perspectives.
   3. Articulate the ethical dimensions of a communication situation.
   4. Choose to communicate with ethical intention.
   5. Propose solutions for (un)ethical communication.
   6. Evaluate the ethical elements of a communication situation.

8. Utilize communication to embrace difference.
   1. Articulate the connection between communication and culture.
   2. Recognize individual and cultural similarities and differences.
   3. Appreciate individual and cultural similarities and differences.
   4. Respect diverse perspectives and the ways they influence communication.
   5. Articulate one's own cultural standpoint and how it affects communication and worldview.
   6. Demonstrate the ability to be culturally self-aware.
   7. Adapt one's communication in diverse cultural contexts.

9. Influence public discourse
   1. Explain the importance of communication in civic life.
   2. Identify the challenges facing communities and the role of communication in resolving those challenges.
   3. Frame local, national and/or global issues from a communication perspective.
   4. Evaluate local, national and/or global issues and from a communication perspective.
   5. Utilize communication to respond to issues at the local, national, and/or global level.
   6. Advocate a course of action to address local, national and/or global issues from a communication perspective.
   7. Empower individuals to promote human rights, human dignity and human freedom.

• Saint Xavier University combines classroom learning with experiential learning to produce well-rounded graduates.
• Students can develop journalism and production skills through working for student media, writing for The Xavierite or The Bell, our online campus newspaper and magazine, or hosting shows for WXAV, our campus radio station.
• Our faculty have expertise in communication and create challenging courses that are interactive and student-focused.
• Small class sizes allow for close interaction with your professors and student colleagues.
• The program provides many opportunities for you to receive credit for professional internships in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and throughout the nation.
• You will develop a habit of lifelong learning that will prepare you for the ever-changing communication professions.
• With core values of service, integrity and excellence exemplified throughout campus, you will become a more effective citizen and an asset to your community.

Students minoring in communication will develop both the knowledge and skills to prepare, deliver and evaluate messages in a professional setting. ln addition, students will study interpersonal and small group communication, cross-cultural communication, mass communication and persuasion, examining their role in businesses, government agencies, hospitals, schools and other groups. A communication minor would make an excellent addition to any major and would be especially beneficial for majors in business, English and the sciences.

Minor Requirements

Please review the program requirements and course descriptions in the SXU Academic Catalog for more detailed information.