Communication Studies 2.0

Program Description

Communication skills are essential to forming and maintaining personal relationships, acquiring and excelling in a job, and relating to the world around us. Through the study and practice of interpersonal, professional, and intercultural communication skills, students will learn how their perceptions and self-esteem affect their interactions with others. Beyond this, students will improve their abilities to speak, write, and present information effectively, whether in face-to-face interactions or in public or mass-media settings.

The Communication Studies 2.0 program prepares students to transfer to a four-year college or university to obtain a degree in Communication or a related Social Science field. The courses in the program also improve job attainment and performance skills, providing students with the training necessary for public speaking, customer service, conflict resolution, and interviewing. Students who complete the Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) degree in Communication Studies 2.0 will learn and practice cultural awareness, situation analyses, and goal-oriented solutions to practical problems, giving them valuable assets in their future relationships and workplaces. Lastly, this course of study improves students’ logic and reasoning skills, thus providing the foundation for understanding math and science, the world around them, and the skills and insights necessary to think through ethical issues and achieve their goals.

The Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) program allows students to fulfill lower division major requirements at a community college and guarantees transfer with junior status to the California State University (CSU) system. Students who complete an ADT and transfer to a similar major at a CSU are guaranteed a pathway to finish their baccalaureate degrees in 60 semester units.

This AA-T degree program requires students to meet the following requirements:

1. Completion of 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to the CSU system, including the following:
   1. The California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) Requirements.
   2. A minimum of 18 semester units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.
   3. A minimum of 12 semester units earned at Merritt College.
2. Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
3. Obtainment of a minimum grade of “C” (or “P”) for each course in the major.

The completion time for this AA-T degree program is generally 4 semesters. Completion time will vary based on student preparation and the number of units completed per semester.

See the Transfer Information section of this catalog for more information on ADT and Cal-GETC requirements.

Career Opportunities

Customer Service Representative Salesperson Nonprofit Organizer Consultant Focus Group Facilitator Interviewer Human Resource Representative Negotiator Startup job in mass media organization

Learning Outcome(s)

1. Critical Listening and Thinking- Speak, listen, and think critically, to set goals for effective communication, resolve conflict, and get your message across.
2. Public Speaking- Deliver presentations that are clear in message and voice, using appropriate nonverbal communication.
3. Group Cohesion- Strengthen group cohesion through shared vision creation and development.
4. Relationship between Mass Media and Face-to-Face Communication- Analyze the impact and influence that mass media and mediated communication have on face-to-face interactions.
5. Cultural Competency- Interact with people of different cultures in ways that result in shared understanding
6. Self-Awareness and Ethics- Know how your own upbringing and cultural background affect your perceptions of yourself and others and integrate ethics in your everyday communication interactions