Majors must complete ten courses (40 credits) with a 2.0 overall average in the major. The distribution of required courses for the major is as follows:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 1 | |
| CMN 455 | Introduction to Media Studies | 4 |
| CMN 456 | Propaganda and Persuasion | 4 |
| CMN 457 | Introduction to Language and Social Interaction | 4 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 16 |
| Total Credits | 40 |
A maximum of 8 credits of independent study (CMN 795 Independent Study) may be counted toward the major. CMN 799H Honors Thesis and CMN 796 Comm-Entary Journal cannot be used to fulfill an advanced course requirement. The Discovery Program Capstone requirement may be fulfilled by completing any 700-level communication course except CMN 796 Comm-Entary Journal. CMN 795 Independent Study can only fulfill the capstone requirement with department approval and can be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.
Transfer students must complete 20 credits of their communication coursework at UNH to complete the major satisfactorily. Exchange students may transfer no more than 10 approved credits from another institution to be applied toward completion of the communication major at UNH.
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.
Major department courses may not be used to satisfy Discovery category requirements except in the case of a second or dual major.
Thematic Concentrations
1. Histories and Traditions in Communication
Students who pursue this concentration examine the history of thought about communication and its practices with attention to its applicability in the contemporary world. Select from:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| CMN 607 | Persuasion in American Politics | 4 |
| CMN 627 | Great Speakers and Speeches | 4 |
| CMN 630 | Psychology of Communication | 4 |
| CMN 696 | Seminar in Media Studies (topics: Crit Appr Media, Hist Surv Media) | 4 |
| CMN 697 | Seminar in Rhetorical Study (topics: Rhet Crit Media, Controv Reas Law) | 4 |
| CMN 757 | Public Address and the American Experience | 4 |
| CMN 772 | Seminar in Media Theory | 4 |
2. Political Communication and Public Space
Courses in this concentration invite critical and historical inquiry into the forms and expressions of public opinion, political advocacy, and social or political reformation, maintenance, and change. Select from:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| CMN 607 | Persuasion in American Politics | 4 |
| CMN 627 | Great Speakers and Speeches | 4 |
| CMN 634 | Media and Politics | 4 |
| CMN 696 | Seminar in Media Studies (topic: Media Effects) | 4 |
| CMN 697 | Seminar in Rhetorical Study (topics: Spec, Scand; Gend & Pub Cult; Rhet Crit Media; Controv Reason Law) | 4 |
| CMN 737 | Principles of Rhetorical Crit | 4 |
| CMN 756 | Rhetorics of Display | 4 |
| CMN 757 | Public Address and the American Experience | 4 |
3. Communication, Community and Everyday Life
Courses in this concentration explore our taken-for-granted ways of being in the world and how they emerge from our routine communicative interactions with each other. Select from:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| CMN 600 | Public Speaking as a Civic Art | 4 |
| CMN 602 | Theories of Interpersonal Communication | 4 |
| CMN 630 | Psychology of Communication | 4 |
| CMN 696 | Seminar in Media Studies (topics: Yth Cult; New Media & Soc; Media & Consumer Cult; Kids, Corps & Media) | 4 |
| CMN 697 | Seminar in Rhetorical Study (topics: Rhet Photo, Rhet Crit Med) | 4 |
| CMN 698 | Seminar Interpersonal Studies (topics: Opens Everyday, Comm & Body, Children's Comm) | 4 |
| CMN 730 | Family Communication | 4 |
| CMN 737 | Principles of Rhetorical Crit | 4 |
| CMN 742 | Dialogue and Teamwork | 4 |
| CMN 756 | Rhetorics of Display | 4 |
| CMN 760 | Mediation | 4 |
| CMN 772 | Seminar in Media Theory | 4 |
4. Culture and Identities
Courses in this concentration offer a critical examination of the cultural and communicative practices that shape our sense of ourselves, our pasts, and our relationships with others. Select from:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| CMN 602 | Theories of Interpersonal Communication | 4 |
| CMN 630 | Psychology of Communication | 4 |
| CMN 680 | Perspectives on Culture and Communication | 4 |
| CMN 696 | Seminar in Media Studies (topics: Hist Surv Media; Yth Cult; New Media & Soc; Media & Consumer Cult; Crit Appr New Media; Gend & Sex Media; Kids, Corps, & Media) | 4 |
| CMN 697 | Seminar in Rhetorical Study (topics: Spec, Scand; Gend & Pub Cult) | 4 |
| CMN 698 | Seminar Interpersonal Studies (topics: Children's Comm, Comm & Body, Open Everyday) | 4 |
| CMN 730 | Family Communication | 4 |
| CMN 742 | Dialogue and Teamwork | 4 |
| CMN 760 | Mediation | 4 |
| CMN 772 | Seminar in Media Theory | 4 |
5. Citizenship and Advocacy
Courses in this concentration explore the language practices, interpersonal understandings, oratorical skills, and writing strategies that enable people to formulate their identities as citizens and to engage discussions directed toward public and political advocacy. Select from:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| CMN 600 | Public Speaking as a Civic Art | 4 |
| CMN 607 | Persuasion in American Politics | 4 |
| CMN 627 | Great Speakers and Speeches | 4 |
| CMN 634 | Media and Politics | 4 |
| CMN 697 | Seminar in Rhetorical Study (topics: Gender & Pub Cult, Controv Reason Law) | 4 |
| CMN 742 | Dialogue and Teamwork | 4 |
| CMN 757 | Public Address and the American Experience | 4 |
| CMN 760 | Mediation | 4 |
6. Visual Communication
Courses in this concentration demonstrate how iconography, symbolism, and representations in art, photography, motion pictures, television and digitalized forms of communication have worked to create meaning. Select from:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| CMN 650 | Critical Perspectives on Film | 4 |
| CMN 696 | Seminar in Media Studies (topics: Yth Cult; Kids, Corps, & Media) | 4 |
| CMN 697 | Seminar in Rhetorical Study (topics: Spec, Scand; Rhet of Photo) | 4 |
| CMN 756 | Rhetorics of Display | 4 |
