Major Requirements

The UC Davis undergraduate major in communication encompasses 69-70 units, consisting of 29-30 units of preparatory subject matter and 40 units of depth subject matter
Required preparatory lower-division courses -- 29-30 Units

Each student must complete the following courses before graduating. Students must maintain a 2.0 grade average in these courses.

ANT 4: Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics OR LIN 1: Introduction to Linguistics
             NOTE:  ANT 4 is not offered regularly

ECS 15: Introduction to Computers OR PHI 12: Introduction to Symbolic Logic OR CMN 12Y: Data Visualization in the Social Sciences

NOTE:  ECS 15 is no longer offered, however will still accept equivalent transfer courses

PSC 1: General Psychology

SOC 1: Introduction to Sociology

STA 13: Elementary Statistics OR SOC 56: Introduction to Social Statistics

CMN 10v: Introduction to Communication

CMN 1: Introduction to Public Speaking**   OR

CMN 3: Interpersonal Communication Competence** OR

CMN 5: Global English and Communication**
Required upper-division courses (depth subject matter — 20 units)

CMN 101: Communication Theories

CMN 102: Empirical Methods in Communication

CMN 120: Interpersonal Communication

CMN 140: Introduction to Mass Communication

CMN 170v: Digital Technology and Social Change OR CMN 172: Interpersonal Technologies
Upper-division elective courses (Choose FIVE additional courses from below – 20 units)

Basic Communication Processes:

CMN 110: Communication Networks

CMN 111: Gender Differences in Communication

CMN 112: Theories of Persuasion

CMN 114: Communication and Cognition

Group and Organizational Communication:

CMN 130: Group Communication

CMN 131: Strategic Communication in Public Relations

CMN 132: Social Media for Public Relations

CMN 136: Organizational Communication

CMN 139: Advanced Organizational Communication

Interpersonal Communication:

CMN 121: Language Use in Conversation

CMN 122: Nonverbal Communication

CMN 123: Intercultural Communication

CMN 124: Family Communication

Health Communication:

CMN 161: Health Communication

CMN 165: Media and Health

Information and Communication Technology:

CMN 150v: Computational Social Sciences

CMN 151: Simulating Communication Processes

CMN 152V: Social Science with Online Data

CMN 170v: Digital Technology and Social Change

CMN 172: Interpersonal Technologies

CMN 174: Social Media

CMN 176: Video Games Theory and Research

CMN 178: Persuasive Technologies

Special Topics Classes

CMN 180: Current Topics in Communication

CMN 189: Proseminar A (Social Interaction),
B (Mass Communication), C (Health Communication)
or D (Organizational Communication)

Mass Communication:

CMN 141: Media Effects: Theory and Research

CMN 142: Newsmaking

CMN 143: Analysis of Media Messages

CMN 144: Media Entertainment

CMN 145: Political Communication

CMN 146: Communication Campaigns

CMN 147: Children, Adolescents, and the Media

CMN 148: Contemporary Trends in Media

CMN 149: Race & Media

Alternate Electives:


ANT 120: Language and Culture

ECN 122: Theory of Games and Strategic Behavior

LIN 171: Introduction to Psycholinguistics

LIN 177: Computational Linguistics

LIN 182: Multilingualism

POL 165: Mass Media and Politics

PSC 100: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

PSC 107: Questionnaire and Survey Research Methods

PSC 152: Social Cognition

PSC 154: Psychology of Emotion

SOC 126: Social Interaction

STA 106: Applied Statistical Methods: Analysis of Variance

STA 108: Applied Statistical Methods: Regression Analysis

(Up to a total of 4 units taken from 198/199/194H per quarter may be counted as an elective, for a total of no more than 8 units. CMN 192 and 197T do not count toward fulfillment of major requirements.)