Science Communication (Minor)
The minor in Science Communication offered by the Department of Communication is available to undergraduate students interested in developing their understanding of and abilities in communication science to public audiences. It is open to students in all undergraduate majors on campus who want to deepen and broaden their knowledge of how citizens make sense of science and technology in their everyday lives. Required coursework includes 15 credit hours, including (1) an overview course that introduces major issues in contemporary debates about science communication and public engagement, (2) electives that allow students to develop further understanding of communication processes and practices, and (3) a capstone course that engages students on more advanced topics such as climate change, risk communication, environmental communication, and others.
Admissions
Students interested in the Science Communication minor must contact the minor advisor before their junior year and/or before the completion of 90 credits toward undergraduate degree. To be admitted to the program, a student must have a GPA of at least 2.0. Application for admission to any University minor program is now available via MyPack Portal. Admission will be based upon the student’s academic record, and in most cases no longer requires departmental review. Go to Add a Minor to apply.
Certification
A University Minor Declaration Form should be submitted to Registration and Records for inclusion of the minor on the student’s official record no later than during the registration period for the student’s final semester at NC State. The minor must be completed no later than the semester in which the student expects to graduate from his or her degree program. Students will receive official recognition on their transcripts for the completed minor.
Contact Person
Dr. Andrew R. Binder
Associate Professor of Communication
201 Winston Hall, Campus Box 8104
919.515.9750
arbinder@ncsu.edu
SIS Code: 16SCM
Plan Requirements
- Completion of 15 credit hours.
- At least nine (9) credits must be completed at 300-400 level: three (3) credits for the 400-level capstone course and six (6) credits of 300-400 level elective courses.
- A maximum of TWO (2) courses may be used (double-counted) towards departmental major requirements and/or requirements for additional minor(s).
- No more than six (6) transfer credits may be counted towards the minor.
- A grade of ‘C’ (2.0) or better will be required for all courses taken to fulfill minor requirements.
- No coursework may be taken for S/U credit.
Required Courses (6 credit hours)
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM 289 | Science Communication and Public Engagement | 3 | |
| Capstone Course: Advised 400-level COM elective 1 | 3 | ||
Elective Courses (9 credit hours)2
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group I - Foundational Communication Skills | |||
| Public Speaking | |||
| Argumentation and Advocacy | |||
| Presentational Speaking | |||
| Introduction to News and Article Writing | |||
| Writing in Rhetorical Traditions | |||
| Communication for Science and Research | |||
| Analyzing Style | |||
| Group II – Understanding Public Communication Processes and Practices | |||
| Communication Media in a Changing World | |||
| Introduction to Persuasion Theory | |||
| Introduction to Public Relations | |||
| Language, Communication, and Culture | |||
| Survey of Rhetorical Theory | |||
| Critical Analysis of Communication Media | |||
| Communication and Gender | |||
| International and Crosscultural Communication | |||
| Studies in Rhetoric and Digital Media | |||
| Advanced Group Communication | |||
| Rhetorical Criticism | |||
| Communication & Race | |||
| Communication Law | |||
| Environmental Communication | |||
| Ethical Issues in Communication | |||
| Communication and Conflict Management | |||
| Communication and Globalization | |||
| Visual Rhetoric | |||
| Organizational Communication | |||
| Nonprofit Leadership & Development | |||
| Advanced Topics in Gender and Communication | |||
| Climate Change Communication | |||
| Internet and Society | |||
| Advanced Topics in Public Relations | |||
| Literature and Science | |||
| Analysis of Scientific and Technical Writing | |||
| Adaptive Management and Governance | |||
| Meteorology for Media | |||
| Environmental Impact Assessment | |||
| Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society | |||
| Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values | |||
| Verify Requirement | |||
| At least six (6) hours of electives must be 300- or 400-levels. | |||
- 1
Capstone course is recommended to be taken after at least 9 credits in the minor.
(For this elective, COM 436, 479, future risk communication or advanced science communication course can be taken by permission)
- 2
Choose 1 course from EACH Group (2 courses total) AND choose 1 additional course from either of the 2 Groups. At least 6 credits must be completed at 300-400 level.
Note: Students who have officially declared the minor and who wish to take a course on the elective list for which they do not currently meet the prerequisites should express their interest in the course to the minor adviser to discuss the possibility of applying for a waiver of the course prerequisite(s).
Verify Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| This is a verify requirement and may not require additional hours. Students can fulfill this requirement through other academic requirements. | |||
| COM 301 | Presentational Speaking | 3 | |
| COM 321 | Survey of Rhetorical Theory | 3 | |
| COM 327 | Critical Analysis of Communication Media | 3 | |
| COM 362 | Communication and Gender | 3 | |
| COM 392 | International and Crosscultural Communication | 3 | |
| COM 395 | Studies in Rhetoric and Digital Media | 3 | |
| COM 402 | Advanced Group Communication | 3 | |
| COM 411 | Rhetorical Criticism | 3 | |
| COM 417 | Communication & Race | 3 | |
| COM 421 | Communication Law | 3 | |
| COM 436 | Environmental Communication | 3 | |
| COM 441 | Ethical Issues in Communication | 3 | |
| COM 442 | Communication and Conflict Management | 3 | |
| COM 447 | Communication and Globalization | 3 | |
| COM 479 | Climate Change Communication | 3 | |
| COM 487 | Internet and Society | 3 | |
| COM 493 | Advanced Topics in Public Relations | 3 | |
| ENG 316 | Introduction to News and Article Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 323 | Writing in Rhetorical Traditions | 3 | |
| ENG 333 | Communication for Science and Research | 3 | |
| ENG 341 | Literature and Science | 3 | |
| ENG 425 | Analysis of Scientific and Technical Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 426 | Analyzing Style | 3 | |
| ET 455 | Adaptive Management and Governance | 3 | |
| MEA 488 | Meteorology for Media | 3 | |
| NR 484 | Environmental Impact Assessment | 4 | |
| STS 302 | Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values | 3 | |