To certify any major in the College of Communication, a student must meet the following minimum requirements: (1) Complete COM 101, 102, 105, and 138; (2) Sophomore standing (transfer students should have at least 15 graded credits from courses in residence at WSU); (3) Complete the Murrow College Grammar and Writing exam administered by the College of Communication.
Certification in the Murrow College is based on the following: the number of available seats, the applicant’s cumulative WSU GPA, the number of credits completed at the time of application, and the applicant’s performance on the Murrow College Grammar and Writing Exam. The top students are certified based on the number of seats available that semester. Transfer course grades will NOT be used to calculate the cumulative WSU GPA. Students transferring into the College with 55 or more hours should complete the certification requirements within two semesters. All students should certify before earning 90 credit hours.
All Strategic Communication majors require a minimum of 49 semester hours in Communication.
Direct to Degree for Transfer Students
Transfer students who indicate a Murrow major as their academic interest, and have completed an AA/DTA from a Washington community college with a 3.2 or higher transfer GPA, can certify upon enrollment at new student orientation if they are transferring one of the required certification courses. Students who transfer in as a junior to WSU from another college or university may also be eligible for direct certification following consultation with a Murrow advisor.
| First Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| Biological Sciences [BSCI] or SCIENCE 101 [SCI] 1 | 3 or 4 |
| COM 101 | 3 |
| COM 138 | 1 |
| Diversity [DIVR] | 3 |
| ENGLISH 101 [WRTG] | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning [QUAN] | 3 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| COM 102 [COMM] | 3 |
| COM 105 [HUM] | 3 |
| HISTORY 105 [ROOT] | 3 |
| Physical Sciences [PSCI] or SCIENCE 102 [SCI] 1 | 4 or 3 |
| Electives | 3 |
| Apply for and Certify in Major | |
| Second Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| Arts [ARTS] | 3 |
| COM 210 | 3 |
| COM 300 [M] | 3 |
| Social Sciences [SSCI] | 3 |
| Electives | 3 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| COMSTRAT 310 | 3 |
| COMSTRAT 380 | 3 |
| MKTG 360 | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Complete Writing Portfolio | |
| Third Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| 300-400-level Major Electives 2 | 3 |
| COM 309 | 3 |
| COMSTRAT 381 | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| 300-400-level Major Electives 2 | 3 |
| COMSTRAT 382 | 3 |
| Electives | 9 |
| Fourth Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| 300-400-level Major Electives 2 | 3 |
| COMSTRAT 480 | 3 |
| Integrative Capstone [CAPS] | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| 300-400-level Major Electives 2 | 3 |
| Specialization Course 3 | 3 |
| Electives | 7 |
| 1 | For a total of 7 credits—one Biological Science [BSCI] and one Physical Science [PSCI] course, including one lab course, or 8 credits of [SCI] designated courses. (SCIENCE 101 [SCI] is offered Fall semester and is a prerequisite for SCIENCE 102 [SCI], which is offered Spring semester.) |
| 2 | Select 12 credits of 300-400-level COM, COMJOUR, COMSOC, COMSTRAT major electives not used to meet other requirements, COMSTRAT 495 internship credits, or COMSTRAT 499 Special Projects credits (max. 6 credits of 495/499) in consultation with advisor. |
| 3 | Specialization Course (3 credits): Any COM, COMJOUR, COMSOC, or COMSTRAT 475-490. |