Overview
Communication Studies Emphasis, AAS-DTA (LASDTAA) Active: Su 2025
The Associate in Arts and Sciences Direct Transfer Agreement Degree (AAS-DTA) with an Emphasis in Communication Studies is designed for students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university as Communication Studies majors.
By completing this emphasis, students will:
- Fulfill all major-ready requirements for UW, WSU, WWU, and other Washington universities.
- Gain a strong foundation in communication theory, teamwork, and public speaking.
- Be prepared for success in a four-year institution as a Communication Studies major.
The Communication Studies Emphasis requires specified courses that count toward both the AAS-DTA and the emphasis itself.
- The general AAS-DTA degree can still be earned without this emphasis with different course options.
- To stay on track, students should keep an updated AAS-DTA degree plan and work closely with their Academic Advisor to ensure all coursework aligns with their transfer goals.
This emphasis is a great choice for students who want to strengthen their communication skills while ensuring a smooth transition to a four-year university.
Emphasis courses include 25 units from Communication Studies (CMST) and additional recommendations for other courses to meet DTA Distribution areas, including 20 CMST units at the 200 level. Students may transfer courses and/or substitute other courses identified as Communication Studies or Speech not listed below with approval from the Communication Studies Department faculty. For example, a student may transfer in Organizational Communication from Bellevue. We don’t offer that course at this time but will accept it as a replacement for CMST& 230. Requests for an Adjustment to the required CMST courses should be submitted to the Communication Studies Department for approval.
Students who transfer to a university and major in Communication Studies will most likely specialize in a more specific communication area of study. Common career or specialization areas are:
- Communication in Human Relationships: Interpersonal, Intercultural, Group, Leadership, and Family Communication
- Organizational Communication: Business, Public Relations, Professional Communication
- Rhetoric & Public Advocacy: Law, Speech Writing, Political Science
- Health Communication: Informatics & Health Campaigns, Health Professional Communication
- Mass Media & Emerging Technologies: Journalism, New Media, Web Design, Social Media
Recommended distribution elective courses in the Communication Studies Emphasis will help students explore some of these areas of specialization.
Requirements
Students may transfer courses and/or substitute other courses identified as Communication Studies or Speech not listed below with approval from the Communication Studies Department faculty.
Many courses in this plan are listed across multiple distribution areas. While a course may meet more than one requirement, it can only be counted once toward the degree.
College Success - 2 units
A College Success course is mandatory for all new degree-seeking students. The class may be waived due to previous college coursework or the specific course of study. Certain programs are exempt from this requirement; please see the College Success webpage for details.
Required Course
Communication Skills - 10 units
Required Courses
Quantitative Skills - 5 units
Select courses from the DTA Approved Quantitative Skills course list. The institution(s) you are looking to transfer to may require different Quantitative Skills courses. Be sure to verify the requirements of the transfer institution(s).
Required Course
5 units from the DTA Quantitative Skills course list
MATH 138 is recommended. MATH& 107, MATH& 141, PHIL& 120, or MATH& 146 is suggested.
Humanities Distribution - 15 units
Select courses from the DTA Approved Humanities course list. Courses must be from 2 different disciplines. Note: All World Languages count as 1 discipline. No more than 5 Humanities Performance (HP) units or 5 100-level World Language (WL) units may be used to fulfill this requirement. Any additional Humanities units beyond 15 will be counted towards your Electives.
- No more than 10 units in any one discipline may be applied across the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Science distribution areas.
Required Courses
10 units from the DTA Humanities Distribution course list
ART H 124 (D, H), JOURN 101 (H), PHOTO 110 (HP) are recommended.
ENGL 180 (H), ENGL 240 (H), GS 105 (H), HIST 103 (H, SS), HIST& 215 (H, SS), HUM 110 (H, SS), HUM 150 (H) and HUM 200 (H, SS), JOURN 110 (HP), PHIL 115 (H), MUSC 110 (D, H), and any world language are suggested.
Social Sciences Distribution - 15 units
Select courses from the DTA Approved Social Sciences course list. Courses must be from 2 different disciplines. Any additional Social Science units beyond 15 will be counted towards your Electives.
- No more than 10 units in any one discipline may be applied across the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Science distribution areas.
Required Courses
10 units from the DTA Social Sciences Distribution course list
BUS& 201 (SS), PSYC& 100(SS), SOC& 101 (SS), PHIL 215, POLS& 101 are recommended.
ANTH 116 (D, SS), GS 101 (D, SS), GEOG 102 (D, SS), GEOG 201 (D, SS), HUM 110 (D, H, SS), HUM 200 (D, H, SS), POLS 210 (D, SS) are suggested.
Natural Sciences Distribution - 15 units
Select courses from the DTA Approved Natural Sciences course list. Courses must be from 2 different disciplines. You must have at least 1 Lab Science course. No more than 5 units from Part C: Other Science courses may be used to fulfill this requirement. Any additional Natural Science units beyond 15 will be counted towards your Electives.
- No more than 10 units in any one discipline may be applied across the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Science distribution areas.
The institution(s) you are looking to transfer to may require different Natural Science courses. Be sure to verify the requirements of the transfer institution(s).
Required Courses
15 units from the DTA Natural Sciences Distribution course list
Non-lab classes BIOL 105 (NS), NAT S 103 (NS), ANTH& 115 (NS), NUTR 101 (NS), CS 110 (NSC), PHIL& 120 (NSC), MATH 138 (NSC) are suggested. Remember, No more than 5 units of Natural Science Part C may be used.
Lab classes ENVS& 101 (NSL), ANTH& 215 (NSL), STEM 102 (NSL), GEOG 205 (NSL), GEOL 102 (NSL), GEOL 104 (NSL), GEOL 108 (NSL) or higher, NUTR 180 (NSL) are suggested.
Electives - 28 units total
A total of 28 units must be completed in electives.
- 15 units must be selected from Communication Skills, Quantitative Skills, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or List A Transfer Electives.
- 13 units may be selected from those OR from List B Applied Electives.
- No more than 3 PEHW activity units may be used.
- College Success is a List B Elective. If this is not required, Electives will increase to 30 units total with no more than 15 List B units.
Recommendations: Any CMST course not yet taken, any suggested Humanities or Social Science courses, GRAPH 110, GRAPH 133, GRAPH 172, JOURN 170, PSYC 240, SOC 248, or 2-3 World Language quarters.
Required Courses
5 units from the Communications, Quantitative Skills, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences Distributions, or List A Transfer Electives course list
13 units from those OR from any List B Applied Electives (100-level courses or higher)
Total Credit Hours: 90
Diversity Course Requirement
Diversity courses focus on perspectives related to cultural diversity in our society, which is defined as including human differences in culture, race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexuality, gender, ability, class, socioeconomic status, language, and religion. Courses are listed in the Class Schedule with a Diversity Class Attribute. They are typically found in the areas of Communications, Humanities, Social Sciences and Transfer Electives. A Diversity course may count toward one of the Distributions listed above, as well as meeting the Diversity Course requirement. Please consult with your advisor.
Completing one diversity class with a grade of D or better is an EvCC institutional requirement and is necessary to receive any degree from Everett Community College.
Required Course
Any course from the Diversity course list
EvCC Residency Units Requirement
To be eligible to earn a diploma at EvCC for any certificate, at least one-third of the units must be earned at Everett Community College and apply towards the credential being earned. These units must be traditionally graded and calculated in the EvCC GPA.
Required Residency Units: 30 minimum
Additional Graduation Requirements
In addition to the applicable Diversity and Residency Units requirements, EvCC has other graduation requirements for all certificates and degrees, including which version of credential requirements should be met, a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, fulfillment of all obligations to the college (financial or otherwise), and filing of an application for graduation. Details can be found in EvCC Graduation Requirements or in the Current Catalog on the EvCC website.
Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
AAS-DTA Program Learning Outcomes
Communication Skills
- Use diverse rhetorical strategies to optimize communication effectiveness.
- Critically analyze messages across diverse contexts.
- Apply ethical principles to the analysis and creation of messages.
Quantitative Skills
- Construct a logical argument to support a conclusion.
- Manipulate and communicate symbolic language.
Humanities
- Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of human experience and expression.
- Engage in sustained qualitative, creative, and critical explorations.
Social Sciences
- Use evidence-based research to study individual and collective human behavior.
- Understand how diverse experiences, perspectives, cultures, and social systems shape human interactions.
Natural Sciences
- Apply mathematical or scientific reasoning to STEM topics.
- Learn about and/or apply the scientific method in a laboratory setting.
Communications Studies Emphasis Outcomes
- Introduced to communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts.
- Learn to ask the “Why” questions surrounding communication contexts and relationships (Engage in Communication inquiry).
- Create messages appropriate to the audience/relationship, purpose, and context.
- Critically analyze their communication and the messages of others.
- Apply ethical communication principles and practices (see the National Communication Association’s Ethical Communication Credo).
- Utilize communication to embrace differences, recognizing the dignity and shared humanity of all people.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Everett Community College does not discriminate based on, but not limited to, race, color, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, language, culture, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy or parental status, marital status, actual or perceived disability, use of service animal, economic status, military or veteran status, spirituality or religion, or genetic information in its programs, activities, or employment. Contact the following people with inquiries or complaints regarding discrimination, Title IX compliance, or Americans with Disabilities Act compliance: Equal Opportunity Director: EqualOpportunity@everettcc.edu, 425-388-9271; ADA Coordinator: ADAcoordinator@everettcc.edu, 425-388-9232; Title IX Coordinator: TitleIXCoordinator@everettcc.edu, 425-388-9271. All offices are located in Olympus Hall 111, 2000 Tower St. Everett, WA 98201. For more information, visit the Equal Opportunity and Title IX website: EverettCC.edu/EqualOpportunity.