All Communication majors must complete the Senior Portfolio (COMM 197) in their final year. In this 2-unit course, students create an online portfolio and write a reflection paper describing how their coursework has shaped who they are and their vocation choices. Students will integrate, synthesize, and reflect on how the study of Communication prepares for life-long learning and active citizenship in a diverse world.
In doing this critical reflective work, students will be writing their own story. The process will produce new insights, new connections among ideas and experiences, and deepen their understanding of communication as well as themselves as communicators.
The Senior Portfolio experience itself will draw upon the core elements of the communication major: understanding the communication process; constructing messages; considering audience; making ethical choices; awareness of diverse perspectives, contexts, and social identities; and effective communication across multiple modalities. It will also ask students to engage in the identification and critical reflection of core learning outcomes in the major.
Fast forward to job interviews or post-graduation conversations, where students will be in the position to answer questions about “what matters to you and why,” “how do you see your learning at SCU translating into a career in xxx,” “what do you see yourself doing in five years,” and “how has what you’ve learned shaped the way you communicate or what you value in others’ communication.”
Prerequisite Information
All students must complete the following required courses before enrolling in the Senior Portfolio:
- All lower-division Communication courses
- COMM 100 or 110
- COMM 101 or 111
- Three of six upper division Communication electives
A checklist of Communication courses and requirements is available on the Communication Academics web page.
Acceptance into any section is contingent upon the student successfully completing all prerequisites prior to the quarter in which the student is enrolled. Students who drop or fail a prerequisite will not be eligible to take Senior Portfolio and will forfeit their slot in the course.
Grading
The Senior Portfolio is a Pass/ No Pass course.