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Transfer Course Criteria for

Communication Studies


Along with the general selection criteria, every major has required and recommended coursework for transfer students to have completed in order to be considered competitive during the selection process.

Required Courses

Before applying to a major, you should successfully complete or be in the process of completing the required courses to maximize (but not guarantee) your chance of selection. You must complete these units by the spring of the term before your intended fall enrollment to receive consideration during the selection process.

Desired Courses

Because Cal Poly is highly impacted and selection to all majors is very competitive, desired courses should also be successfully completed or in progress when you apply for admission.

Evaluating Your Courses

All the courses listed are Cal Poly Courses. You can use www.assist.org to identify the course equivalencies between Cal Poly and the California Community Colleges. Be sure to use the corresponding academic year in which you completed the course. If you are out-of-state or a transfer student from another four-year institution, you may have to compare your catalog course descriptions with Cal Poly’s catalog to identify the equivalent courses. Cal Poly is unable to evaluate transcripts for you prior to selection.

Course Listing

Fall 2024

Required Courses

English Language Communication and Critical Thinking

  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication/English Composition
  • Critical Thinking

Desired Courses


Arts, Literature, Philosophy and Foreign Languages

  • Any CSU GE Area C course

Literature/Philosophy course strongly encouraged as preparation for the analytical reading that typifies upper-division major and GE courses in the College of Liberal Arts.

Statistics

  • STAT 217/Introduction to Statistical Concepts and Methods


Language Other than English

  • MLL 103/Elementary Modern Language III
    or FR 103/Elementary French III
    or GER 103/Elementary German III
    or CHIN 103/Elementary Mandarin Chinese III
    or ITAL 103/Elementary Italian III
    or JPNS 103/Elementary Japanese III
    or SPAN 103/Elementary Spanish III
    or demonstration of a comparable level of proficiency

American Sign Language can be considered equivalent for this requirement.


Major Related ​​​​​

  • COMS 206/Communication Theory
  • COMS 208/Performance, Literature and Culture
  • COMS 211/Interpersonal Communication
  • COMS 217/Small Group Communication
Fall 2025

Required Courses

English Language Communication and Critical Thinking

  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication/English Composition
  • Critical Thinking

Desired Courses


Arts, Literature, Philosophy and Foreign Languages

  • Any CSU GE Area C course

Literature/Philosophy course strongly encouraged as preparation for the analytical reading that typifies upper-division major and GE courses in the College of Liberal Arts.

Statistics

  • STAT 217/Introduction to Statistical Concepts and Methods


Language Other than English

  • MLL 103/Elementary Modern Language III
    or FR 103/Elementary French III
    or GER 103/Elementary German III
    or CHIN 103/Elementary Mandarin Chinese III
    or ITAL 103/Elementary Italian III
    or JPNS 103/Elementary Japanese III
    or SPAN 103/Elementary Spanish III
    or demonstration of a comparable level of proficiency

American Sign Language can be considered equivalent for this requirement.


Major Related ​​​​​

  • COMS 206/Communication Theory
  • COMS 208/Performance, Literature and Culture
  • COMS 211/Interpersonal Communication
  • COMS 217/Small Group Communication

All information is subject to change without prior notice.