Bachelor of Arts (Communication and International Trade) (University at Buffalo)
Course Information
Description
Awarded and developed by: University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, US
Learn insights and skills in the art and process of inter-personal communication with an international focus.
Founded in 1964 and ranked among the top 25 communication programs in the US, UB’s BA (Communication) provides you with a comprehensive knowledge of human communication, its media, and its effects.
Learn the insights and skills in the art and process of global restructuring and new patterns of uneven development.
The international trade program aims to prepare students to critically assess the process of globalization operating in the world today. Critical social, economic, and environmental challenges are being faced by corporate or government policy makers and organizations.
- The SIM-UB scholarship allows deserving students at SIM to spend one semester at the UB’s New York campus.
Entry Requirements
The following qualifications are accepted:
- Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A-Level)
- Polytechnic Diploma
- SIM Diploma
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: Most recent 3 years of high school grade of ‘B’ equivalent to IB score 4.5. IB Diploma holders can expect up to 30 credit exemptions with a minimum of 30 total scores.
- SIM Management Foundation Studies (MFS) or its equivalent
- Qualifications equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma. Average grade of ‘B’ or better.
Students with Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A-Level), Polytechnic Diploma and SIM Diploma may be considered for admission with advanced standing credits.
Note: Advanced standing and transfer credits granted are subjected to final approval by UB. UB reserves the right to change credit articulations at any time.
Equivalent International Qualifications
View admission criteria of international students on course website
English Language Requirements
Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents with at least 10 years primary and secondary education in Singapore in an English-medium government school, and completed their GCE ‘O’ level with a grade ‘C’ (6 or better) in the English Language, are exempted from the English Language proficiency requirement.
International students’ requirements
All other applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English in one of the following ways. Only scores from tests taken within 2 years prior to the time of enrolment are acceptable.
English Language qualification and Minimum Scores
- Paper-based TOEFL: 550
- Internet-based TOEFL (IBT): 79
- IELTS: 6.5
- PTE Academic: 55
- SAT 1 ERWS: 550
- ACT (English and reading sections): 20
- International Baccalaureate (IB) – Diploma Higher Level English A1 or A2 or A: 4
Career Opportunities
Graduates have gone on to graduate schools for further studies.
With these double major qualifications, graduates have better job opportunities in:
- Public relations consultants and advertising agencies
- Mass media
- Corporate communication & marketing communication
- Civil and social agencies
- Research
- Local investment and trade promotion agencies
- Trade and location consulting firms
- Governmental agencies
- Brokerage firms
- International banks
- Transport carriers, and international trade management companies
- International service providers (e.g., freight forwarders, customs)
- Other professions
Modules
Structure
- Blended Learning. Activities, consultations, discussions, exercises, lectures, online learning and presentations.
- Each lesson consists of 1.5 hours of lecture and 1.5 hours of consultation.
- To ensure parity in standards, rigors of the program, integrity of the UB degree, more than 50% of modules are taught by US /overseas visiting faculty, covering the full semester throughout the entire program. The rest of the modules are taught by qualified local faculty with the experience and academic expertise approved by UB.
- Average teacher-student ratio = 1:46.
- Minimum class size to commence: 25 students. Students will be informed at least one month prior to course commencement if class cannot commence due to low take up rate.
Assessment & Attendance
- The normal module load for students is 12 to 15 credit hours a semester.
- Students may register for modules and make changes to their class schedule. Students who choose to drop or resign from any modules, are on official leave of absence or have to repeat any failed modules, may take more than three years to complete their studies.
- Continuous assessment comprises tests, quizzes, assignments, projects, presentations, participations and activities scheduled throughout the semester.
- The final exam is held in the 2 - 3 weeks after the semester ends.
- Students progress through each semester till they satisfactorily complete the conferral requirements.
- Attendance requirement:
- Local students – Minimum attendance requirement as stipulated by UB or 75%, whichever is higher.
- International students – Minimum attendance requirement is 90% as mandated by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA).
Modules
Prerequisite Modules for Communication
- COM 101 Principles of Communication (3 credits)
- COM 217 Communication in Organizations (3 credits)
- COM 225 Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)
- COM 240 Introduction to Mass Communication (3 credits)
- COM 337 Communication Theory (3 credits)
- CSE 111 Introduction to Quantitative Analysis and Reasoning with Computing (4 credits)
- MGQ 201 Introduction to Statistics for Analytics (4 credits)
Required Modules for Communication
- LIN 207 Language, Society and The Individual (3 credits)
- COM 205 Research Methods (3 credits) or
- SOC 293 Social Research Methods (3 credits)
- COM 300 Written Communication (3 credits)
- PSY 101 Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
- PSY 331 Social Psychology (3 credits) or
- PSY 333 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 credits) or
- PSY 341 Cognitive Psychology (3 credits) or
- PSY 342 Introduction to Cognitive Science: Concepts of the Mind (3 credits) or
- SOC 371 Individual And Society (3 credits)
- SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
- 8 Communication Electives (24 credits)
- – at least seven courses (21 credits) must be 300/400 level.
Prerequisite Modules for International Trade
- Any two Geography or Management modules
Required Modules for International Trade
- ECO 181 Introduction to Macroeconomics (4 credits)
- ECO 182 Introduction to Microeconomics (4 credits)
- GEO 100 World Regions & Issues (3 credits)
- GEO 103 Global Economic Geographies (3 credits)
- GEO 120 Maps: Earth from Above (3 credits)
- GEO 211 Univariate Statistics in Geography (4 credits)
- GEO 330 Dynamics of International Business (3 credits)
- GEO 333 International Trade (3 credits)
- GEO 334 International Business Cultures (3 credits)
- GEO 425 Industrial / Business Geography (3 credits)
- GEO 460 Geography of Development (3 credits)
- MGQ 201 Introduction to Statistics for Analytics (4 credits)2
- 3 300/400-level Geography Electives (9 credits)
UB Curriculum
- UB Seminar (3 credits)
- Foundations (21 credits)
- Communication Literacy I (4 credits)
- Communication Literacy II (3 credits)
- Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning (4 credits)
- Scientific Literacy and Inquiry (7 credits)1
- Diversity in the United States (3 credits)
- Pathways (18 – 19 credits)
- Thematic Pathways (9 credits)
- Global Pathways (9 – 10 credits)
- UBC 399 UB Curriculum Capstone (1 credit)
Minors
- Communication Minor
- Economics Minor
- Geography Minor
- Management Minor
- Marketing Minor
- Psychology Minor
- Sociology Minor