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Undergraduate 2019-2020

Communication Studies B.A.

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Contact: Thomas G. Endres, Ph.D., School Director

Location: Candelaria 1265

Telephone: 970.351.2045

Fax: 970.351.2336

Website: http://www.unco.edu/commstudies/

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

Assigned advisor is available through the Ursa login; ursa.unco.edu; under Student tab Academic Profile channel and is term specific. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of four parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. Required Minor Credits
  4. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

A major in the discipline of communication studies allows the student to examine closely the many ways in which message exchange is the foundation of human societies and cultures. At UNC, communication coursework focuses on theoretical, analytic and practical aspects of human interaction. Students may elect to emphasize the study of communication in interpersonal, small group, organizational and intercultural contexts. Practical skills may be obtained in professional presentation, persuasion, leadership, and communication consulting.

Students completing this program may elect to apply for graduate study in the field of communication, to apply to law or other professional schools, or to begin a career with businesses who are interested in hiring people whose expertise involves human communication.

Program Admission Requirements:

Students planning to major in Communication Studies must apply for admission into the program.  Until that point, they are considered COMM degree-seeking.  In order to apply, students must pick up an admissions packet available in the main School of Communication office.  After reviewing the packet of materials, students fill out an application form, and submit the form along with a 1-2 page essay stating their rationale for choosing the COMM major.  Notification of acceptance will be communicated to the students' bearmail account within one week, at which point the student can complete the Change of Major form and be assigned a COMM advisor.  A student can declare the COMM major at any time; there are no pre-requisites.  Transfer students, and COMM minors wishing to upgrade to the COMM major, must also submit the completed application form and essay in order to be officially accepted into the major.

Program Requirements:

  • Complete a minimum of 18 semester credits in 300- and 400-level COMM courses, with a minimum of 6 semester credits at the 400-level. A maximum of 3 semester credits of credits from COMM 422 and six credits of COMM 492 may count toward the major requirements.
  • Majors may count one course in a related discipline toward their communication electives. This course must be approved by their major advisor.
  • Juniors and Seniors with a GPA of 3.0 and higher may register for 500 level COMM courses.
  • Students in the Honors Program may count HON 351 and HON 451 as electives in Communication Studies.
  • Students who are not eligible for an internship are required to complete six additional credits of Communication electives.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

Degree Requirements

1. Required LAC — 40 credits

2. Required Major — 36 credits

Take all of the following courses:

COMM 100Basics of Public Speaking

1

COMM 101Speaking Evaluation

2

COMM 102Introduction to Communication

3

COMM 201Inquiry in Communication

3

COMM 220Interpersonal Communication

3

COMM 330Small Group Communication

3

COMM 343Persuasion

3

COMM 491Communication Theory Capstone

3

Choose six credits from the following courses:

COMM 492Undergraduate Internship

1--10

or

Any COMM prefix electives

Choose nine credits from the following courses:

COMM 211Argumentation and Debate

3

COMM 212Professional Speaking

3

COMM 221Nonverbal Communication

3

COMM 223Intercultural Communication

3

COMM 261Seminar in Communication

1-3

COMM 324Family Communication

3

COMM 331Organizational Communication

3

COMM 341Courtroom Communication

3

COMM 350Communication in the Classroom

3

COMM 422Directed Study

1-3

COMM 431Communication and Leadership

3

COMM 461Seminar in Communication

1-3

JMS 490Television Criticism

3

3. Required Minor — 18 credits

4. University-Wide Credits — 26 credits

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 26 credits.