Communication BA

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Requirements for Admission

Undergraduates must declare their intention to major in communication by the time they have completed 60 semester hours; they must apply to the communication department to be accepted as majors.

Program Requirements

The communication major requires that students take a total of 39 hours of course work in communication, 18 of which must be taken in residence at CU Denver. At least 21 of the 39 hours must be upper division. Students must achieve a grade of C (2.0) or higher to receive credit for a course in the major and must maintain a minimum GPA of C+ (2.75) in their communication courses.

Students must complete 12 credits (4 courses) from the menu of core classes; they must complete at least 24 credits (8 classes) from the menu of electives; they must also complete at least 3 credits (1 class) from the menu of “exit” classes.

Core Courses

COMM 1011 - Fundamentals of Communication gtPATHWAYS: GT-SS3
COMM 1021 - Fundamentals of Mass Communication gtPATHWAYS: GT-SS3
COMM 2020 - Communication, Citizenship, and Social Justice gtPATHWAYS:
COMM 2050 - Business and Professional Speaking gtPATHWAYS:
-OR- COMM 2101 - Presentational Speaking gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 12 Hours

Electives

Skill Area Electives

In addition to the four communication core courses, students are required to complete at least 24 credits (8 classes) from among the department’s nine pathways, which include community service and public affairs, legal communication, health communication, mass media, human resources and organizational communication, mediation and conflict resolution, political communication and government, technical communication and public relations and advertising. Students may use the pathways to help craft a program of study, but they are not required to do so; the pathways are simply suggestions for ways to organize courses that will prepare students for careers.

Total: 24 Hours

Upper Division Elective

“Exit” Course—majors are required to complete at least one “exit” class that concludes their course of study with a special experience focused on high-level research, community engagement, international travel or workplace experience. Students may choose from the following courses:

COMM 3939 - Internship gtPATHWAYS:
COMM 4040 - Communication, Prisons, and Social Justice gtPATHWAYS:
COMM 4282 - Environmental Communication gtPATHWAYS:
COMM 4500 - Health Communication gtPATHWAYS:
COMM 4510 - Usability Testing gtPATHWAYS:
COMM 4620 - Health Risk Communication gtPATHWAYS:
COMM 4688 - Senior Seminar: Transitioning from College to Career gtPATHWAYS:
COMM 4995 - Travel Study gtPATHWAYS:

Total: 3 Hours

Major Total: 39 Hours

For more information, see the faculty advisor and the department’s website.

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