Nov 27, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Communication, B.S.


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The major in communication provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, manage, and evaluate communication processes involving individuals, groups, and the public. Graduates develop strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills as well as an advanced ability to analyze and critique messages, behaviors, and media.

Majors plan their upper-division course work around five identified career paths: business and organizational communication, digital and mass communication, health care communication, human communication, and sport communication. Human communication students also can tailor their own unique program of study to meet specific needs. Careful planning with the student’s advisor is necessary.

Communication majors are encouraged to participate in educational activities beyond regular course offerings. The department has an excellent internship program which offers the opportunity for work with employers in corporate, government, and public service agencies. In addition, students may elect to do independent study work with individual faculty on special topics or projects. All majors are encouraged to participate in a variety of student organizations providing extracurricular activities designed to enhance the academic experience and career opportunities.

For students interested in department honors, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Communication.

Degree Requirements


Each student completes the following:

College B.S. Requirements


Mathematics, statistics and computer science:


Complete 9 credits in mathematics, statistics, and/or computer sciences beyond the UK Core requirement. At least 3 hours must be in statistics.

Science Courses


Complete a minimum of 60 hours of science courses, with not more than 12 hours within the College of Communication and Information. These courses must be approved by an advisor in the College of Communication and Information and may be from the areas of mathematics, statistics, computer science, physical sciences, biological sciences, social and behavioral sciences, as well as from appropriate professional fields.

Subtotal: College B.S. Hours: 60


UK Core Requirements


See the UK Core section of this Catalog for the complete UK Core requirements . The courses listed below are (a) recommended by the college, or (b) required courses that also fulfill UK Core areas. Students should work closely with their advisor to complete the UK Core requirements.

I. Intellectual Inquiry in Arts and Creativity


II. Intellectual Inquiry in the Humanities


III. Intellectual Inquiry in the Social Sciences


IV. Intellectual Inquiry in the Natural, Physical, and Mathematical Sciences


V. Composition and Communication I


VI. Composition and Communication II


VII. Quantitative Foundations


VIII. Statistical Inferential Reasoning


IX. Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA


X. Global Dynamics


UK Core hours: 30


Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)


Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 3


Subtotal: Premajor hours: 15


Major Requirements: 21


Students must complete 21 hours at the 325-level or above, of which at least 9 hours must be at the 400- and/or 500-level.

Cognate: 15


Students must complete 15 hours in courses related to a Career Path at the 300-level or above outside the Department of Communication.

Open Electives: 6


Students must complete 6 additional hours of their choice at the 300-level. These courses can be taken pass/fail.

Subtotal: Career Track Hours: 36


Subtotal: Major Hours: 42


TOTAL HOURS: 120


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