General Information
Mission
The mission of the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin is to advance and enhance society through the study and practice of human communication. We pursue our mission through world-class teaching, scholarship, public service, and our shared commitment to collaboration that bridges disciplines within the college, across the university, and around the world. We draw energy and inspiration from the vibrant community of Austin, Texas to reinforce our core values of knowledge, innovation, collaboration, creativity, integrity, and diversity. We all firmly believe that the communication arts and sciences are fundamental for humanity, critical for community, and essential for prosperity.
Moody College is preparing students to better society by enabling them to make the communication breakthroughs of tomorrow. While the media, channels and tools used to communicate are constantly changing, the foundational skills needed to be effective communicators remain the same. Students will become prepared to adapt to a dynamic field while learning the principles needed to become effective, ethical communicators.
Students can choose from seven degree programs: Advertising; Communication and Leadership; Communication Sciences and Disorders; Communication Studies; Journalism; Public Relations; and Radio-Television-Film. Students benefit from interdisciplinary approaches to communication education and exposure to a broad range of perspectives—ultimately preparing them to succeed across the range of communication disciplines and industries.
Moody College also offers numerous minors in various communication fields to help students supplement other areas of study and their effectiveness in a range of professions. Minors include: Sports and Media; Communication Studies; Science Communication; Health Communication; U.S. Latino and Latin American Media Studies; Journalism; and Visual Media.
Facilities
In addition to the extensive library and computer resources of the university, certain special resources provide support for work in communication. Chief among them is the Belo Center for New Media (BMC), which opened in summer 2012. The BMC is a 5-level 120,000 square-foot facility that weds cutting-edge technology with innovative teaching and research methods. The Belo Center is home to the KUT Public Broadcast Center, the School of Journalism, the Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations, and the Moody College of Communication Dean’s Office. The Belo Center houses a multitude of instructional, research, and meeting spaces including a 300-seat auditorium, a 120-seat lecture hall, and an executive briefing facility, as well as a theatrical-grade 75-seat presentation room. The KUT Public Broadcast center is housed in a two-story, 20,000 square-foot wing which includes a 72-seat, glass-walled performance studio that incorporates the community into some of KUT’s 300 annual in-studio performances.
The Jesse H. Jones Communication Center in Communication Building A (CMA) is a six-level building housing classrooms, offices, and sophisticated technology facilities. All facilities offer pervasive wireless internet access and all instructional and production spaces feature high-definition equipment. Communication Building B (CMB), a nine-level production building, houses teaching and production facilities for the School of Journalism and the Department of Radio-Television-Film. These facilities provide opportunities for academic programs that cross disciplinary lines, interrelate traditional and online media, and otherwise combine the resources of the College in ways not feasible within any one of the component
Financial Assistance Available through the College
The Moody College of Communication and each academic unit have a large number of scholarships that are awarded annually. Students interested in receiving one of these scholarships should apply online early in the spring semester for scholarships to be awarded the following academic year. More information about college scholarships is available at http://moody.utexas.edu/students/scholarships and from the Student Advising Office.
Student Services
Academic Advising
The Student Advising Office, in collaboration with the academic departments, oversees all advising in the college. To allow in-depth advising on specific programs of study, courses, and career choices in the major, each student is assigned an adviser. Students should meet with their advisers to select courses appropriate to the degree and to ensure that all degree requirements are met. In addition, students should consult their advisers for assistance in preparing for graduation.
Career Services
Communication Career Services (CCS) provides a variety of career development and job/internship search assistance programs for students and alumni. The office’s online systems link clients to the CCS job and internship databases and on-campus interviewing and résumé referral programs. Communication job and internship fairs, on-campus interviews, and a wide range of job search workshops and career exploration programs provide networking opportunities and allow students to explore their career options, gain experience, and build their career management skills. Individual career counseling, pre-law advising, a career planning and management course, and a robust website offer additional resources to help candidates research and prepare for the job market in a wide variety of media, communication, and related industries.
As a complement to the assistance available from the college, the University’s Sanger Learning Center and the Center for Strategic Advising and Career Counseling in the School of Undergraduate Studies provide career counseling services to all students. The centers offer professional career counseling, skill and interest inventories and tests, and assistance to students in choosing or changing their majors and considering graduate study.
The University makes no promise to secure employment for each graduate.
Student Organizations
Student organizations provide an opportunity for students to meet fellow students within their major, learn about a major or career, hear from professionals in the field, and gain hands-on experience in club administration and leadership. One organization students may join is the Communication Council, the governing body for student activities in the college. The Communication Council acts as a representative of all undergraduate communication students and sponsors college-wide programs such as Communication Week and Senior Celebration as well as other events throughout the year. A complete list of student organizations in the college is available at moody.utexas.edu/students/communication-student-organizations.