This is an archived copy of the 2020-22 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.utexas.edu/.

Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies

To be awarded the degree of Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies, the candidate must complete 120 semester hours of coursework and must fulfill the University's General Requirements for graduation, the Core Curriculum requirements, the college graduation requirements, the requirements and policies listed in Academic Policies and Procedures, and the requirements given in Prescribed Work, Major Requirements, and Special Requirements of the Major, below.

Core Curriculum

All students must complete the University’s Core Curriculum. 

In some cases, a course required for the Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies may also be counted toward the core curriculum.

Prescribed Work

  1. Six semester hours of coursework focusing on communication foundations: Communication 301E and 302E.
  2. Three courses with a writing flag; one course with a quantitative reasoning flag; one course with a global cultures flag; one course with a cultural diversity in the United States flag; one course with an ethics flag; and one course with an independent inquiry flag. The same course cannot be used to satisfy the global cultures and cultural diversity flags even if the course carries both flags. Courses that fulfill flag requirements are identified in the Course Schedule. They may also be used to fulfill other degree requirements.
  3. Students must satisfy a foreign language and culture requirement in one of the following ways: (a) Demonstrating intermediate proficiency in a single foreign language; (b) Taking two consecutive courses in one language and one approved culture course in a culture that is relevant to the language. A list of approved culture and language courses and combinations will be posted on the Student Advising website before registration for each semester and summer session. An extensive foreign language testing program is available at the University. Students with knowledge of a language are encouraged to take appropriate tests both to earn as much credit as possible and to be placed at the proper level for further study. Students should consult with an academic advisor for information on testing.
  4. At least 36, but no more than 48, semester hours of communication studies as described in Major Requirements, below.
  5. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 120 semester hours.

Major Requirements

At least 36, but no more than 48, semester hours of communication studies of which at least 18 hours must be upper-division. Each student must complete one of the following tracks:

Corporate Communication

  1. Communication Studies 306M, 313M, and 332K.
  2. Three semester hours chosen from the following Methods courses: Communication Studies 314L, 348, 348K, 349M, 350C, 350M, 357, 358, 359C, 377K, or 378K. The course selected may not be counted toward any additional communication studies major requirement.
  3. Three semester hours chosen from the following Career Preparation courses: Communication Studies 307K, 322E, 342K, 345G, 364M, or 370K. The course selected may not be counted toward any additional communication studies major requirement.
  4. Nine semester hours chosen from the following courses: Communication Studies 310K, 337, 339L, 341, 350C, 350M, 353C, 353S, 370K, 372K, and 372T.
  5. Twelve additional semester hours of communication studies.

Interpersonal Communication

  1. Communication Studies 306M, 315M, and 332K.
  2. Three semester hours chosen from the following Methods courses:  Communication Studies 314L, 348, 348K, 349M, 350C, 350M, 357, 358, 359C, 377K, or 378K. The course selected may not be counted toward any additional communication studies major requirement.
  3. Three semester hours chosen from the following Career Preparation courses: Communication Studies 307K, 322E, 342K, 345G, 364M, or 370K. The course selected may not be counted toward any additional communication studies major requirement.
  4. Nine semester hours chosen from the following courses: Communication Studies 314L, 330, 334K, 344K, 354, 355K, 355T, 357, 358, 370K, 371D, and 371K.
  5. Twelve additional semester hours of communication studies.

Political Communication

  1. Communication Studies 306M, 317C, and 332K.
  2. Three semester hours chosen from the following Methods courses: Communication Studies 314L, 348, 348K, 349M, 350C, 350M, 357, 358, 359C, 377K, or 378K. The course selected may not be counted toward any additional communication studies major requirement. 
  3. Three semester hours chosen from the following Career Preparation courses: Communication Studies 307K,  322E, 342K, 345G, 364M, or 370K. The course selected may not be counted toward any additional communication studies major requirement.
  4. Nine semester hours chosen from the following courses: Communication Studies 320, 322E, 332, 333, 338L, 340K, 342C, 342K, 345, 345G, 345P, 345V, 364K, 370K, 372D, and 373D.
  5. Twelve additional semester hours of communication studies.

Special Requirements of the Major 

A student majoring in communication studies may not register for more than nine semester hours of communication studies in one semester.

A student may not earn both the Bachelor of Science in Communication and Leadership and the Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies.

Courses

Because prerequisites are subject to change, students should consult the Course Schedule before registering.

Order and Choice of Work

First Year

  1. The student must take three courses from the following group each semester:
    1. Rhetoric and Writing 306.
    2. Courses to be counted toward the American history, American and Texas government, social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, visual and performing arts, and science and technology requirements of the core curriculum.
    3. Courses in a foreign language.
    4. Courses that meet flag requirements.
    5. Undergraduate Studies 302 or 303.
  2. Communication 301E
  3. Enough additional coursework to raise the student’s course load to 15 or 16 hours each semester. Courses should be chosen with the guidance of a college advisor.

Second Year

  1. The student must take three courses from the following group each semester; four are recommended:
    1. English 316L, 316M, 316N, or 316P.
    2. Courses to be counted toward the American history, American and Texas government, social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, visual and performing arts, and science and technology requirements of the core curriculum.
    3. Courses in the foreign language, unless the language requirement has been fulfilled.
    4. Courses that meet flag requirements.
  2. Communication 302E.
  3. Lower-division communication studies courses recommended by the student’s advisor.
  4. Enough additional coursework, if needed, to raise the student’s course load to 15 or 16 hours each semester.

Third and Fourth Years

  1. Any remaining courses in the core curriculum and the prescribed work.
  2. The remaining courses listed as major requirements. Students should note that some upper-division courses have a series of prerequisite courses that takes up to three semesters to complete.
  3. Enough additional coursework to raise the student’s course load to 15 or 16 hours each semester.