UTexas

Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies

This is an archived copy of the 2023-24 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.utexas.edu/.

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.

A candidate for a degree must have an officially declared major in the Moody College of Communication at the time the degree is awarded.

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 language and culture requirement in one of the following ways: (a) Demonstrating intermediate proficiency in a single language other than English; (b) Demonstrating beginning-level proficiency in a language other than English and taking one approved culture course in a culture that is relevant to the language. A list of approved culture and language courses and combinations is posted on the Student Advising website. An extensive language testing program is available at the University. Students with knowledge of a language other than English 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 306M313M, and 332K.
  2. Three semester hours chosen from the following Methods courses: Communication Studies 314L, 331K338L339L346347E347S348, 348K, 349M, 350C, 350M354357, 358, 359C, 371D371K372K377K, 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 307K310K313M322E, 330330P331K332D335337339K342K, 345G346350C353C353S355K364M370K, or 373D. 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 310K316L337, 339K339L, 341, 346350C, 350M352D353C, 353S356C356T367C370K372K, 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 314L331K338L339L346347E347S348348K349M350C350M354357358359C371D371K372K377K, 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 307K310K313M322E330330P331K332D335337339K342K345G346350C353C353S355K364M370K, or 373D. 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, 334K344K, 354, 355K, 355T, 357, 358358C367I370K, 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 314L331K338L339L346347E347S348348K349M350C350M354357358359C371D371K372K377K, 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 307K310K313M322E330330P331K332D335337339K342K345G346350C353C353S355K364M370K, or 373D. 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, 342K345, 345G, 345P, 345V, 364K367P370K, 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 Fall

  1. Communication Studies 306M
  2. Science and Technology, Part 1
  3. Rhetoric and Writing 306
  4. Communication 301E
  5. Undergraduate Studies 302 or 303

First Year Spring

  1. 3 hours of lower-division Communication Studies
  2. Math Core
  3. Social and Behavioral Science
  4. Science and Technology, Part 1
  5. English 316L316M316N, or 316P

Second Year Fall

  1. Communication Studies 313M
  2. Communication 302E
  3. US/TX Government Core
  4. 6 hours of a language other than English

Second Year Spring

  1. 3-hour lower-division Communication Studies track course
  2. Science and Technology, Part 1 or Part 2 Core
  3. US/TX Government Core
  4. 6 hours of a language other than English

Third Year Fall

  1. 3 hours upper-division Communication Studies
  2. 3 hours lower-division Communication Studies
  3. US History Core
  4. Language/Culture
  5. Elective

Third Year Spring

  1. Communication Studies 332K
  2. 3-hour upper-division Communication Studies Career Prep course
  3. Upper-division elective
  4. Visual and Performing Arts Core
  5. US History Core

Fourth Year Fall

  1. 3-hour upper-division Communication Studies track course
  2. 3-hour lower-division Communication Studies Methods course
  3. Upper-division elective
  4. Upper-division elective
  5. Upper-division non-Communication Studies elective

Fourth Year Spring

  1. 3-hour upper-division Communication Studies course
  2. 3-hour upper-division Communication Studies track course
  3. Upper-division non-Moody elective
  4. Upper-division non-Moody elective
  5. Non-Communication Studies elective