UTexas

Communication Studies, Political Communication (BSCommStds)

Total Hours Required: 120

Plan of Study

The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Semester 1Hours
CMS 306M Professional Communication Skills 3
COM 301E Introduction to Communication Foundations 3
RHE 306 Rhetoric and Writing 3
Natural Science and Technology, Part I (030) 3
First-Year Signature Course (090) 3
 Hours15
Semester 2
Lower-division CMS course 3
Mathematics (020) 3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) 3
Natural Science and Technology, Part I (030) 3
Humanities (040) 3
 Hours15
Year 2
Semester 1
CMS 317C Speech in American Culture 3
COM 302E Interdisciplinary Communication Foundations 3
American and Texas Government (070) 3
Language, Communication and Culture 6
 Hours15
Semester 2
CMS course 3
American and Texas Government (070) 3
Natural Science and Technology, Part II (093) 3
Language, Communication and Culture 6
 Hours15
Year 3
Semester 1
Lower-division CMS course 3
Upper-division CMS course 3
U.S. History (060) 3
Language, Communication, and Culture 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours15
Semester 2
CMS 332K Theories of Persuasion 3
CMS Career Preparation course 3
Upper-division Free Elective 3
Visual and Performing Arts (050) 3
U.S. History (060) 3
 Hours15
Year 4
Semester 1
Upper-division CMS concentration course 3
Upper-division CMS Methods course 3
Upper-division Free Elective 3
Upper-division Free Elective 3
Upper-division Non-CMS elective 3
 Hours15
Semester 2
Upper-division CMS course 3
Upper-division CMS concentration course 3
Upper-division Non-Moody electives 6
Free Elective 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours120

Requirements

All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.

Concentration
CMS 317CSpeech in American Culture3
Hours chosen from (The courses selected may not be counted towards any additional communication studies major requirement.):9
Advanced Presentation Skills
Communication Ethics
Argumentation and Advocacy
Case Studies in Argumentation
Leadership and Public Memory
Communication and Social Change
Communication and Civic Participation
Political Communication
Media Effects and Politics
Communicating to Government
Political Narratives
Communication and Public Opinion
American Voices
Expertise and Public Culture
Environmental Communication
Gender and Communication
Topics in Political Communication
The Politics of National Memory
Advocacy and Politics
Subtotal12
Major (see details below)24
Subtotal24
Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required.30
Subtotal30
General Education
Core Curriculum42
Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency
Subtotal42
College Requirements - Communication12
General University Requirements
Total Hours120
 

Degree-Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies (BSCommStds)

Required Courses
CMS 306MProfessional Communication Skills3
CMS 332KTheories of Persuasion3
Methods
Hours chosen from (The course selected may not be counted toward any additional communication studies major requirement):3
Interpersonal Health Communication
Health Decision Making
Leadership and Public Memory
Social Interaction in Virtual Environments
Using Communication Technology at Work
Communicating with Stuff
Communication Research Methods
Visual Media and Interaction
Crowds, Clouds, and Community
The Dark Side of Organizational Communication
Conflict Resolution
Communicating with Animals
Family Communication
Communication and Personal Relationships
How People Talk
Social Media and Politics
Social Media Analysis
Difficult Conversations
Practicum in Conflict Mediation
Advanced Organizational Communication
Faculty-Initiated Research
Student-Initiated Research
Career Preparation
Hours chosen from (The course selected may not be counted toward any additional communication studies major requirement):3
Internship
Team-Based Communication
Organizational Communication
Interviewing Principles and Practices
Communicating with Patients
Working Virtually
Pre-Graduate School Mentorship
Internship in Communication Studies
Communication Internship
Communication Studies Coursework
Hours chosen from: CMS12
Total Hours24

Additional Requirements and Policies

  • At least 36, but no more than 48, semester hours of communication studies of which at least 18 hours must be upper-division. 
  • A student may not earn both the Bachelor of Science in Communication and Leadership and the Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies. 
  • A candidate for a degree must have an officially declared major in the Moody College of Communication at the time the degree is awarded.