Program Overview

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies

About

The Communication Studies program provides a flexible degree aimed at helping graduates become skilled communicators who are experts in achieving individual, group, and societal goals across varied contexts. Our degree program focuses on equipping students with in-demand skills such as problem-solving, leadership and collaboration, critical thinking, and communicating with diverse audiences.

Learning Outcomes

All courses offered in the Department will focus on helping students attain the following learning outcomes, knowledge, skills and competencies. After attaining a B.A. in Communication Studies at UNLV, students will be able to:

1. Describe the Communication discipline and its central questions.
2. Engage in Communication inquiry, research, analysis, and evaluation.
3. Utilize Communication skills and principles to interact with others and their messages effectively and ethically.
4. Apply research-based arguments and advocacy skills to influence real-world problems.
5. Prepare and deliver messages that are appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context, in order to accomplish communicative goals such as sharing information, completing tasks, and solving problems.
6. Use communication to embrace difference, understand multiple perspectives, and function effectively in diverse groups.

Career Possibilities

Students with Communication Studies degrees are prepared to follow a wide range of career paths. Careers include, but are not limited to:

• Advertising
• Communication Education
• Health Communication
• Marketing
• Organizational Communication
• Political Communication
• Public Relations
• Risk and Crisis Communication

Requirements

General Education Requirements - Credits: 36-47

• First-Year Seminar - Credits: 2-3
• English Composition - Credits: 6
  • ENG 101 - Composition I
  • ENG 102 - Composition II
• Second-Year Seminar - Credits: 3
  • GSC 300 - Second-Year Seminar: Civic Engagement in Urban Communities
• Constitutions - Credits: 3-6
• Mathematics - Credits: 3
  • MATH 120 - Fundamentals of College Mathematics or higher
• Distribution Requirements - Credits: 19-20
  • Humanities and Fine Arts - Credits: 0
  • Social Sciences - Credits: 9
  • Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking - Credits: 10-11
• Multicultural and International: Credits: 0-6
  • Multicultural
    • COM 133 - Culture and Communication
  • International
    • COM 412 - Intercultural Communication

Major Degree Requirements - BA in Communication Studies - Credits: 39-42

• Core Course Requirements
  • Choose one from the following two courses:
    • COM 101 - Public Speaking
    • HON 101 - Honors Public Speaking
  • COM 102 - Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
  • Choose one:
    • COM 104 - Critical Thinking in Public Argument
    • COM 217 - Argumentation and Debate
  • Choose one:
    • COM 133 - Culture and Communication
    • COM 412 - Intercultural Communication
  • Choose one:
    • COM 211 - Introduction to Rhetorical Research
    • COM 212 - Introduction to Communication Research
  • COM 216 - Survey of Communication Studies
  • Choose one:
    • COM 400 - Human Communication Theory
    • COM 409 - The Rhetorical Tradition
  • Choose one (See Note 3):
    • COM 494 - Communication Studies Capstone
    • COM 499 - Internship

Communication Studies Electives - Credits: 18

At least 12 credits must be upper-division (300 or 400-level) COM courses. May include HON seminars taught by COM faculty.

General Electives - Credits: 31-45

Students are required to earn a total of 120 credits to complete their degree. Of those credits, 42 must be from upper-division courses (300 - 400 level). In addition, 30 upper-division credits must be completed at UNLV to be eligible for graduation. Consult with your advisor to ensure all degree requirements are met (See Notes 4 and 5).

Total Credits: 120

Notes

1. GSC 300 is a required course for all GCUA students and can also satisfy SYS.
2. Must complete 42 upper division (300-400) level credits.
3. Must complete 30 upper division (300-400) level credits at UNLV in residence.
4. A maximum of four (4) credits of PEX activity courses may apply to the Communication Studies B.A. degree.
5. COM 216 is a Milestone Experience course for Communication Studies B.A.
6. COM 496, COM 497, and COM 498 are Culminating Experience courses for Communication Studies B.A.

Documents/Downloads

• Plans of Study
  • 4 Year Plan
• Syllabi
  • COM

• Degree Worksheets

• Careers
  • NA
• Graduate Handbooks
  • NA
• Additional Downloads
  • NA
• Related Links
  • NA

Contacts

Department of Communication Studies

The Department of Communication Studies offers programs focused on relational and public communication. We teach and deploy communication skills in interpersonal, small group, organizational, and political settings, which in turn helps others to develop critical thinking, writing, and speaking skills. Our goal is to best serve communication needs by training citizens to engage, motivate, and impact communities.

Greenspun College of Urban Affairs

The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs is committed to creating contemporary solutions for resilient communities. Our academic programs focus on making effective public policy, creating support structures to meet behavioral and mental health challenges, ensuring cities are safe and prepared to meet emergency situations, effective and ethical journalism, and interpersonal and public communication strategies.