Communication Studies

Build the skills to become an effective communicator

Develop a comprehensive understanding of how people respond to various forms of communication and engage in public discourse. This online bachelor’s program is designed to build your proficiency in three specific areas:

• Media and visual culture
• Relational and organizational studies
• Rhetoric and civic engagement

Collaborate with your peers as you hone oral, written, nonverbal, visual, and digital communication skills, giving you a strong foundation of knowledge and a springboard to pursue a wide variety of potential career paths.

What you will learn

The field of communication is diverse, highly versatile, and a critical component of every organization and industry. Dive deeply into the strategy, theory, history, criticism, and analysis of communication as you study topics such as:

• Intercultural approaches to communication
• How communication is used to build public culture
• Communication in personal relationships and organizations
• The history and theory of rhetoric
• Public speaking and argumentation

Customize your education to fit your goals

In addition to foundational coursework, working with your advisor, you will customize your learning experience by choosing an interdisciplinary certificate, second major, or one of several offered minors, including but not limited to the following:

• Anthropology
• Business Administration
• Economics
• Global and Environmental Sustainability
• Political Science

*Media Studies Minor is excluded

Note: You must complete a minor, second major, or interdisciplinary certificate to earn this degree.

Study in a flexible, online format

Earn your bachelor's degree from a respected, regionally accredited public research university in Colorado without traveling to a campus. Although the program is entirely online, you will still have opportunities to interact closely with both your instructors and peers. You will also have access to many of the same resources and services as CSU’s resident students.

Requirements to Graduate

A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this degree. This includes:

• 42 upper-division (300 and 400-level) credits
• 30 upper-division credits completed through Colorado State University

The number of courses needed for completion of the program depends on:

• The number of transfer credits awarded
• Fulfillment of All-University Core Curriculum
• Degree coursework requirements

Curriculum

The curriculum listed below is intended to inform prospective students about the overall theme of the program and should not be used as an example program of study. Students need to consult their advisor to develop a degree completion plan based on the credits transferred into this program. You have the option to use the Transferology website to conduct a self-review of your potential transfer courses. This tool will assist you in seeing how your previous college coursework may transfer to CSU. Please note, new online courses are in development to provide additional choices.

Select All University Core Curriculum (AUCC) (31 credits): Students are strongly encouraged to select AUCC courses in consultation with their academic advisor.

Communication Studies Core Curriculum (18 credits): The following courses are required for the Communication Studies degree.

• SPCM 100 – Communication and Popular Culture (3 cr.)
• SPCM 130 – Relational and Organizational Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCM 200 – Public Speaking (3 cr.)
• SPCM 201 – History and Theory of Rhetoric (3 cr.)
• SPCM 207 – Public Argumentation (3 cr.)
• SPCM 479 – Communication Studies Capstone (3 cr.)

Select Additional SPCM Courses (27 credits): Select a total of 27 credits of SPCM subject code. Students must take either SPCM 341, SPCM 350, or SPCM 420. Courses with an (*) will be available in the near future.

• SPCM 335 – Gender and Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCM 337 – Persuasion* (3 cr.)
• SPCM 347 – Visual Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCM 341 – Evaluating Contemporary Television (3 cr.)
• SPCM 350 – Evaluating Contemporary Film (3 cr.)
• SPCM 349 – Freedom of Speech (3 cr.)
• SPCM 378 – Virtual Workplace Communication (3 cr.)
• SPCM 433 – Communication in Organizations* (3 cr.)
• SPCM 420 – Political Communication (3 cr.)

Select one of the following Advanced Writing Courses (3 credits):

• CO 300 – Writing in the Disciplines: Arts and Humanities (3 cr.)
• CO 301B – Writing in the Disciplines: Education (3 cr.)

Select Additional Arts and Humanities Credits (6 credits): Select six credits from the following subject codes: ART, D, E, ETST, L***, MU, PHIL, TH, or WS. No more than one WS course can be counted toward the completion of this requirement.

Select Additional History Credits (6 credits): Select six additional credits from courses with a HIST subject code.

Select Additional Social and Behavioral Sciences Credits (6 Credits): Select a total of six credits from the following: AREC 202, GR 100, courses with subject codes ANTH, ECON, ETST, HIST, JTC, POLS, PSY, SOC, or WS. No more than one WS course can be counted toward the completion of this requirement.

Select an approved Degree Minor (21 to 24 credits): Students are required to choose an approved minor in consultation with your advisor.

With a bachelor's degree in communication studies, you will be prepared to pursue entry level job opportunities in fields like public relations, marketing, nonprofit communications, and government communications.

Career opportunities include, but are not limited to:

• Internal or external communications
• Content marketing and copywriting
• Social media
• PR
• Human resources
• Nonprofit
• Government

Application Deadlines

Planning to transfer credits from another college or university? Please review our FAQ page, then complete a Tentative Transfer Evaluation Form to see how your prior credits may transfer.

Questions? Call (970) 682-7252 or email kc.yates@colostate.edu.