Associate of Arts (A.A.) - Communication Studies
General Associate Degree Requirements
Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page.
Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.
Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of an associate degree program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.
Online Program Option
This program may be completed in an online format. Students interested in pursuing an online degree or certificate program are strongly encouraged to contact the offering department to discuss specific program and course modalities and create a plan of study with an academic advisor. The course requirements listed below may not be consistently offered via online delivery.
Associate of Arts - General A.A.; Communication Studies Concentration
The Associate of Arts degree has the following general requirements. Students must:
- Complete all of the university's general education requirements with the exception of the language requirement and the advanced writing requirement.
- All courses taken to satisfy general education requirements must be taken for a traditional letter grade and must be passed with a grade of C- or better.
- Complete a minimum of 60 credits.
- Earn a minimum cumulative institutional GPA of 2.0.
- Complete at least 30 of the total 60 degree credits at Missoula College or UM-Missoula.
Missoula College students are limited to enrolling in lower-division (100- and 200-level) courses only.
In addition, to receive to Associate of Arts with a concentration in Communication Studies, a student must complete the concentration requirements listed below.
Course Requirements
Some courses required for the Associate of Arts with a concentration in Communication Studies satisfy multiple Perspectives or GER Categories; visit with your advisor for more information.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| COMX 111A | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMX 115S | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMX 140L | Introduction to Visual Rhetoric | 3 |
| COMX 220S | Introduction to Organizational Communication | 3 |
| or COMX 240H | Introduction to Rhetorical Theory | |
| M 115 | Probability and Linear Mathematics | 3 |
| Statistics | ||
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3-4 | |
| Psychological Statistics | ||
| Social Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Communication Studies Elective | ||
| Complete 6 credits in two directed elective courses. Directed electives must be approved by student's advisor. | 6 | |
Two Year Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| ANTY 101H |
Anthropology & the Human Experience or The Veteran's Experience or Introduction to Native American Studies |
3 |
| COMX 111A | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMX 115S | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMX 219S | Survey of Children's Communication 1 | 3 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 3-4 |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMX 140L | Introduction to Visual Rhetoric | 3 |
| LIT 110L |
Introduction to Literature or Communicating Biology or Introduction to Technical Writing |
3 |
| M 115 | Probability and Linear Mathematics | 3-4 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| *EMAIL OR VISIT KIM REISER TO SUBMIT APPROVAL FOR COMMUNICATION STUDIES ELECTIVES (Kim.Reiser@umontana.edu) | ||
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Autumn | ||
| COMX 220S or COMX 240H |
Introduction to Organizational Communication or Introduction to Rhetorical Theory |
3 |
| PHSX 105N or NUTR 221N |
Fundamentals of Physical Science or Basic Human Nutrition |
3 |
| STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| AHMS 270E |
Medical Ethics or Business Ethics and Social Responsibility or Introduction to Ethics |
3 |
| BGEN 215 | Career Readiness | 3 |
| BIOB 101N or BIOB 109N |
Discover Biology or Montana Ecosystems |
3 |
| COMX 212X | Introduction to Intercultural Communication 1 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 61-63 | |
- 1
This course counts toward the Communication Studies elective requirement.
Updated Fall 2026
Two Year Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| ANTY 101H |
Anthropology & the Human Experience or The Veteran's Experience or Introduction to Native American Studies |
3 |
| COMX 111A | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMX 115S | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMX 219S | Survey of Children's Communication 1 | 3 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 3-4 |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMX 140L | Introduction to Visual Rhetoric | 3 |
| LIT 110L |
Introduction to Literature or Communicating Biology or Introduction to Technical Writing |
3 |
| M 115 | Probability and Linear Mathematics | 3-4 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| *EMAIL OR VISIT KIM REISER TO SUBMIT APPROVAL FOR COMMUNICATION STUDIES ELECTIVES (Kim.Reiser@umontana.edu) | ||
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Autumn | ||
| COMX 220S or COMX 240H |
Introduction to Organizational Communication or Introduction to Rhetorical Theory |
3 |
| PHSX 105N or NUTR 221N |
Fundamentals of Physical Science or Basic Human Nutrition |
3 |
| STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| AHMS 270E |
Medical Ethics or Business Ethics and Social Responsibility or Introduction to Ethics |
3 |
| BGEN 215 | Career Readiness | 3 |
| BIOB 101N or BIOB 109N |
Discover Biology or Montana Ecosystems |
3 |
| COMX 212X | Introduction to Intercultural Communication 1 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 61-63 | |
- 1
This course counts toward the Communication Studies elective requirement.
Updated Fall 2026