Communication Studies B.A.
General Degree Requirements
To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information.
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 a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
- The Major in Communication Studies requires 36 credits of Communication Studies (COMX) courses with 18 of those credits in courses numbered 300 or above.
- A maximum of 6 credits in COMX 312 and a maximum of 6 credits in COMX 398 may count toward the major.
- Students taking COMX 460 or COMX 462 are encouraged to concurrently enroll in the one-credit COMX 461 when offered.
Course Requirements
| 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 220S | Introduction to Organizational Communication | 3 |
| COMX 240H | Introduction to Rhetorical Theory | 3 |
| Research | ||
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Rhetorical Criticism and Theory | ||
| Research Methods | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines Requirement | ||
| Complete one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Rhetoric, Nature, and Environmentalism | ||
| Communication in Personal Relationships | ||
| Communication in Nonprofit Organizations | ||
| Communication and Technology | ||
| Rhetoric of Women's Activism | ||
| Additional Major Electives | ||
| Complete 18 COMX credits to achieve a total of 36 COMX credits for the degree. | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Four Year Plan
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| COMX 111A | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 4 |
| Foreign Language 101 | 4 | |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| HUSC 194 | Seminar/Workshop | 1 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMX 115S | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| M 115 | Probability and Linear Mathematics (or a different level math course) | 4 |
| Foreign Language 102 | 4 | |
| General Education Requirement | 6 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Autumn | ||
| COMX 220S | Introduction to Organizational Communication | 3 |
| COMX 240H | Introduction to Rhetorical Theory | 3 |
| General Education Requirement | 6 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Intermediate Writing Course | 3 | |
| COMX Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| COMX Elective (300+) | 6 | |
| Elective (300+) | 6 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMX Elective (300+) | 3 | |
| COMX 347 |
Rhetoric, Nature, and Environmentalism (COMX Advanced Writing Course) or Communication in Personal Relationships or Communication in Nonprofit Organizations or Communication and Technology or Risk, Crisis, and Communication or Rhetorical Criticism and Theory |
3 |
| COMX Elective | 3 | |
| Elective (300+) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| COMX 445 or COMX 460 |
Rhetorical Criticism and Theory (or COMX 491 ST Qualitative Methods) or Research Methods |
3 |
| Elective (300+) | 6 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMX Elective (300+) | 3 | |
| Elective (300+) | 6 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 122 | |
Last updated Autumn 2024
The major requires a minimum of 36 total COMX credits, including at least 18 upper division COMX credits with grades of C- or higher. A maximum of 6 credits in COMX 312 and a maximum of 6 credits in COMX 398 can be counted towards the major.
Three Year Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| COMX 220S | Introduction to Organizational Communication | 3 |
| COMX 111A | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 4 |
| General Education Requirement | 6 | |
| HUSC 194 | Seminar/Workshop | 1 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMX 115S | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| M 115 | Probability and Linear Mathematics (or a different level math course) | 4 |
| Intermediate Writing Course | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement | 6 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Summer | ||
| Foreign Language 101 | 4 | |
| Foreign Language 102 | 4 | |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Autumn | ||
| COMX 240H | Introduction to Rhetorical Theory | 3 |
| General Education Requirement | 6 | |
| COMX Elective (300+) | 3 | |
| Elective (300+) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMX Elective (300+) | 3 | |
| Elective (300+) | 6 | |
| Elective | 9 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Summer | ||
| Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Autumn | ||
| COMX 347 |
Rhetoric, Nature, and Environmentalism (COMX Advanced Writing Course) or Communication in Personal Relationships or Communication in Nonprofit Organizations or Communication and Technology or Rhetorical Criticism and Theory or Rhetoric of Women's Activism |
3 |
| COMX Elective (300+) | 3 | |
| Elective (300+) | 6 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMX 445 or COMX 460 |
Rhetorical Criticism and Theory (or COMX 491 ST Qualitative Methods) or Research Methods |
3 |
| COMX Elective (300+) | 3 | |
| Elective (300+) | 6 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Last updated Autumn 2024