University of Montana Catalog 2023-2024

Associate of Arts (A.A.) - Communication Studies

Associate of Arts - General AA; Communication Studies Concentration

Summary

Degree Specific Requirements24-25
Organizational Communication or Rhetorical Theory
Statistics
Communication Elective
Writing Skills6
Introductory Writing Course
Intermediate Writing Course
Mathematics3
Perspectives21-27
Expressive Arts
Literary & Artistic Studies
Historical & Cultural Studies
Social Sciences
Ethical & Human Values
Democracy and Citizenship
Cultural and International Diversity
Natural Sciences
AA Degree Electives13-27

Degree Specific Credits: 60

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: The A.A. degree has three requirements:

  1. completion of UM's lower-division General Education Requirements (GERs),
  2. a minimum of 60 total earned credits, and
  3. a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

At least 30 of the total 60 degree credits must be earned from Missoula College or UM-Missoula.

Missoula College students are limited to enrolling in lower-division coursework (course level 100 or 200).

In addition, to receive to Associate of Arts with a concentration in Communication Studies, a student must complete the requirements specific to that degree.

Degree Specific Requirements for AA with a Concentration in Communication Studies

Note: 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.

Complete all of the following courses:
COMX 111AIntroduction to Public Speaking3
COMX 115SIntroduction to Interpersonal Communication3
COMX 140LIntroduction to Visual Rhetoric3
M 115Probability and Linear Mathematics3
Total Hours12

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Organizational Communication or Rhetorical Theory

Complete one of the following courses:
COMX 220SIntroduction to Organizational Communication3
or COMX 240H Introduction to Rhetorical Theory
Total Hours3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Statistics

Complete one of the following courses:3-4
Psychological Statistics
Social Statistics
Introduction to Statistics
Total Hours3-4

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Communication Elective

Complete 6 credits in two directed elective courses. Directed electives must be approved by student's advisor.6
 

Writing Skills

Rule: Complete the following subcategories. 6 total credits required. 

Note: NOTE: Students who place into and successfully complete WRIT 201 are considered to have satisfied both the WRIT 101 and the Lower-Division Approved Writing Course General Education Requirements.

Introductory Writing Course

Note: Appropriate placement into WRIT 101/WRIT 201 required. Prerequisites may apply.

Complete one of the following courses:
WRIT 101College Writing I3
or WRIT 201 College Writing II

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Intermediate Writing Course

Complete any course designated as an Intermediate Writing Course during semester it's taken.3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Mathematics

Note: Appropriate placement into mathematics courses required. 

Complete any Mathematics course level 104 or higher (excluding M 111).3-4

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Perspectives

Rule: A minimum of 3 credits towards each perspective category is required. 21-27 total credits required.

Note: Some courses satisfy multiple Perspectives or GER Categories; visit with your advisor for more information. Students who take the maximum number of Perspective "double-dippers" possible will be able to complete the Perspectives with a total of 21 credits.

Expressive Arts (A)

Complete a minimum 3 credits in any course with the Expressive Arts (A) designation. 3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Literary & Artistic Studies (L)

Complete a minimum 3 credits in any course with the Literary & Artistic Studies (L) designation. 3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Historical & Cultural Studies (H)

Complete a minimum 3 credits in any course with the Historical & Cultural Studies (H) designation. 3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Social Sciences (S)

Complete a minimum 3 credits in any course with the Social Sciences (S) designation. 3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Ethical & Human Values (E)

Complete a minimum 3 credits in any course with the Ethical & Human Values (E) designation. 3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Democracy and Citizenship (Y)

Complete a minimum 3 credits in any course with the Democracy and Citizenship (Y) designation. 3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Cultural and International Diversity (X)

Complete a minimum 3 credits in any course with the Cultural and International Diversity (X) designation. 3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Natural Sciences (N)

Complete a minimum 6 credits in any course with the Natural Sciences (N) designation. At least one course must have a laboratory component.6
 

Minimum Required Grade: C- 


AA Degree Electives

Note: Number of elective credits required varies; student needs to ensure s/he earns at least 60 total credits for the AA degree. Transfer students may count up to 30 transfer credits towards the total 60 necessary for degree. A maximum of 15 technical credits may be counted towards the total 60. (A student may use 20 technical credits towards the 60 if s/he has earned an AAS degree.)

Complete elective credits to attain the 60 credits required for the General AA degree. 13-27

Minimum Required Grade: C-