Science Communication Minor

Moody Career Center 2020
Science Communication Minor

Learn to effectively communicate science topics to a variety of audiences by utilizing professional communication techniques and tools as you gain an understanding of contemporary communication issues and advanced skills to enhance communication with the public.

18

Hours of Coursework

9

Hours Outside of your Major

About the Minor

The Science Communication minor is open to students in the College of Natural Sciences and Moody College of Communication under the 2016-2018, 2018-2020, 2020-2022 and 2022-2024 catalogs who have an overall GPA of at least 2.5 at UT Austin.

  • The Science Communication minor requires a total of 18 hours of coursework.
  • Nine hours of coursework must come from outside of major requirements. Only 9 hours of overlap between major and minor courses is allowed for this minor.
  • Nine hours of coursework must be taken at upper division level.
  • Nine hours of coursework must be taken in residence.
  • All courses must be taken for a letter grade, unless the course is only offered on the pass/fail basis. Only courses with a grade of C- or better will be counted towards the minor.

Click on tab for the specific catalog year associated with your major. Only courses listed on your specific catalog will count towards your minor.

NOTE: You can find your catalog in the Profile section at the bottom of the IDA Audit Request page.

For students under the 2022-2024 catalog

Students pursuing the Science Communication minor under the 2022-2024 catalog are responsible for the following requirements:

Three hours of required coursework:
ADV 323 Public Communication of Science and Technology
Three hours of Foundations coursework:

ADV 305

Fundamentals of Advertising

ADV 324

Communicating Sustainability

CMS 306M

Professional Communication Skills

CMS 313M

Organizational Communication

CMS 315M

Interpersonal Communication Theory

CMS 332K

Theories of Persuasion

CMS 334K

Nonverbal Communication

CMS 342K

Political Communication

CMS 345

Media Effects and Politics

J 301F

Fundamental Issues in Journalism

P R 305

Fundamentals of Public Relations
Three hours of Skills coursework:

CMS 316L

Interviewing Principles and Practices

CMS 320

Advanced Presentation Skills

CMS 337

Building Sales Relationships

CMS 345G

Communicating to Government

CMS 350C

Crowds, Clouds, and Community

CMS 353S

Social Media and Organizations

CMS 372K

Advanced Organizational Communication

COM 308

Creative Communication of Scientific Research

COM 323.4

Communication Internship (Topic 4: Science Communication Internship)

J 313P

Multimedia News Reporting

J 336F

Social Media Journalism

J 346F

Reporting on the Environment
Three hours of Ethics and Leadership coursework:

CLD 301

Introduction to Communication and Leadership

CMS 322E

Communication Ethics

CMS 332

Argumentation and Advocacy

CMS 338

Leadership Stories

CMS 344K

Lying and Deception

CMS 353C

Communication for Innovation
Six additional hours of coursework chosen from the Foundations, Skills, and Ethics and Leadership course lists.

In addition to specific course requirements, students must also fulfill the hour totals for overall, in residence, and upper division coursework as well as meet the grade minimums for each minor course.

Under specific circumstances, the minor faculty committee may consider course substitutions for minor course requirements. Approval of any petition is not a guarantee.

Students must meet with the Moody Minors Advisor to discuss a petitions.

For students under the 2020-2022 catalog

Students pursuing the Science Communication minor under 2020-2022 catalog are responsible for the following requirements:

Three hours of required coursework:
ADV/ P R 323 Public Communication of Science and Technology
Three hours of Foundations coursework: 
ADV 305 Fundamentals of Advertising
ADV/ P R 324 Communicating Sustainability
CMS 306M Professional Communication Skills
CMS 313M Organizational Communication
CMS 315M Interpersonal Communication Theory
CMS 332K Theories of Persuasion
CMS 334K Nonverbal Communication
CMS 342K Political Communication
CMS 345 Media Effects and Politics
J 301F Fundamental Issues in Journalism
PR 305 Fundamentals of Public Relations
Three hours of Skills coursework:
COM 308/ NSC 303 Creative Communication of Scientific Research
CMS 316L Interviewing Principles and Practices
CMS 320 Advanced Presentation Skills
CMS 337 Building Sales Relationships
CMS 345G Communicating to Government
CMS 350C Crowds, Clouds, and Community
CMS 353S Social Media and Organizations
CMS 372K Advanced Organizational Communication
COM 323.4 Communication Internship (Topic 4: Science Communication Internship)
J 313P Multimedia News Reporting
J 336F Social Media Journalism
J 346F Reporting on the Environment
Three hours of Ethics and Leadership coursework:
CLD 301 Introduction to Communication and Leadership
CMS 322E Communication Ethics
CMS 332 Argumentation and Advocacy
CMS 338 Leadership Stories
CMS 344K Lying and Deception
CMS 353C Communication for Innovation
Six additional hours of coursework chosen from Foundations, Skills, and Ethics and Leadership courses

In addition to specific course requirements, students must also fulfill the hour totals for overall, in residence, and upper division coursework as well as meet the grade minimums for each minor course

Under specific circumstances, the minor faculty committee may consider course substitutions for minor course requirements. Approval of any petition is not a guarantee.

Students must meet with the Moody Minors Advisor to discuss a petition.

For students under the 2018-2020 catalog

Students pursuing the Science Communication minor under 2018-2020 catalog are responsible for the following requirements:

Three hours of required coursework:
ADV 323 Public Communication of Science and Technology
Three hours of Foundations coursework: 
ADV 305 Fundamentals of Advertising
ADV 324 Communicating Sustainability
CMS 306M Professional Communication Skills
CMS 313M Organizational Communication
CMS 315M Interpersonal Communication Theory
CMS 332K Theories of Persuasion
CMS 334K Nonverbal Communication
CMS 342K Political Communication
CMS 345 Media Effects and Politics
J 301F Fundamental Issues in Journalism
PR 305 Fundamentals of Public Relations
Three hours of Skills coursework:
COM 308 Creative Communication of Scientific Research
CMS 316L Interviewing Principles and Practices
CMS 320 Advanced Presentation Skills
CMS 337 Building Sales Relationships
CMS 345G Communicating to Government
CMS 350C Crowds, Clouds, and Community
CMS 353S Social Media and Organizations
CMS 360W Work360
CMS 372K Advanced Organizational Communication
COM 323.4 Communication Internship (Topic 4: Science Communication Internship)
J 313P Multimedia News Reporting
J 336F Social Media Journalism
J 346F Reporting on the Environment
Three hours of Ethics and Leadership coursework
CLD 301 Introduction to Communication and Leadership
CMS 322E Communication Ethics
CMS 332 Argumentation and Advocacy
CMS 338 Leadership Stories
CMS 344K Lying and Deception
CMS 353C Communication for Innovation
Six additional hours of coursework chosen from Foundations, Skills, and Ethics and Leadership courses

In addition to specific course requirements, students must also fulfill the hour totals for overall, in residence, and upper division coursework as well as meet the grade minimums for each minor course.

Under specific circumstances, the minor faculty committee may consider course substitutions for minor course requirements. Approval of any petition is not a guarantee.

Students must meet with the Moody Minors Advisor to discuss a petitions.

For students under the 2016-2018 catalog

The title of this minor on the 2016-2018 catalog is Communication and Society: Science Communication. Be mindful of the differences in minor name and requirements for the later catalogs.

Students pursuing Communication and Society: Science Communication under the 2016-2018 catalog are responsible for the following requirements:

Three hours of required coursework:
COM 323.4 Communication Internship (Topic 4: Science Communication Internship)
Six hours of Issues in Communication coursework:
ADV 323 Public Communication of Science and Technology
CMS 315M Interpersonal Communication Theory
CMS 322E Communication Ethics
CMS 334K Nonverbal Communication
CMS 338 Leadership Stories
CMS 344K Lying and Deception
CMS 353S Social Media and Organizations
J 301F Fundamental Issues in Journalism
J 346F Reporting on the Environment
J 346G Domestic Issues and Global Perspective
Nine hours of Communication Tools coursework:
CMS 306M Professional Communication Skills
CMS 320 Advanced Presentation Skills

CMS 332 Argumentation and Advocacy
CMS 337 Building Sales Relationships
CMS 332K Theories of Persuasion
CMS 348 Communication Research Methods
CMS 364M Pre-Graduate School Mentorship
J 302F Digital Storytelling Basics
J 331G Audio Storytelling
J 333F Data-Driven Reporting
J 336D Graphic Design for Print and Online
J 336F Social Media Journalism
J 339G Mobile News App Design

In addition to specific course requirements, students must also fulfill the hour totals for overall, in residence, and upper division coursework as well as meet the grade minimums in each minor course.

If you are pursuing the Science Communication Minor under the 2016-2018 catalog you are eligible to take new coursework offered under the 2018-2020 catalog and apply it toward your minor requirements, as long as you meet the pre-requisites for the course(s) you plan to take. To learn how those courses apply toward the requirements under the 2016-2018 catalog click here.

General Minor Eligibility

Undergraduate students in the College of Natural Sciences and Moody College of Communication under the 2016-2018, 2018-2020, 2020-2022 and 2022-2024 catalogs who have an overall GPA of at least 2.5 at UT Austin are eligible to apply for the Science Communication minor.

Students in their first semester at UT Austin should apply after grades are posted.

A student's major college may have additional criteria that they must meet in order to pursue a minor. Prior to applying, students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor in their own major to discuss how the minor fits into their degree plan.

Moody Student Eligibility

Moody students have additional criteria for pursuing a minor credential.

  • Moody students may only pursue one minor/certificate credential.
  • Moody students following the 2020-2022 and earlier catalogs must apply for their minor before they have completed 65% of their degree requirements.
  • Moody students following the 2022-2024 catalog must apply for their minor before they have completed 75% of their degree requirements.

Moody students should contact their advisor if they have questions about these policies.

  1. Visit this site
  2. Select "COM Communication" for Field of Study
  3. Click "Continue"
  4. Select the appropriate minor title based on catalog eligibility
    1. 2016-2018 catalog: "COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY: SCIENCE COMMUNICATION (MNCCOM01)"
    2. 2018-20202020-2022 and 2022-2024 catalogs: "SCIENCE COMMUNICATION (MNCCOM04)"
  5. Click "Continue"