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.
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.
- Visit this site
- Select "COM Communication" for Field of Study
- Click "Continue"
- Select the appropriate minor title based on catalog eligibility
- 2016-2018 catalog: "COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY: SCIENCE COMMUNICATION (MNCCOM01)"
- 2018-2020, 2020-2022 and 2022-2024 catalogs: "SCIENCE COMMUNICATION (MNCCOM04)"
- Click "Continue"