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.
About the Minor
The Science Communication minor has different college/major restrictions depending on catalog.
- 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 and in residence.
- All courses must be taken for a letter grade, unless the course is only offered on the pass/fail basis. A minimum grade of C- or better is required.
Click on tab for the specific catalog year associated with your major. Only courses listed on your specific catalog will count towards your minor.
2026-2028 Catalog and Later
The Science Communication minor is open to all undergraduate majors on the 2026-2028 catalog who have a overall GPA of 2.5 at UT Austin.
Students pursuing the Science Communication minor under the 2026-2028 catalog are responsible for the following requirements:
Requirement 1: ADV 323 Public Communication of Science and Technology
Requirement 2: 3 hours chosen from the Foundations list
- ADV 305 Fundamentals of Advertising
- ADV 324 Communicating Sustainability
- ADV 330 Strategic Science Communication
- 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
- CMS 345P Communication and Public Opinion
- CMS 362E Environmental Communication
- J 301F Fundamentals Issues in Journalism
- P R 305 Fundamentals of Public Relations
Requirement 3: 3 hours chosen from the Skills list
- ADV 331 Environmental Communication Campaigns
- ADV 378 48 - Sustainability Communication Research (Topic 48 of Advanced Topics in Advertising)
- CMS 316L Interviewing Principles and Practices
- CMS 337 Building Sales Relationships
- CMS 345G Communicating to Government
- CMS 350C Crowds, Clouds, and Community
- CMS 353S Social Media and Organizations
- CMS 367P 2 - Social Media Analysis (Topic 2 of Topics in Political Communication)
- CMS 372K Advanced Organizational Communication
- COM 308 Creative Communication of Scientific Research
- COM 323 4 - Science Communication Internship (Topic 4 of Communication Internship)
- J 313P Multimedia News Reporting
- J 336F Social Media Journalism
Requirement 4: 3 hours chosen from the Ethics and Leadership list
- CLD 301 Introduction to Communication and Leadership
- CMS 322E Communication Ethics
- CMS 332 Argumentation and Advocacy
- CMS 332D Digital Ethics
- CMS 338 Leadership Stories
- CMS 344K Lying and Deception
- CMS 353C Communication for Innovation
- COM 340 Leadership and Urban Engagement UTNY
Requirement 5: 6 additional hours chosen from the Foundations, Skills, and Ethics and Leadership 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.
2024-2026 Catalogs and Earlier
The Science Communication minor is restricted to undergraduate majors in the College of Natural Sciences and Moody College of Communication who have an overall GPA of 2.5 at UT Austin.
Students pursuing the Science Communication minor under the 2024-2026 catalog are responsible for the following requirements:
Requirement 1: ADV 323 Public Communication of Science and Technology
Requirement 2: 3 hours chosen from the Foundations list
- ADV 305 Fundamentals of Advertising
- ADV 324 Communicating Sustainability
- ADV 330 Strategic Science Communication
- 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
- CMS 362E Environmental Communication
- J 301F Fundamentals Issues in Journalism
- P R 305 Fundamentals of Public Relations
Requirement 3: 3 hours chosen from the Skills list
- ADV 331 Environmental Communication Campaigns
- CMS 316L Interviewing Principles and Practices
- 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 - Science Communication Internship (Topic 4 of Communication Internship)
- J 313P Multimedia News Reporting
- J 336F Social Media Journalism
Requirement 4: 3 hours chosen from the Ethics and Leadership list
- 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
- COM 340 Leadership and Urban Engagement UTNY
Requirement 5: 6 additional hours chosen from the Foundations, Skills, and Ethics and Leadership 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.
Students pursuing the Science Communication minor under the 2022-2024 catalog are responsible for the following requirements:
Requirement 1: ADV 323 Public Communication of Science and Technology
Requirement 2: 3 hours chosen from the Foundations list
- ADV 305 Fundamentals of Advertising
- ADV 324 Communicating Sustainability
- ADV 330 Strategic Science Communication
- 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 Fundamentals Issues in Journalism
- P R 305 Fundamentals of Public Relations
Requirement 3: 3 hours chosen from the Skills list
- 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 - Science Communication Internship (Topic 4 of Communication Internship)
- J 313P Multimedia News Reporting
- J 336F Social Media Journalism
- J 346F Reporting on the Environment
Requirement 4: 3 hours chosen from the Ethics and Leadership list
- 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
- COM 340 Leadership and Urban Engagement UTNY
Requirement 5: 6 additional hours chosen from the Foundations, Skills, and Ethics and Leadership 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.
Students pursuing the Science Communication minor under 2020-2022 catalog are responsible for the following requirements:
Requirement 1: ADV 323 Public Communication of Science and Technology
Requirement 2: 3 hours chosen from the Foundations list
- ADV 305 Fundamentals of Advertising
- ADV 324 Communicating Sustainability
- ADV 330 Strategic Science Communication
- 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 Fundamentals Issues in Journalism
- P R 305 Fundamentals of Public Relations
Requirement 3: 3 hours chosen from the Skills list
- 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 - Science Communication Internship (Topic 4 of Communication Internship)
- J 313P Multimedia News Reporting
- J 336F Social Media Journalism
- J 346F Reporting on the Environment
Requirement 4: 3 hours chosen from the Ethics and Leadership list
- 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
- COM 340 Leadership and Urban Engagement UTNY
Requirement 5: 6 additional hours chosen from the Foundations, Skills, and Ethics and Leadership 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.
The Science Communication is restricted to undergraduate majors in the College of Natural Sciences and Moody College of Communication following the eligible catalogs who have an overall GPA of at least 2.5 at UT Austin.
Eligible Catalogs: 2018-2020, 2020-2022, 2022-2024 and 2024-2026
The Science Communication minor is open to all undergraduate majors starting with the 2026-2028 catalog who have an overall GPA of 2.5 at UT Austin.
Non-CNS / Moody majors must be on the 2026-2028 catalog before their application will be approved.
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.
Visit this page and use the following directions:
- Click on link for "Request Restricted Minor"
- Select "COM Communication" for Field of Study
- Click "Continue"
- Select "SCIENCE COMMUNICATION (MNCCOM04)"
- Click "Continue"