Communication Studies Minor

Sign of Moody College of Communication at UT Austin
Communication Studies Minor

Increase your skills in communication, particularly in the areas of organizational, interpersonal, and rhetorical communication as you study the foundations of public speaking, verbal and non-verbal communication, and intercultural communication.

18

Hours of Coursework

9

Hours Outside of your Major

2.0

GPA Requirement

About the Minor

The Communication Studies Minor is open to all students except those majoring in CMS or CLD.

Students pursuing the Communications Studies minor are responsible for the following requirements:

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 minor requires total of 18 hours of coursework.
  • Nine hours of coursework must be taken at upper division level.
  • Nine hours of coursework must be taken in residence at UT Austin.
  • 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.
  • Students must earn a 2.0 minimum GPA in CMS courses.

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.

Students pursuing the Communications Studies minor under the 2022-2024 catalog are responsible for the following requirements:

Six hours of required coursework: Hours
CMS 306M Professional Communication Skills 3
CMS 315M Interpersonal Communication Theory 3
Twelve hours of coursework in Communication Studies (at least nine hours must be upper-division) 12

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.

This minor is open only to students who are not majoring in communication studies or communication and leadership. The minor requires 18 hours of coursework, including at least nine hours completed 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 (or CR for courses offered only on a pass/fail basis) will be counted. Students must earn a 2.0 minimum GPA in courses counting toward the minor. The Department of Communication Studies reserves the right to limit the number of students accepted as communication studies minors.

The course requirements are as follows:

Six hours of required coursework: Hours
CMS 306M Professional Communication Skills 3
CMS 315M Interpersonal Communication Theory 3
Twelve hours of coursework in Communication Studies (at least nine hours must be upper-division) 12

In order to pursue a minor in Communication Studies, a student must:

  • be under the 2018-2020 catalog
  • apply for the minor
  • meet any requirements for minor that the student’s major college might impose

The Department of Communication Studies reserves the right to limit the number of students accepted as Communication Studies Minors. Nine hours of coursework must be taken in residence. All communication studies minor coursework must have a grade of at least C-; if the course is offered on the pass/fail basis only, the student must earn the symbol CR. Students must earn a 2.0 minimum GPA in courses counting toward the minor. This minor is open only to students who are not majoring in communication studies or communication and leadership.

The course requirements are as follows:

Requirements

Hours

CMS 306M

Professional Communication Skills

3

CMS 315M

Interpersonal Communication Theory

3

Twelve additional hours from the following list: 

12

CMS 301

Topics in Communication Studies (any topic)

 

CMS 320

Advanced Presentation Skills

 

CMS 322E

Communication Ethics

 

CMS 323R

Rhetoric: East and West

 

CMS 330

Interpersonal Health Communication

 

CMS 332

Argumentation and Advocacy

 

CMS 332K

Theories of Persuasion

 

CMS 333

Case Studies in Argumentation

 

CMS 334K

Nonverbal Communication

 

CMS 335

Strategic Sales and Event Planning

 

CMS 337

Building Sales Relationships

 

CMS 340K

Communication and Social Change

 

CMS 341

Digital Communications

 

CMS 342K

Political Communication

 

CMS 344K

Lying and Deception

 

CMS 345P

Communication and Public Opinion

 

CMS 347K

Rhetoric of Popular Culture

 

CMS 348K

Visual Media and Interaction

 

CMS 349M

Advanced Analysis of Popular Culture

 

CMS 353S

Social Media and Organizations

 

CMS 354

Conflict Resolution

 

CMS 355K

Intercultural Communication

 

CMS 357

Family Communication

 

CMS 358

Communication and Personal Relationships

 

CMS 359

Language, Culture, and Communication of Hip-Hop

 

CMS 164M

Pre-Graduate School Mentorship

 

CMS 264M

Pre-Graduate School Mentorship

 

CMS 364M

Pre-Graduate School Mentorship

 

CMS 366

Rhetoric, Love, and Democracy

 

CMS 366C

Celebrity Culture

 

CMS 366F

Rhetoric of Film

 

CMS 366M

Rhetoric and Popular Music

 

CMS 366R

Religious Communication and Paranormalism

 

CMS 371K

Practicum in Conflict Mediation

 

CMS 372T

Time Matters

 

CMS 372D

The Politics of National Memory

 

CMS 373D

Advocacy and Politics

 

In order to pursue a minor in Communication Studies under the 2016-2018 Catalog, a student must:

-      Be under the 2016-2018 catalog
-      Apply for the minor
-      Meet any requirement for minor that the student’s major college might impose

The Department of Communication Studies reserves the right to limit the number of students accepted as Communication Studies Minors.  Nine hours of coursework must be taken in residence.  All CMS minor coursework must be completed on a letter graded basis (no pass/fail) and a grade of C or higher must be earned in order for the credit to count toward the minor requirements.  This minor is open only to students who are not majoring in communication studies or communication and leadership.

The course requirements are as follows:

1.       Communication Studies 306M, Professional Communication Skills and Communication Studies 315M, Interpersonal Comm Theory

2.      Nine additional hours from the following list:

Communication Studies 320, Advanced Presentation Skills 
Communication Studies 322E, Communication Ethics
Communication Studies 323R, Rhetoric: East and West
Communication Studies 330, Interpersonal Health Communication 
Communication Studies 332, Argumentation and Advocacy
Communication Studies 332K, Theories of Persuasion 
Communication Studies 333, Case Studies in Argumentation
Communication Studies 334K, Nonverbal Communication
Communication Studies 335, Strategic Sales and Event Planning 
Communication Studies 336D, Careers
Communication Studies 337, Building Sales Relationships
Communication Studies 340K, Communication and Social Change
Communication Studies 341, Digital Communications
Communication Studies 342K, Political Communication
Communication Studies 344K, Lying and Deception
Communication Studies 345P, Communication and Public Opinion
Communication Studies 347K, Rhetoric of Popular Culture
Communication Studies 348K, Visual Media and Interaction
Communication Studies 349M, Advanced Analysis of Popular Culture
Communication Studies 353S, Social Media and Organizations
Communication Studies 354, Conflict Resolution
Communication Studies 355K, Intercultural Communication
Communication Studies 357, Family Communication
Communication Studies 358, Communication and Personal Relationships
Communication Studies 359, Language, Culture, and Communication of Hip-Hop
Communication Studies 164M, 264M, or 364M, Pre-Graduate School Mentorship
Communication Studies 366, Rhetoric, Love, and Democracy
Communication Studies 366C, Celebrity Culture
Communication Studies 366F, Rhetoric of Film
Communication Studies 366M, Rhetoric and Popular Music
Communication Studies 366R, Religious Communication and Paranormalism
Communication Studies 367, Topics in Communication Studies, Any Topics Course 
Communication Studies 371K, Practicum in Conflict Mediation
Communication Studies 372T, Time Matters
Communication Studies 373D, Advocacy and Politics 
Communication Studies 374D, Beyond Congress and the White House

General Minor Eligibility

Undergraduate students who are not pursuing degrees in Communications Studies OR Communication Leadership are eligible to apply for the Communication Studies minor.

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 page and use the following directions:

  1. Click on link for "Request Restricted Minor"
  2. Select "CMS Communication Studies" for Field of Study
  3. Click "Continue"
  4. Select “Communication Studies (MNCCMS01)
  5. Click "Continue"