Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies

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Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Communication Studies degree prepares students to act as expert communicators in a variety of contexts. Students have the opportunity to pursue one of five different tracks based on their career goals, including corporate communication, human relations communication, political communication, strategic and risk communication, and global and intercultural communication. Elective courses give students the opportunity to declare a minor that fits their specific interests.

CMS Degree Catalogs

The Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies degree comprises 120 credit hours. 

Core Curriculum 
A specific combination of coursework in English, Government, American History, Math, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Fine Arts.  

Major requirements 

  • Minimum of 36 and maximum of 48 hours of major-specific coursework in the department.
  • CMS 306M, 332K.
  • Three hours of Methods coursework.
  • Three hours of Career Prep coursework.
  • Twelve hours of CMS coursework.
  • Twelve additional hours chosen from one of the following tracks: Corporate Communication, Global and Intercultural Communication, Human Relations Communication, Political Communication, or Strategic and Risk Communication.

Moody College of Communication requirements 

Please see adjacent Course List for the degree requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies degree comprises 120 credit hours. 

Core Curriculum 
A specific combination of coursework in English, Government, American History, Math, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Fine Arts.  

Major requirements 

  • A minimum of 36 and maximum of 48 hours of major-specific coursework in the department.
  • Each student must complete one of the following tracks: Corporate Communication, Interpersonal Communication, or Political Communication. 

Moody College of Communication requirements 

6 hours of Communication Foundations: COM 301E and COM 302E, taken in fall semester of first and second years of enrollment. 

Please see adjacent Course List for the degree requirements.

The Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies degree comprises 120 credit hours. 

Core Curriculum 
A specific combination of coursework in English, Government, American History, Math, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Fine Arts.  

Major requirements 

  • A minimum of 36 and maximum of 48 hours of major-specific coursework in the department.
  • Each student must complete one of the following tracks: Corporate Communication, Interpersonal Communication, or Political Communication. 

Moody College of Communication requirements 

  • Language and Culture Requirement
  • 6 hours of Communication Foundations: COM 301E and COM 302E, taken in fall semester of first and second years of enrollment. 
     

Please see adjacent Course List for the degree requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies degree comprises 120 credit hours.

Core Curriculum 
A specific combination of coursework in English, Government, American History, Math, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Fine Arts. 

Major requirements

  • A minimum of 36 and maximum of 48 hours of major-specific coursework in the department.
  • Each student must complete one of the following tracks: Corporate Communication, Human Relations, or Political Communication. 

Moody College of Communication requirements

Please see adjacent Course List for the degree requirements.

2024-2026 Course List

Three hours from the following (All Tracks)

CMS 330          Interpersonal Health Communication

CMS 330D       Health Decision Making

CMS 338L        Leadership and Public Memory

CMS 339L        Social Interaction and Virtual Environments

CMS 346          Using Comm Technology at Work

CMS 347S        Communicating with Stuff

CMS 348          Communication Research Methods

CMS 348K        Visual Media and Interaction

CMS 350C       Crowds, Clouds, and Community

CMS 352D       The Dark Side of Organizational Communication

CMS 354          Conflict Resolution

CMS 355S       Communicating with Animals

CMS 357          Family Communication

CMS 358          Communication and Personal Relationships

CMS 359T       How People Talk

CMS 367P.1     Social Media and Politics

CMS 367P.2     Social Media Analysis

CMS 371D       Difficult Conversations

CMS 371K        Practicum in Conflict Mediation

CMS 372K        Advanced Organizational Communication

CMS 377K        Faculty-Initiated Research

CMS 378K        Student-Initiated Research

Three hours from the following (All Tracks)

CMS 307K        Internship

CMS 310K        Team-Based Communication

CMS 313M      Organizational Communication

CMS 316L        Interviewing Principles and Practices

CMS 330P        Communicating with Patients

CMS 339K        Working Virtually

CMS 364M      Pre-Graduate School Mentorship

CMS 370K        Internship in Communication Studies

COM 350         Communication Internship

Required

CMS 313M      Organizational Communication

 

Nine hours from the following:

CMS 310K        Team-Based Communication

CMS 316L        Interviewing Principles and Practices

CMS 337          Building Sales Relationships

CMS 339K        Working Virtually

CMS 339L        Social Interaction and Virtual Environments

CMS 341          Digital Communications

CMS 346          Using Communication Technology at Work

CMS 350C       Crowds, Clouds, and Community

CMS 350M      Field Study in Organizational Communication

CMS 352D       The Dark Side of Organizational Communication

CMS 353C       Communication for Innovation

CMS 353S        Social Media and Organizations

CMS 356T        Organizational Transparency

CMS 367C       Topics in Corporate Communication

CMS 372K        Advanced Organizational Communication

CMS 372T        Time Matters

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

Required:

CMS 314L        Language, Communication, and Culture

 

Nine hours from the following:

CMS 323R       Rhetoric: East and West

CMS 346C       The Cultural Impact of Innovation

CMS 355K       Intercultural Communication

CMS 356C       Collective Action

CMS 358C       Identity In Relationships

CMS 359          Language, Culture, and Communication of Hip-Hop

CMS 362D       Decolonizing Communication Studies

CMS 364K       Gender and Communication

CMS 366C       Celebrity Culture

CMS 366M      Rhetoric and Popular Music

CMS 367.10     Global Communication

CMS 367G       Topics in Global Communication

CMS 367I.1       Immigration and Communication

CMS 371D        Difficult Conversations

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

Required

CMS 315M      Interpersonal Communication Theory

 

Nine hours from the following

CMS 314L        Language, Communication, and Culture

CMS 330          Interpersonal Health Comm

CMS 334K        Nonverbal Communication

CMS 344K        Lying and Deception

CMS 354          Conflict Resolution

CMS 355K        Intercultural Communication

CMS 355T        Communication and Thought

CMS 357          Family Communication

CMS 358          Communication and Personal Relationships

CMS 358C       Identity in Relationships

CMS 364K       Gender and Communication

CMS 367I         Topics in Interpersonal Communication

CMS 371D       Difficult Conversations

CMS 371K        Practicum in Conflict Mediation

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

Required

CMS 317C       Speech in American Culture

 

Nine hours from the following

CMS 320          Advanced Presentation Skills

CMS 322E        Communication Ethics

CMS 332          Argumentation and Advocacy

CMS 333          Case Studies in Argumentation

CMS 338L        Leadership and Public Memory

CMS 340K        Communication and Social Change

CMS 342C       Communication and Civic Participation

CMS 342K        Political Communication

CMS 345          Media Effects and Politics

CMS 345G       Communicating to Government

CMS 345N       Political Narratives

CMS 345P        Communication and Public Opinion

CMS 345V       American Voices

CMS 360P        Expertise and Public Culture

CMS 362E        Environmental Communication

CMS 364K        Gender and Communication

CMS 367P        Topics in Political Communication

CMS 372D       The Politics of National Memory

CMS 373D       Advocacy and Politics

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

Required

CMS 318L         Strategic and Risk Communication

 

Nine hours from the following

CMS 310K        Team-Based Communication

CMS 322E        Communication Ethics

CMS 330          Interpersonal Health Comm

CMS 330D       Health Decision Making

CMS 330P        Communicating with Patients

CMS 335          Strategic Sales and Event Planning

CMS 337          Communicating to Build Sales Relationships

CMS 342K        Political Communication

CMS 345          Media Effects and Politics

CMS 345G       Communicating to Government

CMS 345P        Communication and Public Opinion

CMS 353C       Communication for Innovation

CMS 353S        Social Media and Organizations

CMS 354          Conflict Resolution

CMS 356C       Collective Action

CMS 360P       Expertise and Public Culture

CMS 367S        Topics in Strategic and Risk Communication

CMS 367I.2      Risk Communication

CMS 371D        Difficult Conversations

CMS 371K        Practicum in Conflict Mediation

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

2022-2024 Course List

Three hours from the following (All Tracks)

CMS 314L        Language, Communication, and Culture

CMS 331K        Speechwriting and Criticism

CMS 338L        Leadership and Public Memory

CMS 339L        Social Interaction and Virtual Environments

CMS 346          Using Comm Technology at Work

CMS 347E        Arguing the End of the World

CMS 348          Communication Research Methods

CMS 348K        Visual Media and Interaction

CMS 349M      Advanced Analysis of Popular Culture

CMS 347S        Communicating with Stuff

CMS 350C       Crowds, Clouds, and Community

CMS 350M      Field Study in Organizational Communication

CMS 354          Conflict Resolution

CMS 357          Family Communication

CMS 358          Communication and Personal Relationships

CMS 359C       Inside the American Conversation

CMS 371D       Difficult Conversations

CMS 371K        Practicum in Conflict Mediation

CMS 372K        Advanced Organizational Communication

CMS 377K        Faculty-Initiated Research

CMS 378K        Student-Initiated Research

Three hours from the following (All Tracks)

CMS 307K        Internship

CMS 310K        Team-Based Communication

CMS 313M      Organizational Communication

CMS 322E        Communication Ethics

CMS 330          Interpersonal Health Comm

CMS 330P        Communicating with Patients

CMS 331K        Speechwriting and Criticism

CMS 332D       Digital Ethics

CMS 335          Strategic Sales and Event Planning

CMS 337          Communicating to Build Sales Relationships

CMS 339K        Working Virtually

CMS 342K        Political Communication

CMS 345G       Communicating to Government

CMS 346          Using Communication Technology at Work

CMS 350C       Clouds, Crowds, and Community

CMS 353C       Communication for Innovation

CMS 353S        Social Media and Organizations

CMS 355K        Intercultural Communication

CMS 364M      Pre-Graduate School Mentorship

CMS 370K        Internship in Communication Studies

CMS 373D       Advocacy and Politics

Required

CMS 306M      Professional Communication Skills

CMS 313M      Organizational Communication

CMS 332K        Theories of Persuasion

 

Nine hours from the following:

CMS 310K        Team-Based Communication

CMS 316L        Interviewing Principles and Practices

CMS 337          Building Sales Relationships

CMS 339K        Working Virtually

CMS 339L        Social Interaction and Virtual Environments

CMS 341          Digital Communications

CMS 346          Using Communication Technology at Work

CMS 350C       Crowds, Clouds, and Community

CMS 350M      Field Study in Organizational Communication

CMS 352D       The Dark Side of Organizational Communication

CMS 353C       Communication for Innovation

CMS 353S        Social Media and Organizations

CMS 356C       Collective Action

CMS 356T        Organizational Transparency

CMS 370K        Internship in Communication Studies

CMS 372K        Practicum in Conflict Mediation

CMS 367C       Topics in Corporate Communication

CMS 372T        Time Matters

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

Required

CMS 306M      Professional Communication Skills

CMS 315M      Interpersonal Communication Theory

CMS 332K        Theories of Persuasion

 

Nine hours from the following

CMS 314L        Language, Communication, and Culture

CMS 330          Interpersonal Health Comm

CMS 334K        Nonverbal Communication

CMS 344K        Lying and Deception

CMS 354          Conflict Resolution

CMS 355K        Intercultural Communication

CMS 355T        Communication and Thought

CMS 357          Family Communication

CMS 358          Communication and Personal Relationships

CMS 358C       Identity in Relationships

CMS 370K        Internship in Communication Studies

CMS 371D       Difficult Conversations

CMS 371K        Practicum in Conflict Mediation

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

Required

CMS 306M      Professional Communication Skills

CMS 317C       Speech in American Culture

CMS 332K        Theories of Persuasion

 

Nine hours from the following

CMS 320          Advanced Presentation Skills

CMS 322E        Communication Ethics

CMS 332          Argumentation and Advocacy

CMS 333          Case Studies in Argumentation

CMS 338L        Leadership and Public Memory

CMS 340K        Communication and Social Change

CMS 342C       Communication and Civic Participation

CMS 342K        Political Communication

CMS 345          Media Effects and Politics

CMS 345G       Communicating to Government

CMS 345N       Political Narratives

CMS 345P        Communication and Public Opinion

CMS 345V       American Voices

CMS 364K        Gender and Communication

CMS 370K        Internship in Communication Studies

CMS 372D       The Politics of National Memory

CMS 367P        Topics in Political Communication

CMS 373D       Advocacy and Politics

CMS 374D       Beyond Congress and the White House

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

2020-2022 Course List

Three hours from the following (All Tracks)

CMS 314L        Language, Communication, and Culture

CMS 348          Communication Research Methods

CMS 348K        Visual Media and Interaction

CMS 349M      Advanced Analysis of Popular Culture

CMS 350C       Crowds, Clouds, and Community

CMS 350M      Field Study in Organizational Communication

CMS 357          Family Communication

CMS 358          Communication and Personal Relationships

CMS 359C       Inside the American Conversation

CMS 377K        Faculty-Initiated Research

CMS 378K        Student-Initiated Research

CMS 331K        Speechwriting and Criticism

CMS 338L        Leadership and Public Memory

CMS 339L        Social Interaction and Virtual Environments

CMS 346          Using Comm Technology at Work

CMS 347E        Arguing the End of the World

CMS 354          Conflict Resolution

CMS 367          Communicating with Stuff

CMS 347S        Communicating with Stuff

CMS 371D       Difficult Conversations

CMS 371K        Practicum in Conflict Mediation

CMS 372K        Advanced Organizational Communication

Three hours from the following (All Tracks)

CMS 307K        Internship

CMS 322E        Communication Ethics

CMS 342K        Political Communication

CMS 345G       Communicating to Government

CMS 364M       Pre-Graduate School Mentorship

CMS 370K        Internship in Communication Studies

CMS 310K        Team-Based Communication

CMS 313M       Organizational Communication

CMS 330           Interpersonal Health Comm

CMS 330P        Communicating with Patients

CMS 332D       Digital Ethics

CMS 331K        Speechwriting and Criticism

CMS 335          Strategic Sales and Event Planning

CMS 337          Communicating to Build Sales Relationships

CMS 339K        Working Virtually

CMS 346          Using Communication Technology at Work

CMS 350C       Clouds, Crowds, and Community

CMS 353C       Communication for Innovation

CMS 353S        Social Media and Organizations

CMS 355K        Intercultural Communication

CMS 367          Messaging Matters

CMS 373D       Advocacy and Politics

Required

CMS 306M      Professional Communication Skills

CMS 313M      Organizational Communication

CMS 332K        Theories of Persuasion

 

Nine hours from the following

CMS 310K        Team-Based Communication

CMS 337          Building Sales Relationships

CMS 339L        Social Interaction and Virtual Environments

CMS 341          Digital Communications

CMS 350C       Crowds, Clouds, and Community

CMS 350M      Field Study in Organizational Communication

CMS 353C       Communication for Innovation

CMS 353S        Social Media and Organizations

CMS 370K        Internship in Communication Studies

CMS 372K        Practicum in Conflict Mediation

CMS 372T        Time Matters

SPE 310K         Discussion and Group Methods

CMS 316L        Interviewing Principles and Practices

CMS 339K        Working Virtually

CMS 367          Organizational Transparency

CMS 356T        Organizational Transparency

CMS 356C       Collective Action

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

Required

CMS 306M      Professional Communication Skills

CMS 315M      Interpersonal Communication Theory

CMS 332K        Theories of Persuasion

 

Nine hours from the following

CMS 314L        Language, Communication, and Culture

CMS 330          Interpersonal Health Comm

CMS 334K        Nonverbal Communication

CMS 344K        Lying and Deception

CMS 354          Conflict Resolution

CMS 355K        Intercultural Communication

CMS 355T        Communication and Thought

CMS 357          Family Communication

CMS 358          Communication and Personal Relationships

CMS 370K        Internship in Communication Studies

CMS 371D       Difficult Conversations

CMS 371K        Practicum in Conflict Mediation

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

Required

CMS 306M      Professional Communication Skills

CMS 317C       Speech in American Culture

CMS 332K        Theories of Persuasion

 

Nine hours from the following

CMS 320          Advanced Presentation Skills

CMS 322E        Communication Ethics

CMS 331K        Speechwriting and Criticism

CMS 332          Argumentation and Advocacy

CMS 333          Case Studies in Argumentation

CMS 338L        Leadership and Public Memory

CMS 340D       Expertise and Power in the Digital Commons

CMS 340K        Communication and Social Change

CMS 342C       Communication and Civic Participation

CMS 342K        Political Communication

CMS 345          Media Effects and Politics

CMS 345G       Communicating to Government

CMS 345P        Communication and Public Opinion

CMS 345V       American Voices

CMS 364K        Gender and Communication

CMS 370K        Internship in Communication Studies

CMS 372D       The Politics of National Memory

CMS 373D       Advocacy and Politics

CMS 374D       Beyond Congress and the White House

CMS 345N       Political Narratives

CMS 367          Communicating to Government

CMS 367          Political Narratives

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

2018-2020 Course List

Three hours from the following (All Tracks)

CMS 314L        Language, Communication, and Culture

CMS 348          Communication Research Methods

CMS 348K        Visual Media and Interaction

CMS 349M      Advanced Analysis of Popular Culture

CMS 350C       Crowds, Clouds, and Community

CMS 350M      Field Study in Organizational Communication

CMS 357          Family Communication

CMS 358          Communication and Personal Relationships

CMS 359C       Inside the American Conversation

CMS 377K        Faculty-Initiated Research

CMS 378K        Student-Initiated Research

CMS 331K        Speechwriting and Criticism

CMS 338L        Leadership and Public Memory

CMS 339L        Social Interaction and Virtual Environments

CMS 346          Using Comm Technology at Work

CMS 347E        Arguing the End of the World

CMS 354          Conflict Resolution

CMS 367          Communicating with Stuff

CMS 347S        Communicating with Stuff

CMS 371D       Difficult Conversations

CMS 371K        Practicum in Conflict Mediation

CMS 372K        Advanced Organizational Communication

Three hours from the following (All Tracks)

CMS 301          Internship

CMS 322E        Communication Ethics

CMS 342K        Political Communication

CMS 345G       Communicating to Government

CMS 364M      Pre-Graduate School Mentorship

CMS 370K        Internship in Communication Studies

CMS 310K        Team-Based Communication

CMS 313M      Organizational Communication

CMS 330          Interpersonal Health Comm

CMS 330P        Communicating with Patients

CMS 332D       Digital Ethics

CMS 331K        Speechwriting and Criticism

CMS 335          Strategic Sales and Event Planning

CMS 337          Communicating to Build Sales Relationships

CMS 339K        Working Virtually

CMS 346          Using Communication Technology at Work

CMS 350C       Clouds, Crowds, and Community

CMS 353C       Communication for Innovation

CMS 353S        Social Media and Organizations

CMS 355K        Intercultural Communication

CMS 367          Messaging Matters

CMS 373D       Advocacy and Politics

Required

CMS 306M      Professional Communication Skills

CMS 313M      Organizational Communication

CMS 332K        Theories of Persuasion

 

Nine hours from the following

CMS 310K        Team-Based Communication

CMS 316L        Interviewing Principles and Practices

CMS 337          Building Sales Relationships

CMS 339K        Working Virtually

CMS 339L        Interviewing Principles and Practices

CMS 341          Digital Communications

CMS 346          Using Communication Technology at Work

CMS 350C       Crowds, Clouds, and Community

CMS 350M      Field Study in Organizational Communication

CMS 352D       The Dark Side of Organizational Communication

CMS 353C       Communication for Innovation

CMS 353S        Social Media and Organizations

CMS 356C       Collective Action

CMS 367          Collective Action

CMS 367          Organizational Transparency

CMS 356T        Organizational Transparency

CMS 372K        Practicum in Conflict Mediation

CMS 372T        Time Matters

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

Required

CMS 306M      Professional Communication Skills

CMS 315M      Interpersonal Communication Theory

CMS 332K        Theories of Persuasion

 

Nine hours from the following

CMS 314L        Language, Communication, and Culture

CMS 330          Interpersonal Health Comm

CMS 334K        Nonverbal Communication

CMS 344K        Lying and Deception

CMS 354          Conflict Resolution

CMS 355K        Intercultural Communication

CMS 355T        Communication and Thought

CMS 357          Family Communication

CMS 358          Communication and Personal Relationships

CMS 367          Identity in Relationships

CMS 370K        Internship in Communication Studies

CMS 371D       Difficult Conversations

CMS 371K        Practicum in Conflict Mediation

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

Required

CMS 306M      Professional Communication Skills

CMS 317C       Speech in American Culture

CMS 332K        Theories of Persuasion

 

Nine hours from the following

CMS 320          Advanced Presentation Skills

CMS 322E        Communication Ethics

CMS 331K        Speechwriting and Criticism

CMS 332          Argumentation and Advocacy

CMS 333          Case Studies in Argumentation

CMS 338L        Leadership and Public Memory

CMS 340D       Expertise and Power in the Digital Commons

CMS 340K        Communication and Social Change

CMS 342C       Communication and Civic Participation

CMS 342K        Political Communication

CMS 345          Media Effects and Politics

CMS 345G       Communicating to Government

CMS 345P        Communication and Public Opinion

CMS 345V       American Voices

CMS 364K        Gender and Communication

CMS 370K        Internship in Communication Studies

CMS 372D       The Politics of National Memory

CMS 373D       Advocacy and Politics

CMS 374D       Beyond Congress and the White House

CMS 345N       Political Narratives

CMS 367          Communicating to Government

CMS 367          Political Narratives

 

Twelve additional hours of communication studies

Enrollment

  • Communication Studies students may not take more than 60 hours in the College of Communication.
  • At least 15 hours of major-specific coursework must be upper-division.
  • Communication Studies majors may not take more than 9 hours of Communication Studies coursework per semester.
  • A student may not earn both the Bachelor of Science in Communication and Leadership and the Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies.

Flags

Students should choose courses in the core curriculum and in the major requirements that also fulfill their major department's Flag requirements. The Flags required for all degrees from Moody College are:

Electives

  • Bring a student's total hours to 120
  • Students can also fill elective hours declaring a minor. Students may declare only one minor or certificate to supplement their Moody major(s) and must declare their minor/certificate intentions before they have completed 65% of their degree requirements.