The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication prepares students to understand the critical role of communication in the diverse contexts of their lives and to apply skills, such as critical thinking, collaborative problem solving, intercultural communication, conflict management, and persuasion in personal and professional contexts.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Programs.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- Complete the following major requirements with a minimum grade of C:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Foundational Courses | ||
Complete one of the following foundational courses: | 3 | |
Fundamentals of Oral Communication | ||
Small Group Communication | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Public Speaking | ||
Core Courses | ||
COMM A280 | Communication Theories in Action | 3 |
COMM A305 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
or COMM A345 | Communication and Gender | |
COMM A385 | Communication Research Methods | 3 |
COMM A412 | Persuasion | 3 |
Communication Electives | ||
Complete an additional 8 courses from the following, of which at least 5 must be upper division | 24 | |
Fundamentals of Oral Communication | ||
Small Group Communication | ||
Interpersonal Communication | ||
Public Speaking | ||
Organizational Communication | ||
Health Communication | ||
Intercultural Communication | ||
Argumentation and Debate | ||
Collaboration and Group Decision Making | ||
Communication and Conflict | ||
Nonverbal Communication | ||
Advanced Public Speaking | ||
Communication and Gender | ||
Communication in the Workplace | ||
Competitive Debating | ||
Relational Communication | ||
Selected Topics in Communication | ||
Family Communication | ||
Communication and Leadership | ||
Language Requirement | ||
Complete two courses in any one language other than English, which may include American Sign Language or Alaska Native Languages | 8 | |
Total | 47 |
A minimum of 120 credits is required for the degree, of which 39 must be upper-division.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication will be able to:
- Explain, synthesize, apply, and critique communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts;
- Engage in communication scholarship;
- Create ethical, appropriate, and effective messages for the relationship, audience, purpose, and context;
- Critically analyze and respond to messages;
- Use communication to understand difference.
Sample Plan
The academic plan below is one pathway through the degree/certificate. It includes all requirements, taking into account recommendations from program faculty. Each student’s plan may vary according to their initial course placement, intended course load, additional majors and/or minors, and their placement into required prerequisite courses. Any change in the plan below can have an unforeseen impact on the rest of the plan. Therefore, it is very important to meet with your academic advisor to verify your personal academic plan.
Please review the following terms, definitions, and resources associated with the sample academic plan below.
- Each course in the far left column links to a pop-up bubble with a course description, prerequisite requirements, and associations with university requirements. For example, if a course fulfills a general education requirement, you will see that in the pop-up bubble.
- GER: indicates a General Education Requirement. GERs that also count toward degree/certificate requirements appear as a specific course in the plan. For these courses, "GER" is not indicated explicitly in the table, but if you click on the course, you will see the course's GER status in the pop-up bubble.
- Program Elective: indicates a specific course selection determined by program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
- Elective: indicates an open selection of 100-400 level university courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate.
- Upper Division Program Elective: indicates a specific 300-400 level course selection determined by the program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
- Upper Division Elective: indicates an open selection of 300-400 level courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate. These courses must be upper division in order to meet General University Requirements for the particular degree/certificate type.
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
WRTG A111 | Writing Across Contexts | 3 |
COMM A280 | Communication Theories in Action | 3 |
GER Fine Arts | 3 | |
GER Oral Communication Skills | 3 | |
GER Quantitative Skills | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
COMM A305 or COMM A345 | Intercultural Communication or Communication and Gender | 3 |
GER Natural Science | 3 | |
GER Natural Science Lab | 1 | |
GER Written Communication Skills (200-level WRTG) | 3 | |
Program Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 13 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
GER Natural Science Lecture | 3 | |
GER Social Sciences | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Program Elective | 3 | |
Program Elective (Language) | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
GER Alaska Native-Themed | 3 | |
GER Intercultural Fluency | 3 | |
GER Social Sciences | 3 | |
Program Elective | 3 | |
Program Elective (Language) | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Program Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Program Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
COMM A385 | Communication Research Methods | 3 |
Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Program Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Program Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Program Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
COMM A412 | Persuasion | 3 |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Total Credits | 120 |