Communication, BA

A Bachelor of Arts in Communication requires 39 credit hours in Communication courses. There are six track options including General Communication Studies, Organizational Communication, Strategic Communication, Leadership Communication, Media Studies, and Digital Filmmaking & Media Arts.

Students pursuing a degree in Communication prepare themselves for a broad range of employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors. An internship for advanced students with a 3.0 GPA is available in all tracks with the exception of General Communication Studies. Internships are not available for General Communication Studies students or students minoring in Communication. The General Communication Studies track allows students to prepare for a career in Communication with courses tailored to the individual student’s interests and career objectives.

All graduating Communication majors must take an exit exam which samples the student’s understanding of the major concepts of his/her content area. Students will take the exam during their last semester. Graduating seniors will receive information regarding test times, dates, and locations. To graduate with a degree in Communication, students must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or better in their Communication coursework.

Student who entered the university prior to fall 2010, may also choose from the Communication Track requirements that were in place at the time of their admission to the university.

Departmental Goals

To develop and graduate organizational communication majors with demonstrable growth and competence in writing and analytical skills. Specifically students will demonstrate effective use of language, clarity of expression, critical thinking, and ability to apply theoretical knowledge to actual cases, research skills, and appropriate organizational structure.
To prepare them for employment and future graduate studies and research
To provide a service function by contributing to the liberal education of noncommunication majors who take courses in communication

Learning Outcomes, Communication, BA

Students will develop a thorough background in the discipline of communication
Students will experience growth and competence in writing
Students will develop effective use of language and clarity of expression
Students will experience growth in critical thinking and analytic skills
Students will develop ability to apply theoretical knowledge to actual cases and appropriate organizational structure
Students will be prepared to conduct research appropriate to actual cases and appropriate organizational structure

Departmental Honors

To qualify for departmental honors in Communication, students must have a GPA of 3.75 in their communication coursework at UCCS and an overall GPA of 3.5. Students who qualify for departmental honors will be contacted by the Department of Communication after they complete their senior audit. Those who choose to take the honors examination will then be eligible to graduate with departmental honors and to be nominated as the Outstanding Student in the Social Sciences at UCCS.

Members of the Honors Committee are Dr. Liesl H. Eberhardt (Chair), Dr. Don Morley, Dr. Maja Krakowiak, and Ms. JaNae Stansbery. The committee will develop three exam questions, based on three communication areas of study that the student selects, for a three-hour written exam. Students will be permitted to use notes for the examination. Following the written examination, the student will participate in a one-hour oral examination. The oral exam/defense will include a discussion of the written examination and a question and answer session pertaining to each written response, at which time the student will need to be prepared to defend their work to the Honors Committee members.