Earn a bachelor's degree in communication studies and prepare for a career in the ever-growing media landscape.

Whether you're interested in journalism, public relations, business, or online communication, you can build a firm base of knowledge while you earn a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies at University of Maryland Global Campus.

You'll learn to apply communication theories to both personal and professional situations, developing the "soft skills" and communication techniques that workplaces demand. In addition, you'll learn to work with individuals and groups professionally and manage communications within ethical, legal, and financial parameters.

These program requirements are for students who enroll in the 2019–2020 academic year. For prior year academic requirements, visit the catalog archive in the Current Students section.

This program is also available as a minor.

About the Communication Studies Bachelor's Degree

Developed in conjunction with employers, our online bachelor's degree in communication studies offers a balance of theoretical knowledge and sophisticated communication skills. You'll have the opportunity to learn how people create and use messages to generate meaning within and across various contexts, cultures, channels, and media. Our multidisciplinary curriculum covers speech communication, mass communication and new media, journalism, public relations, business writing, and technical writing.

What You'll Learn

Through your coursework, you will learn how to

  • Apply analytical skills in interpreting, using, and delivering information, particularly through mass media
  • Create professional and appropriate written, oral, and visual communications for specific purposes and diverse audiences
  • Design, create, and select multimedia components and integrate them into print, broadcast, and online formats
  • Work with individuals and groups in ways that reflect an understanding of both communication theory and professional expectations
  • Understand diverse and intercultural perspectives as they affect communication
  • Design and employ specific research methods and tools to gather information

Coursework Examples

In past projects, students have had the opportunity to

  • Write a speech for a hypothetical executive and organization
  • Write news articles in various journalistic styles
  • Write a comprehensive public relations plan and create messages targeting specific audiences

Communication Studies Bachelor's Degree Requirements

Our curriculum is designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars. You'll learn theories combined with real-world applications and practical skills you can apply on the job right away.

Courses in the Major

This program requires 33 credits of coursework in the major.

  • SPCH 100 or any SPCH course
  • COMM 207 or any COMM course
  • JOUR 201
  • COMM 300
  • COMM 302
  • SPCH 324
  • JOUR 330 or any upper-level JOUR course
  • COMM 400 or any upper-level COMM course
  • SPCH 470 or any upper-level SPCH course
  • COMM 390 or any upper-level COMM course
  • COMM 495

Electives

This program requires 46 credits of minor and/or elective coursework.

General Education Requirements

This program requires 41 credits of general education coursework.

Research and Computing Literacy

  • PACE 111C or other PACE 111 course
    (to be taken in first 6 credits)
  • LIBS 150, CAPL 398A, or other general education elective
  • IFSM 201 or another computing course appropriate to the major

Communication

  • WRTG 111 or other writing course
  • WRTG 112
  • COMM 202 or other communication, writing, or speech course
  • WRTG 391 or other advanced upper-level writing course

Mathematics

  • MATH 105 or other approved math or statistics course

Arts and Humanities

  • HIST 125 or other arts and humanities course
  • HUMN 100 or other arts and humanities course

Behavioral and Social Sciences

  • ECON 103 or other behavioral and social sciences course
  • BEHS 103 or other behavioral and social sciences course

Biological and Physical Sciences

  • One of the following pairs of lecture and laboratory courses in the same session:
    • BIOL 101 and BIOL 102
    • NSCI 100 and NSCI 101
    • Other paired science lecture and laboratory courses taken in the same session
  • GEOL 100 or other science lecture course

Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may require you to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Consult an advisor whenever taking advantage of other options. Please also see more information on alternate courses (where allowable) to fulfill general education requirements.

Overall Bachelor's Degree Requirements

In addition to the general education requirements and the major, minor, and elective requirements, the overall requirements listed below apply to all bachelor's degrees.

  • You must complete a minimum of 120 credits.
  • You must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 overall and a minimum grade of C for any class applied to the academic major or minor.
  • Within the 120 credits required, the following coursework must be taken through UMGC:
    • 30 credits (normally the final 30)
    • Half of the required number of credits within both the major and the minor
    • 15 credits at the upper level (earned in classes numbered 300 to 499), preferably within the major or minor
  • At least 45 credits must be upper level and include at least half of the credits required for the major. The remaining upper-level credits can be earned in any part of the curriculum.
  • At least half the required number of credits for any academic major or minor must be earned through graded coursework. Credit earned by examination, portfolio assessment, or noncollegiate training does not count as graded coursework.

Double majors: You can earn a dual major upon completion of all requirements for both majors, including the required minimum number of credits for each major and all related requirements for both majors. The same class cannot be used to fulfill requirements for more than one major. Certain restrictions (including use of credit and acceptable combinations of majors) apply for double majors. You cannot major in two programs with excessive overlap of required coursework. Contact an admissions advisor before selecting a double major.

Second bachelor's degree: To earn a second bachelor's degree, you must complete at least 30 credits through UMGC after completing the first degree. The combined credit in both degrees must add up to at least 150 credits. You must complete all requirements for the major. All prerequisites apply. If any of these requirements were satisfied in the previous degree, the remainder necessary to complete the minimum 30 credits of new classes should be satisfied with classes related to your major. You may not earn a second bachelor's degree in general studies and may not obtain a second associate's degree within the second bachelor's degree. Contact an admissions advisor before pursuing a second bachelor's degree.

Electives: Electives can be taken in any academic discipline. No more than 21 credits can consist of vocational or technical credit. Pass/fail credit, up to a maximum of 18 credits, can be applied toward electives only.

Career Preparation

This program is designed to help prepare you for a career in mass media, new media, journalism, public relations, business, or online communication.

Student Clubs and Organizations

  • Communication Student Association

    • Type: Student organization
    Available To: Undergraduate and Graduate

    The Communication Student Association hosts several events and activities that provide students with relevant information that can guide them toward working in communications-related professions.



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