Prospective Students
Communication Major (BA or BS)
Welcome Prospective Students! Understanding effective communication is vital in today’s world and in any career field. A communication major at the U offers the flexibility to personalize your education to meet your interests, passions, and professional and personal goals.
Situated in the largest media market between Denver and the West Coast, the Department
of Communication provides students with opportunities for internships and part-time
work in professional settings. The department is housed in the Languages and Communication
Building (LNCO), which has a telecommunication studio, audio-visual production labs,
multimedia design labs, and technology-enhanced active learning spaces.
Our Undergraduate Emphases
Communiction Majors complete one of the following four emphases based on their area of interest.
Your emphasis will be noted on your transcript. Regardless of your emphasis, a major in communication will provide you with knowledge on ethical communication, persuasion, social influence and social responsibility. Paired with improved skills in writing and speaking, you will be highly competitive in the job market.
Learning Outcomes and Major Declaration
Learning Outcomes
- Gain the skills you need to communicate effectively across written, oral, visual, digital,and mobile media.
- Understand the structure and reasoning of argumentation and learn to present arguments in written and spoken form.
- Understand and ethically engage in issues of difference and identity (e.g. gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality, ability, and age).
- Explore the social, historical, legal, environmental, and economic contexts related to your area of study.
Major Declaration
Students can declare the major once they have a minimum 2.75 University of Utah GPA and completed one COMM course at the University with a C or better. If you meet the requirements and have not yet declared please do so ASAP.
Once declared visit the Current Student page for more information and resources.
Strategic Communication Emphasis
(Public Relations, Advertising, Integrated Marketing)
Strategic Communication is used in growing professions, including public relations, advertising, marketing, event planning, project management, and health communication.
Through the study of persuasion, social influence, and behavior change, students learn the basic framework for Strategic Communication. Students design social media messages, logos, brochures, websites, and promotional videos for their clients and organizations.
Intro Course: COMM 2580, Strat Comm Theory & Practice
Faculty Coordinators: Dr. Curtis Newbold, curtis.newbold@utah.edu
For more information and course descriptions, visit the university General Catalog:
BA/BS Communication Printable Requirements
Journalism Emphasis
(Digital, Broadcast, and Print Media)
The Journalism emphasis ensures a strong foundation to support creativity and career exploration. Students sharpen their skills in reporting, writing, and producing news for evolving audiences; engage with communities by combining innovative storytelling with ethical, historical, and legal principles; and use digital and social media and evolving methods of data and algorithmic journalism to bring their engaging projects to life.
Intro Course: COMM 1610, Intro to News Reporting & Writing
Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Jake Nelson, jake.nelson@utah.edu
For more information and course descriptions, visit the university General Catalog:
BA/BS Communication Printable Requirements
Communication Studies Emphasis
(Argumentation, Conflict Resolution, Interpersonal, Rhetoric, Cultural & Media Studies)
Students in the Communication Studies emphasis are exposed to the full breadth of the Communication discipline. They learn the key theories and methods that motivate effective communication and improve written and spoken skills. Students in this sequence are prepared for positions in professional, media, corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors, as well as graduate study in law, social work, business, and public administration.
Intro Course: COMM 2020, Comm Theory & Everyday Life
Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Natasha Seegert, n.seegert@utah.edu
For more information and course descriptions, visit the university General Catalog:
BA/BS Communication Printable Requirements
CommSHER
(Science, Health, Environmental, and Risk Communication)
Science, Health, Environmental, and Risk Communication involves developing expertise about the ways in which these topics are discussed. This applies to professional communication among scientists and physicians, to public communication like media coverage and social marketing campaigns, and to interpersonal communication between doctors and patients. Students consider how such topics might be communicated persuasively, as well as the ethical issues involved in the communication of science, health, the environment, and risk.
Intro Course: COMM 3115, Comm, Science, Health, and Environment
Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Robin Jensen, r.e.jensen@utah.edu
For more information and course descriptions, visit the university General Catalog:
BA/BS Communication Printable Requirements