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.
Major Requirements
Beginning Fall 2025, the major in Communication will require 17 Communication (COMM) courses. Students will complete the core curriculum (4 courses, 12+ credits) and one of the four major emphases (13 courses, 39+ credits). All 17 Communication courses must be passed with a ‘C’ or better
Students must complete a total of 120 credit hours to earn their Bachelor’s degree. 40 of those credit hours must be upper division (3000-level or higher). All students will complete General Education (breadth and core) and Baccalaureate Degree Requirements. Students may need to complete additional courses outside of general education and major requirements in order to meet total required hours.
Additional information & resources can be found here.
Our Undergraduate Emphases
Communication Majors complete the core curriculum and one of the four major 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.
- Explore the social, historical, legal, environmental, and economic contexts related to your area of study.
Major Declaration
Ready to officially declare your major in Communication? Please submit this form. 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, Introduction to Strategic Communication
Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Curtis Newbold, curtis.newbold@utah.edu
For more information and course descriptions, visit the university General Catalog:
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, Journalism Writing & Reporting
Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Jake Nelson, jake.nelson@utah.edu
For more information and course descriptions, visit the university General Catalog:
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, Communication Theory & Everyday Life
Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Natasha Seegert, n.seegert@utah.edu
For more information and course descriptions, visit the university General Catalog:
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. Andy King, andy.king@utah.edu
For more information and course descriptions, visit the university General Catalog: