Confident communications professional

Communication, BA (Denver)

Offered by:
University of Colorado Denver

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Overview

In our increasingly digital world, it’s easier than ever for people to communicate from around the globe. From advancements in communication technologies to new social media platforms, digital communication makes it possible for us to share our experiences and create a more connected world. Our online Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Colorado Denver is designed to provide you with the broad communication foundation you need to keep up with a rapidly evolving digital environment.

Our 100% online communication degree will prepare you for a variety of career paths and give you practical experience applying theoretical communication concepts to real-world situations. You’ll learn professional communication tools from industry-experienced faculty, improve your written and verbal communication abilities, and develop the in-depth knowledge and skills you need to excel as a communicator in today’s global workplace.

 

Program Details

Good communication is at the heart of every successful organization, and earning your bachelor’s degree in communication gives you the comprehensive foundation you need to grow your career in a wide range of industries. Throughout your online BA in Communication program, you’ll learn how to become a thoughtful and effective speaker, writer, reader, and listener who can utilize modern communication tools to solve complex problems. Your courses will dive into key topics in communication theory, interpersonal communication, conflict negotiation, business presentations, public speaking, communications research, leadership, and persuasive communication methods.

During your online communications degree, you’ll learn to:

  • Communicate effectively with individuals and large groups
  • Develop clear, well-reasoned arguments
  • Critically analyze various types of communications
  • Build effective leadership skills
  • Produce successful and engaging messages
  • Apply theories of communication in real-world scenarios
  • View communication from a global perspective

When you earn your bachelor’s degree in communication from CU Online, you’ll have the flexibility to transfer any existing credits to your degree program, take optimized 8-week courses, and balance your work, family commitments, and well-being. You’ll also have the opportunity to personalize your degree with 5 unique pathways and 3 fully online certificates that are designed to help you stand out in a competitive job market. Through experiential learning opportunities, collaborative projects, and focused coursework, you’ll graduate with the digital communication tools and techniques you need to make a difference within any organization.

Communication Degree Pathways & Careers

Across every industry, organizations are in need of dynamic communicators who know how to build strong relationships and communicate effectively to a variety of audiences. When you earn your bachelor’s degree in communication online, you’ll open the door to endless career paths, from corporate communications and marketing to media production and public service. Our fully online communication degree offers five unique, career-focused pathways that allow you to focus your degree through specialized courses and practical learning opportunities. You’ll complete your degree with the versatile communications foundation and skills you need to establish a successful communications career in any field.

Certificates offer students the advantage of earning a credential in a focused field. We offer certificates in Global & Intercultural Communication, Health Communication, and Strategic Communication.

Global & Intercultural Communication

Our increasingly digital business world means that today’s professionals need to know how to navigate global information systems, build long-lasting international relationships, and create diverse, inclusive organizations. Our Global and Intercultural Communication Pathway gives you the foundational knowledge you need to thrive in a global business environment. You’ll take courses that can help you launch a career in international business, journalism, global public relations, arts, media and entertainment, and more.

Career opportunities for the global and intercultural communication pathway include:

  • International Communications Specialist
  • Global Social Media Specialist
  • Global Media Relations Manager
  • International Programs Coordinator
  • Director of International Programs
  • Global Initiatives Manager
  • Global Human Resources Officer
Earn your communications degree online at CU

Health Communication

Today’s rapidly changing health environment means that, more than ever, health is an essential part of our global conversation. The Health Communication Pathway offers you the knowledge and skills you need to create, analyze, and assess health communications in diverse communities around the world. You’ll take theoretically rich and practically relevant courses that dive into how health messages are created and understood across a wide range of communication contexts, from individual communication to mass media.

In addition to specialized courses in health communication, you can choose to take your career preparation further with a health-related internship, a capstone course, or a volunteer opportunity at a local healthcare organization.

Common career paths for students who graduate from the health communication pathway include:

  • Healthcare Public Relations Specialist
  • Public Health Communication Coordinator
  • Health Marketing Specialist
  • Healthcare HR Manager
  • Patient Representative
  • Wellness Message Coordinator
  • Medical or Health Writer
Earn your BA in Communication online at CU

Strategic Communication

Our Strategic Communication Pathway focuses on the communication principles, strategies, and initiatives used to cultivate an organization’s mission, goals, and values. The courses in this pathway focus on organizational communication, public relations, culture and diversity, and media and technology. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how communication professionals create strong relationships within organizations and learn how to keep up with global transformations in information technology, media production, message distribution, and societal engagement.

When you graduate from the Strategic Communication Pathway, you will be prepared for communication positions within private business, government, and nonprofit organizations. Many of our students and graduates have interned and/or gone on to work for top companies including Bloom Marketing, Children’s Hospital Office of Public Relations, Ogilvy Public Relations, The Integer Group, Level 5 Marketing, Yelp, and more.

Strategic communication graduates have a variety of career paths to choose from, including:

  • Corporate Communication Specialist
  • Social Advocate
  • Marketing Coordinator
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Political Strategist
Earn your Bachelor's in Communication from CU Online

Community Service and Public Affairs

When you customize your communications degree with our Community Service and Public Affairs Pathway, you’ll explore how professionals and organizations can practice communication for the common good and cultivate the communication skills required to work in public affairs. Our courses focus on social change, diversity and inclusion, political communication, social justice, intercultural communication, and more. You’ll gain hands-on experience managing conflict and practicing leadership skills in real-world situations so that you’re ready to pursue a meaningful career in public service and communications.

Career opportunities for community service and public affairs graduates include:

  • Community Relations Specialist
  • Volunteer Services Coordinator
  • Nonprofit Communications Specialist
  • Fundraiser
  • Community Liaison
  • Lobbyist or Special Interest Advocate
  • Community Organizer
Earn your BA in Communication online from CU

Media & Cultural Studies

Our Media & Cultural Studies Pathway focuses on the role of media in society both historically and today. Our courses explore how a wide range of communication technologies impact our culture, from traditional media like broadcast television, radio, and print to new media such as blogs, social media, video games, and podcasts. You’ll learn to critically analyze and produce media messages in a variety of contexts, including public relations, advertising, political communication, and social advocacy.

Many of our students pursue internships related to this pathway through local TV and radio stations, advertising and PR agencies, and nonprofits.

Career options in the field of media and cultural studies include:

  • Journalist
  • Communication Consultant
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • New Media Specialist
  • Marketing Coordinator
  • Corporate Communications Specialist
  • Advertising Manager
Earn your Bachelor's in Communication online from CU

BA in Communication Curriculum Overview

In order to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, you’ll need to complete a total of 120 credits, including your general education requirements and your BA in Communication major requirements. A minimum of 13 courses (39 credit hours) are required to complete your communication major, and at least 15 credit hours must be upper division courses. Students have the opportunity to transfer up to 7 communication courses (21 credits) from other schools to count toward their bachelor’s degree.

To complete your online communication degree, you must take the five core courses shown below (15 credits); seven courses from among the Pathways listings (21 credits), and one exit course (3 credits) in addition to your general education courses.

Required Communication Courses (15 credits)

As a BA in Communications student, you’ll be required to complete all of the following entrance courses:

  • Presentational Speaking (COMM 1001) OR Business and Professional Speaking (COMM 2050)
  • Fundamentals of Communication (COMM 1011)
  • Introduction To Media Studies (COMM 1021)
  • Communication, Citizenship, and Social Justice (COMM 2020)
  • Researching and Writing in Comm (COMM 2075)

Pathway Courses/Electives (21 credits)

In addition to your five required courses, you must take at least seven courses (21 hours) chosen from our Pathway areas, all of which contain helpful clusters of classes that direct you toward an area of expertise and help you define your career path.

Community Service and Public Affairs Pathway Specialize your online communications degree in community service and public affairs with courses that include:

  • Digital Democracy (COMM 2030)
  • Introduction to Environmental Communication (COMM 2082)
  • Communication and Diversity (COMM 3271)
  • Social Media for Social Change (COMM 3660)
  • Communication and Conflict (COMM 4260)
  • Mediation (COMM 4262)
  • Intercultural Communication (COMM 4270)
  • Communication and Food (COMM 4601)
  • Rhetoric of Global Food Politics (COMM 4611)
  • Political Communication (COMM 4682)
  • Global Communication (COMM 4720)

Media & Cultural Studies Pathway

Build your knowledge in media and cultural studies with specialized courses, including:

  • Digital Democracy (COMM 2030)
  • Communication and Diversity (COMM 3271)
  • Media and Society (COMM 3650)
  • Communication, Media, and Sexuality (COMM 4610)
  • Visual Communication (COMM 4621)
  • Queer Media Studies (COMM 4660)
  • Political Communication (COMM 4682)

Global & Intercultural Communication Pathway

Take courses that focus on developing your global and intercultural communication skills, with topics including:

  • Communication and Diversity (COMM 3271)
  • lntercultural Communication (COMM 4270)
  • Communication and Food (COMM 4601)
  • Rhetoric of Global Food Policy (COMM 4611)
  • Political Communication (COMM 4682)
  • Global Communication (COMM 4720)

Health Communication Pathway

Learn how to communicate vital health information to families and communities with specialized courses, including:

  • Interpersonal Communication (COMM 1041)
  • Introduction to Health Communication (COMM 2500)
  • Advanced Health Communication (COMM 4500)
  • Rhetoric of Medicine and Health (COMM 4550)
  • Designing Health Messages (COMM 4575)
  • Communication and Food (COMM 4601)
  • Rhetoric of Global Food Policy (COMM 4611)

Strategic Communication Pathway

Create a career in strategic communication with focused course topics, including:

  • Digital Democracy (COMM 2030)
  • Workplace Communication (COMM 2045)
  • Introduction to Strategic Communication (COMM 2051)
  • Media Writing Skills (COMM 2071)
  • New Media Production & Management (COMM 2081)
  • Social Media for Social Change (COMM 3660)
  • Advanced Strategic Communication (COMM 4051)
  • Organizational Communication (COMM 4240)
  • Negotiations & Bargaining (COMM 4255)
  • Principles of Advertising (COMM 4665)

Exit Course (3 credits)

Your online communication degree will culminate in an exit course that includes a high impact practice, such as experiential and service learning, collaborative learning, writing-intensive assignments, global education, a focus on diversity and inclusion, and/or a project-based capstone class.

You’ll choose from the following online exit courses to complete your degree requirements:

  • Internship (experiential learning) (COMM 3939)
  • Advanced Strategic Communication (experiential learning, collaborative learning) (COMM 4051)
  • Health Communication (experiential learning) (COMM 4500)
  • Rhetoric of Medicine and Health* (writing intensive) (COMM 4550)
  • Transitioning from College to Career* (capstone, project-based) (COMM 4688)
  • Thesis & Project Practicum* (required to earn high Latin honors, writing intensive) (COMM 4700)

Tuition & Fees 

At CU Online, we strive to keep our tuition costs affordable so that you can get a world-class education that fits your budget. When you earn a degree, you’re not simply getting a diploma — you’re making a lifelong investment in yourself and empowering your future career. We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education.  

Our Enrollment Navigators can answer any of your questions about tuition and financial aid, help you take care of the paperwork, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to corporate tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your CU Online degree.

Application fee:$50
Total tuition for the BA in Communication program*:

  • In-state tuition (after COF) $39,600
  • Out-of-state online-only tuition: $53,280

*Estimated tuition costs based on full credit hours for the Bachelor of Arts in Communications degree (120 credits). Additional fees may apply. Contact an Enrollment Navigator for more details.

Financial Aid 

Financial aid is available for eligible students to use toward paying educational costs while enrolled in a CU Online program. To determine your eligibility and apply for financial aid, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When you submit your FAFSA, you will be considered for three types of aid: grants, work-study, and student loans. To be considered for federal financial aid, you will need to apply early and annually. 

Scholarships 

Once you are admitted to the University of Colorado, you’ll have access to our internal scholarship portal where you can view and apply to many funding opportunities offered by the university. Scholarship opportunities typically require an application and may have specific eligibility requirements related to a student's academic merit, financial need, community service, work experience, and more. Unlike financial aid loans, scholarships are gift aid that does not have to be repaid. As a student, you will be able to apply for scholarships every semester.

Transfer Credits 

If you are applying as a transfer student, your coursework from other colleges and universities could count toward your University of Colorado degree requirements. Transferring credits to your CU Online degree program may help you save on tuition costs and complete your degree sooner. Once you are admitted to the university, a transfer credit evaluation will be performed to determine how many transfer credits are eligible to apply to your degree. 

Veteran & Military Student Benefits 

CU Online is military-friendly and committed to providing service members and their families with a high-quality education that fits their distinct needs. As a CU Online student, you will have access to the Office of Veteran & Military Student Services (VMSS), which connects veteran, active duty, reservist, National Guard, and dependent students with fundamental support, services, and resources to ensure academic and professional success.  

Our veteran and military students may use both veterans benefits and financial aid to pay for their education. Military benefits with CU Online include: 

  • Waived application fee 
  • GI Bill benefits 
  • Potential to be awarded credit hours for military training and experience 
  • Free tutoring and academic support 

Connect with our Enrollment Navigators to learn more about the benefits and financial assistance available to military and veteran students. 

Admissions 

As you take the first step toward earning your bachelor’s degree, our team of Enrollment Navigators is available to guide you through the application process. We’re here to help answer your questions about admission requirements, application deadlines, start dates, financial aid, international student support and resources, and more. 

Prerequisites 

No prerequisite courses are required for admission to the online Bachelor’s in Communication program. Applicants must meet CU Denver’s general admission requirements for first-year students or transfer requirements for students who have previously attended college. 

Admission Requirements 

Once you’re ready to apply to the BA in Communication program, you’ll need to submit the following application materials by the deadline: 

  • $50 application fee for domestic applicants; $75 fee for international applicants 
  • Online application 
  • Official transcripts 
  • SAT or ACT scores 
  • English Language Proficiency scores (international applicants only) 

When you’re ready to apply for your online bachelor’s degree in communication, your Enrollment Navigator will help walk you through the entire process, from gathering required materials and submitting your application to checking your admissions status and enrolling in CU Online. After you submit your completed application and required materials, you will be able to check your admission status online. 

If you have additional questions about admission requirements for the online communications degree program or would like help starting an application, connect with an Enrollment Navigator for more details. 

Completion Time 

To graduate with your Bachelor of Arts in Communication, you’ll be required to complete a total of 120 credit hours — 39 of which must be completed within your communication major. Our flexible 8-week courses are optimized for online learning, allowing you to focus on one course at a time and build on the skills you learn throughout your degree program. We offer start dates in the fall, spring, and summer semesters allow you to begin working toward your online communication degree as soon as you’re ready. 

Do I need to live near Denver, Colorado to complete this degree? 

The BA in Communication degree from CU Denver is offered 100% online, which means you will never be required to attend classes in-person. As a CU Online student, you’ll have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with classmates from Colorado as well as throughout the United States and the world. You’ll take the same courses from our award-winning business faculty as you would on campus, but with flexibility you need to balance your classes with full-time work or family commitments. Our fully online classes are recorded rather than live streamed, which means you’ll be able to learn on your schedule. You’ll be able to share ideas with your classmates, collaborate on projects, and connect directly with faculty through Canvas, our easy-to-use remote learning platform. When you graduate, you’ll receive a Bachelor of Arts in Communication diploma from the University of Colorado Denver without any indication that you’ve earned your degree online. 

Online Student Support 

When you join CU Online, you’ll be connected with a Student Success Coach who will provide personalized support as you work toward your academic, professional, and personal goals. They will be by your side throughout your degree program, celebrating your successes and empowering you to overcome any obstacles. 

As your advocate at CU, your Student Success Coach will: 

  • Help you register for online courses 
  • Introduce you to online learning technologies 
  • Act as your liaison for various university departments 
  • Work with you to clarify your academic and professional goals 
  • Address any challenges you encounter throughout your degree 
  • Connect you with university services and resources to help you reach your goals 

From helping you stay on track with classes to connecting you with academic and career resources, we offer the support and encouragement you need to make it to graduation and enjoy your journey along the way. 

Apply Now 

As you consider an online education, we understand that it’s important for you to know that you’re getting a high-quality, affordable, and flexible online education that helps you reach your goals. That’s why our team of Enrollment Navigators is available to offer guidance and answer any questions that you may have about our degree programs, financial aid options, transfer information, admissions requirements, and more. 

Whether you want to talk through your degree plans, learn more about a specific program, or start your application, our Enrollment Navigators will provide friendly support as you decide if CU Online is the right fit for your future.  

Ready to get started? Take the first step toward earning your online communications degree by calling us at 303-315-3000 or filling out the form above for more information. 

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