Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Online USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
USD 327 / per credit **
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* rolling admission
** additional fees may be added
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Major employers, recruiting firms, and the U.S. Department of Labor agree that communication is one of the top skills today’s job candidates need. UT Permian Basin’s online Bachelor of Arts in Communication program covers a diverse range of communication types, empowering you with in-demand skills you can apply in practically any industry.
Our BA in communication emphasizes written and spoken communication and offers a comprehensive foundation in this multifaceted field, from the origins of rhetoric in Western thought to an analysis of modern communication media. Through our program, you’ll develop critical thinking and research skills and acquire practical knowledge in topics such as public relations, small group communication, crisis communication, and interpersonal communication. Our program also offers an exploration of the dark side of communication and demonstrates the critical importance of an ethical approach.
Our convenient, collaborative online program enables you to complete classwork on your own schedule, anywhere. Online communication tools ensure your professors and classmates are always within reach to help guide and inspire you along the way.
Customize Your Communication Program With a Specialty Track
Our BA in communication program empowers you to align your studies with your interests by choosing one of four separate tracks:
- Communication Studies
Gain a broad understanding of communication that will help you in all your professional and personal endeavors. Our standard program track allows you to choose any electives that suit your interests and professional ambitions. - Strategic Messaging
Discover how to effectively promote your organization’s products, services, and/or mission to a public audience. - Professional Communication
Communicate more effectively within an organization through the study of interpersonal communication, small group communication, leadership, and related topics. - Sports Media
Learn how to craft public relations and other media messages for sports organizations. Note: This track does not cover the technical aspects of media production.
Admissions
Curriculum
General Education
Students must complete 42 credits from the following areas of study to complete general education requirements: communication (6 credits); U.S. history (6 credits), language, philosophy, and culture (3 credits); mathematics (3 or 4 credits); life and physical sciences (8 credits; 2 courses with labs); political science (6 credits); creative arts (3 credits); social and behavioral science (3 credits); component area (3 credits).
- ARTS 1301 - Art Appreciation - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- BIOL 1108 - Biology for Non-Science Majors Laboratory - 8 weeks - 1 credit
- BIOL 1308 - Biology for Non-Science Majors - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 1115 - Communication Lab - 8 weeks - 1 credit
- COMM 1301 - Introduction to the Study of Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 1315 - Introduction to Public Speaking - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- ECON 2301 - Principles of Macroeconomics - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- ECON 2302 - Principles of Microeconomics - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- ENGL 1301 - Composition I - 16 weeks - 3 credits
- ENGL 1302 - Composition II - 16 weeks - 3 credits
- ENGL 2322 - British Literature to 1800 - 16 weeks - 3 credits
- ENGL 2323 - British Literature Since 1800 - 16 weeks - 3 credits
- ENGL 2327 - American Literature to 1865 - 16 weeks - 3 credits
- ENGL 2328 - American Literature Since 1865 - 16 weeks - 3 credits
- GEOL 1101 - Physical Geology Laboratory - 8 weeks - 1 credit
- GEOL 1102 - Historical Geology Laboratory - 8 weeks - 1 credit
- GEOL 1301 - Physical Geology - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- GEOL 1302 - Historical Geology - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- HIST 1301 - History of the United States to 1877 - 16 weeks - 3 credits
- HIST 1302 - History of the United States Since 1877 - 16 weeks - 3 credits
- HIST 2322 - World Civilizations - 16 weeks - 3 credits
- MATH 1314 - College Algebra - 8 weeks - 4 credits
- MATH 1324 - Applications of Discrete Mathematics - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- MATH 1332 - Contemporary Mathematics I - 16 weeks - 3 credits
- MATH 1325 - Applications of Continuous Mathematics - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- MATH 2412 - Precalculus - 8 weeks - 4 credits
- MUSI 1301 - Jazz, Pop & Rock - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- MUSI 1306 - Music Appreciation - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- PLSC 2305 - American National Politics - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- PLSC 2306 - State and Local Politics - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- PSYC 1301 - Introduction to Psychology - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology - 8 weeks - 3 credits
Core
24 credit hours are required for core
- COMM 1301 - Introduction to the Study of Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 1315 - Introduction to Public Speaking - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 1318 - Interpersonal Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3310 - Modern Media in Society - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3330 - Rhetoric in Western Thought - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3300 - Theories of Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3370 - Research Methods - 16 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4390 - Senior Seminar in Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
Communication Electives
15 credit hours, at least 12 upper-level.
- COMM 3341 - Public Relations - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3304 - Public Messages - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3312 - Media Writing - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3321 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3333 - Political Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3385 - Research Methods - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3389 - Multilisting Course - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4360 - Intercultural Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4315 - Communication Law - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4350 - Communication and Instruction - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4323 - Dark Side of Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4356 - Argument and Persuasion - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3371 - Rhetorical Criticism - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4379 - Topics in Rhetoric - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4389 - Senior Seminar - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4391 - Contract Study - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4392 - Internship - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- PSYC 3301 - Introductory Statistics - 16 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3355 - Advanced Public Speaking - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4307 - Organizational Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3311 - Advertising Strategies - 8 weeks - 3 credits
Upper-Level Electives
You need 48 upper-level hours to graduate. Since most courses are 3 semester credit hours, you will need about 16 upper-level courses. At UTPB, any course number starting with a 3 or a 4 is an upper-level course. The number of upper-level elective hours you require will depend on the courses you take in your major and minor. Most COMM students need 2-3 upper-level elective courses, and you should visit with your adviser to see how this applies to your degree plan.
There are no Upper-Level Electives courses available.
Minor Requirement
In general, the minor is 18 credit hours with 12 credit hours at the upper level. Please talk to your advisor about specific minor requirements.
There are no Minor Requirement courses available.
Communication Studies Track
Students pursuing this track will take an additional 15 upper-level credit hours in Communication. Those hours will be chosen in consultation with their advisor.
There are no Communication Studies Track courses available.
Strategic Messaging Track
Students pursuing this track will take an additional 15 upper-level credit hours in Communication. Of those 15 hours, at least 12 must be selected from the courses listed below.
- COMM 3311 - Advertising Strategies - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3312 - Media Writing - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3313 - Social Media - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3331 - Public Advocacy - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3333 - Political Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3341 - Public Relations - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3342 - Crisis Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3371 - Rhetorical Criticism - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3380 - Politics of National Memory - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4340 - Organizational Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4356 - Argument and Persuasion - 8 weeks - 3 credits
Sports Media Track
Students pursuing this track will take an additional 15 upper-level credit hours in Communication. Of those 15 hours, at least 12 must be selected from the courses listed below.
- COMM 3312 - Media Writing - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3313 - Social Media - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3314 - Sports Broadcasting - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3315 - Sports Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3341 - Public Relations - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4383 - Current Topics in Sports Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
Professional Communication Track
Students pursuing this track will take an additional 15 upper-level credit hours in Communication. Of those 15 hours, at least 12 must be selected from the courses listed below.
- COMM 3321 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 3322 - Nonverbal Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4326 - Group Leadership - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4340 - Organizational Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4350 - Communication and Instruction - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4351 - Health Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
- COMM 4360 - Intercultural Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
Career Opportunities
An online BA in communication from UT Permian Basin empowers you with knowledge and abilities that can prepare you for greater success in positions associated with communication and beyond, including:
- Advertising Professional
- Broadcaster
- Corporate Communications Manager
- Government and Public Affairs Director
- Human Resources Professional
- Journalist
- Marketing Manager
- Media Specialist
- Nonprofit Leadership
- Public Relations Professional
- Publication Editor
- Social Media Manager
Scholarships and Funding
Gallery
English Language Requirements
Certify your English proficiency with PTE. The faster, fairer, simpler English test, accepted by thousands of universities around the world. PTE, Do it worry-free!