Communication, B.A.
The bachelor of arts in communication offers a liberal arts degree program focused on understanding communication as a central constitutive feature of human society. This degree guides students' conceptual and pragmatic learning about how interpersonal, environmental, organizational, cultural, and mediated messages and encounters shape people's personal, group, and societal attitudes, values, beliefs, and actions.
While developing several core communication competencies, each student in this degree program also works with their advisor to obtain the cadre of upper-division coursework that will advance their knowledge and ability in areas that suit the student's particular communication learning goals. Although this academic major does not distinguish a priori "tracks" within the degree program, communication studies students commonly have shaped Communication B.A. coursework to develop their pragmatic and conceptual expertise in areas such as leadership, media studies, journalism, organizational communication, environmental communication, and intercultural communication, among a wide range of unique possibilities.
This degree program prepares students for a wide range of professional work and for graduate study in communication and related fields. Communication students are actively guided to explore the professional training available to them through a host of community-based academic internships.
University Core Curriculum Requirements — 40 credit hours
All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.
See Core Curriculum Requirements
The core requirement for the Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & the Common Good Habit is satisfied by CST 225 within the major
CST300/320/330 and CST 475/497 are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.A. in Communication.
College of Arts and Sciences B.A. Requirements — 24-33 credit hours
See College Requirements, B.A.
Major Requirements — 42 credit hours
Required Courses — 12 credit hours
| CST 101 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 3 |
| CST 107 | Public Speaking for Change | 3 |
| CST 225 | Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others | 3 |
| CST 301 | Media and Society | 3 |
Research Methods Courses - 6 credit hours
Select two courses from the following:
| CST 300 | Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| CST 320 | Rhetorical Theory and Criticism | 3 |
| CST 330 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
Upper-division CST courses - 21 credit hours
Students select seven 3-credit hour upper-division CST courses in consultation with their academic advisors. At least three of these courses must be 400-level.
Senior Project - 3 credit hours
Select one of the following to be completed senior year:
Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours
Total Credit Hours: 120