The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication is designed to examine the nature of mediated, organizational, and public relations communication processes through theoretical grounding and applied knowledge. Students will learn essential writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills professionally relevant to careers in communication. The program curriculum is devised to provide students with significant communication training and internship opportunities. The Communication Degree is designed to prepare students to serve as public communication professionals within corporate, non-profit, government, healthcare, and education settings. This program also provides excellent preparation for graduate study in communication as well as law.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Utilize communication to embrace difference.
• Explain the importance of persuasive communication in civic life.
• Critically analyze messages intended for diverse audiences.

Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
General Education Requirements		31
Students should consult with their advisors to determine if specific courses are necessary in order to satisfy the General Education requirements within this major.
Communication Core Requirements
COMX 300	Exploring Comm Studies	3
COMX 320	Prin of Organizational Comm	3
COMX 330	Principles of Media Studies	3
COMX 341	Public Advocacy	3
COMX 351	Principles of Public Relations	3
COMX 400	Communication Theory	3
COMX 401	Communication Law and Ethics	3
COMX 426	Leadership and Communication	3
COMX 431	New Media Skills	3
COMX 460	Research Methods	3
COMX 481	Campaign Planning	3
COMX 499	Capstone	3
Subtotal		36
Emphases
Select one emphasis from the following:		9
Media Studies Emphasis
COMX 435	Media Criticism
COMX 482	Gender, Media, and Society
Communication Elective (Select from list below)
Organizational Communication Emphasis
COMX 424	Risk Crisis & Comm
COMX 427	Organizations and Diversity
Communication Elective (Select from list below)
Public Relations Emphasis
JRNL 270	Reporting the News
COMX 456	Case Studies in Public Rltns
Communication Elective (Select from list below)
Language Requirement		8
Bachelor of Arts Majors in Communication are required to complete the 101-102 active skills sequence in one modern language, or complete the 101 active skills course in two different modern languages, for a total of 8 credits.
Electives		36
Total Minimum Credits		120

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Communication Electives
Select course to fulfill remaining elective credits, in consultation with advisor.
COMX 340	Visual Rhetoric	3
COMX 420	Issues in Organizational Comm	3
COMX 434	Political Communication	3
COMX 436	Pop Culture & Cultural Studies	3
COMX 438	Multicultural Media Studies	3
COMX 452	Issues in Public Relations	3
COMX 480	Health Communication	3
COMX 491	Special Topics	3
COMX 492	Independent Study	1-3
COMX 498	Internship/Cooperative Educ	1-9

Note:  Substitutions can be made with advisor or consent.  Students must earn a grade of “C” or above in courses used to satisfy major or minor requirements in the Communication Department.  The Department of Communication offers the BA in Communication online.  Check the university website for details at www.msubillings.edu

Certain courses in this program have prerequisites; students should check the course descriptions for required prerequisites.

PDF Suggested Plan of Study

Suggested Plan of Study

This sample schedule is a suggested plan for students to follow in completing the Bachelor of Arts program in Communication.  Due to course schedule changes and staff assignments, students may not be able to follow the plan exactly.  This suggested plan is not a substitute for careful advising by departmental faculty.  Students should consult with their advisors to plan classes before registering each term.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
First Year
Fall
WRIT 101	College Writing I	3
Gen Ed Communication (COMX 111 recommended)		3
COLS 108	The College Experience	1
Language Requirement		4
General Education		6
Total		17
Spring
General Education		12
Language Requirement		4
Total		16
Second Year
Fall
COMX 300	Exploring Comm Studies	3
Elective		3
General Education		6
Communication Elective		3
Total		15
Spring
COMX 320	Prin of Organizational Comm	3
Elective		3
Communication Elective		6
Total		12
Third Year
Fall
COMX 330	Principles of Media Studies	3
COMX 341	Public Advocacy	3
Emphasis Area		3
Electives		6
Total		15
Spring
COMX 351	Principles of Public Relations	3
COMX 431	New Media Skills	3
Emphasis Area		3
Electives		6
Total		15
Fourth Year
Fall
COMX 400	Communication Theory	3
COMX 460	Research Methods	3
Emphasis Area		3
COMX 499	Capstone	3
Elective		3
Total		15
Spring
COMX 426	Leadership and Communication	3
COMX 481	Campaign Planning	3
COMX 401	Communication Law and Ethics	3
Electives		6
Total		15