School of Arts & Humanities · Bachelor’s degree
Bachelor’s in Communication Studies
Speak, persuade, and connect with confidence.
Strong communicators stand out in every field. MVU’s communication studies major sharpens your speaking, debating, interviewing, and persuasion skills and prepares you for careers or graduate study in areas like public relations, business, law, and social media.
120
credit hours to graduate
39
credit hours in the major
On campus
in Marshall, Missouri
4 years
at a full-time pace
Why communication studies
Skills you’ll use everywhere
Practice communication in real settings, from debate to interviews to political speech.
Speaking and argumentation
Take public speaking, argumentation and debate, rhetorical theory, and persuasion.
Relationships and identity
Study interpersonal relations, health communication, and identity in communication.
Communication at work
Learn interviewing, administrative communication, and political communication and speech writing.
Is this program for me?
This program may be a great fit if you want to…
- Speak and present with confidence.
- Persuade people and build arguments.
- Work in public relations, business, law, or social media.
- Lead teams and organizations.
What will I learn to do?
Skills you’ll practice and grow
- Think critically and communicate well.
- Use effective interpersonal communication in different settings.
- Show management and leadership skills in business settings.
- Apply social media in business.
- Create persuasive messages for advertising and social media.
How the degree works
How your 120 credit hours add up
Here’s how the degree is built. Your advisor helps you choose courses each term.
01
General education core
At least 42 credit hours across writing, speaking, math, science, social science, and the humanities.
02
Communication studies courses
39 credit hours of communication, critical thinking, research, and a senior portfolio.
03
Electives or a minor
Use the rest of your 120 hours for electives, a minor, or even a second major.
Good to know: As a senior, you’ll choose a communication project or a research paper and submit a portfolio.
Explore the curriculum
What you’ll study
Here are the courses in the major. Your advisor helps you plan the order.
Required courses (39 credit hours)
- COMM 100 Public Speaking & Introduction to Communication
- COMM 105 Interpersonal Communication
- COMM 110 Argumentation and Debate
- COMM 310 Rhetorical Theory
- COMM 320 Health Communication
- COMM 325 Interviewing
- COMM 400 Identities Communication: Race, Class, Gender, Sexuality
- COMM 405 Persuasion
- COMM 415 Political Communication and Speech Writing
- BNSS 412 Administrative Communications
- SOCL 316 Research Methods/Statistics
- PHIL 110 Introduction to Critical Thinking
- PR 485 Senior Portfolio
General education core (at least 42 credit hours)
- Social and behavioral science (9 hours) from at least two subjects, including one constitution course: HIST 104, HIST 105, or POLS 100
- Written communication (6 hours): ENGL 130 Rhetoric and Composition, plus ENGL 160 or HONR 190
- Oral communication (3 hours), such as COMM 100 Public Speaking & Introduction to Communication
- Natural science: 7 hours from at least two subjects, including a lab (BS); 3 hours (BA and BFA)
- Mathematics (3 hours)
- Humanities and fine arts: 9 hours (BS) or 12 hours (BA and BFA) from at least three subjects, covering the arts and creativity, ethics, and culture and society
- Additional general education from any area, to reach at least 42 hours
- Plus one Writing Intensive (WI) course and one Service Learning (SL) course, which can overlap with other requirements
Graduation requirements
- Complete at least 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Earn a major GPA of 2.0 or higher, with no grade below C and no pass/fail grades in the major.
- Complete at least 36 credit hours of upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses.
- Complete your last 30 credit hours, and at least 12 hours of your major, at MVU.
- Complete the major assessment requirement.
- Apply for graduation and pay the $100 graduation fee.
Getting started
Three steps to begin
Applying to MVU is free, and most students finish the application in a few minutes.
02
Send your transcripts
Send your high school transcript, plus official transcripts from any college or dual credit courses. Transferring? See the transfer steps.
03
Plan how you’ll pay
Explore scholarships, grants, and loans on Tuition & Financial Aid, or request information for current tuition.
Is there a minor?
Yes. The communication studies minor adds communication skills to any major.
Can I add a minor or a second major?
Yes. A minor is optional and appears on your transcript; it must be in a different subject than your major. You can also double major by completing all the requirements for both majors. You’ll receive one diploma.
What do I need to graduate?
- At least 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- A C or higher in every major course.
- At least 36 upper-division credit hours.
- Your last 30 credit hours at MVU.
- An application for graduation and the $100 graduation fee.
Talk with the Dean
Have questions about courses, careers, or how to plan your degree? Reach out. We’re happy to talk through your goals.
Bachelor’s in Communication Studies
