Frequently Asked Questions about the
Undergraduate Program in Communication Studies

What can I do if I major in Communication Studies?
The major in Communication Studies does prepare students for any particular job.  Instead, given the nature of the communication discipline in an information era, we prepare students to understand what communication is, how it functions, and how it is applied in a multitude of settings.  Many undergraduates with degrees in Communication Studies pursue masters’ degrees while others pursue careers in government, the not for profit sector, teaching, consulting, organizational training and development, management, and speechwriting.

What is the difference in the Pre-Communication major and the Communication major?
Students entering the program are designated Pre-Communication majors.  Once they have completed the required 1000 and 2000 level courses successfully, they may declare as Communication majors and begin taking upper division courses.

How many hours must a student complete in Communication Studies to complete the major?
Students complete 39 hours of coursework to fulfill the requirements of the major.  Please consult the Undergraduate Program page on this site for a detailed description of the degree requirements.

Are Communication Studies majors also required to complete a minor?
Yes, students who major in Communication Studies must also complete a minor.  Students may choose their minors from a wide range of departments either within the College of Arts and Sciences or through one of our sister colleges.  The requirements for minors vary by department.  Students should check with the minor department for specific requirements regarding coursework.

Are courses in mass communication included in the Department of Communication Studies?
Communication courses can be found in many departments at UNT.  Faculty members in the Department of Communication Studies teach and research human communication primarily in non-media forms.  The department offers courses in a variety of areas including public speaking, rhetoric and argument, persuasion, argument and debate, interpersonal communication, organizational communication, communication and conflict, group communication, health communication, computer mediated communication, intercultural communication, communication pedagogy, performance studies, group performance, performance and culture, freedom of speech, and many others.  One would find courses specifically devoted to mass mediated forms of communication in departments such as Journalism and Radio/Television/Film.

How many hours of transfer work can I apply toward a degree in Communication Studies?
A student may transfer a maximum of fifteen semester credit hours in Communication Studies to be applied toward completion of the requirements for the major at UNT.

How do I request a degree audit (formerly known as a degree plan)?
Once a student has decided to major in Communication Studies, he/she should make an appointment with an undergraduate advisor in the department to prepare a degree audit worksheet.  Prior to making this appointment, the student should go the Registrar's Office and request an "advising copy" of all transfer work be sent to the Communication Studies department.  Once this arrives, the student meets with an advisor for about 20 minutes to complete the worksheet.  Then, the student takes the worksheet and accompanying transcripts to the College of Arts and Sciences Student Advising Office in GAB 220.  That office reviews the worksheet, prepares the degree audit, and mails copies to the student and to the department.