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ACADEMIC PROGRAMSAbout this Program
The Department of Communication Studies offers a Communication Studies Major, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. Students who wish to specialize in this degree may elect a concentration in Professional and Organizational Communication or Rhetoric and Public Culture. Students can also Minor in Communication Studies.
The B.A. in Communication Studies offers students the opportunity to tailor their degree based on their interests and goals:
- Students seeking to generalize can choose from an extensive list of courses designed to provide a broad range of communication knowledge and skills.
- The Professional and Organizational Communication concentration prepares you for careers in consulting, training, employee relations and management.
- The Rhetoric & Public Culture concentration enhances students’ ability to craft effective messages, connect with diverse audiences and individuals, persuade, and lead positive change.
Concentration Options
The Professional and Organizational Communication concentration prepares graduates for work in consulting, training, and conference planning. This concentration presents lucrative and satisfying careers to Communication Studies graduates. Many job opportunities are available in education, government, business, and industry, as well as private practice as a consultant.
For a complete list of degree requirements, please visit the University catalog or download the Professional and Organizational Communication Advising form.
The Rhetoric & Public Culture concentration enhances students’ ability to craft effective messages, connect with diverse audiences and individuals, persuade, and lead positive change. They learn what makes persuasion possible so they can effectively communicate in personal, professional, and academic settings. Having this knowledge adds immense value to students who leave the program knowing what works and what fails in the processes of ethically shaping the thoughts, feelings, and actions of others in today’s fast-paced, interconnected, digital communication environment.
For a complete list of degree requirements, please visit the University catalog or download the Rhetoric & Public Culture Advising form.
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Declare your Communication Studies Major
The Department of Communication Studies offers real-world, relevant courses that set you up for success.
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Get Rowdy Ready
Follow the semester-by-semester steps outlined in the CLAS Student Success Roadmap to ensure your success at MSU Denver.
Take me to the CLAS Student Success RoadmapExplore the Degree
View requirements in the MSU Denver Catalog
View Requirements in the MSU Denver Catalog
View our major map to maximize your education
Communication Studies, B.A. Experiential Major Map
Benefits of Earning Your Degree at MSU Denver
The Communication Studies degree program at MSU Denver stands out against the competition because we put our students first-always!
Reasons to choose us:
Flexible Course Options
We put students first by offering flexible course options where they learn best. In simple terms, we want you to be able to attend a class in the way that suits you!
- In Person – come to the classroom and have live interactions and discussions with your professor and other students.
- Remote – log on to MS Teams and follow along with the class and interact through a TV screen in the classroom.
- Hyflex – watch the recorded lecture or follow the online modules for the class and still participate in discussion boards.
Hands-on Involvement Opportunities
We put students first by providing opportunities for students to use the skills they learn in the classroom in real life scenarios. Get that practical, hands-on experience by joining:
- Lambda Pi Eta – the National Communication Association’s official honor society at four-year colleges and universities.
- MSU Denver Debate – has gained local, national and national recognition for its cultural exchange opportunities.
- Dialogues Program – brings together students, faculty, and staff to participate in small-group facilitated dialogues.
Support for All Learners
We put students first by supporting all learners, at all levels.
Meet Angela Merlano, Communication Studies major, who found her way to our program through Dual Enrollment, which allows high school students to take in-person or online college classes that give them a head start on their degree.
This video features two MSU Denver students and shows how they earned college credit while still in high school (3:22, Closed Captions)
Career Opportunities for Our Graduates
Our degree can take you to graduate school and/or springboard your career. Work in advertising or marketing, Human Resources, social media, and more!
Your Career Starts Here!
- Advertising or marketing specialist
- Creative Director
- Media Planner
- Media Sales Representative
- Social Networking Specialist
- Manager or Executive Director
- Human Resources Manager
- Community Organizer
- Technical Writer
- Diversity Trainer
- Medical Grants Writer
- Healthcare Administrator
- Health Personnel Educator
- Healthcare Counselor
- TV or Radio Performer/Announcer
- News and Community Relations Manager
- Writer
Featured Faculty
Get to know some of our outstanding and expert faculty. Our faculty are pioneers in their field, on the cutting edge of research and you have an opportunity to study with them.
Elisa M. Varela, Ph.D.
Dr. Elisa Varela presented her paper co-authored with Dr. Leah Sprain, titled “Facilitating Speaking for Others in Democratic Talk” in the Language and Social Interaction’s prestigious “Top Papers” panel at the 2023 National Communication Association (NCA).
Wilfredo Alvarez, Ph.D.
Dr. Wilfredo Alvarez’s book titled “Everyday dirty work: Invisibility, communication and immigrant labor” was awarded the 2023 NCA Ethnography Division Best Book Award.
Parameswari Mukherjee, Ph.D.
Dr. Parameswari Mukherjee recently published an article with co-author Dr. Sonia Ivancic in the Journal of Applied Communication Research, titled “Safe water as empowerment, structural dilemma, and savior: conflicting discourses about arsenic groundwater contamination in West Bengal.”
Watch some of our other Faculty experts in action
Featured Alumni
MSU Denver Communication Studies program alumni are doing amazing things!
Don’t believe us? Not only was Bianca Alves Machado, MSU Denver ’22, Communication Studies, B.A., the 2022 Provost’s Award Winner and a 2024 MSU Denver Alumni 10-Under-10 Award Winner, she also strutted her stuff on the Tedx Talk stage where she talks about the power of “place” and taking chances, while staying true to yourself.
Bianca Alves Machado offers a profound perspective on the concept of "sense of place" that transcends geographical boundaries (10:11, Closed Captions)
Why Choose MSU Denver
Hispanic Serving Institution
MSU Denver has 36.7% Hispanic/Latinx students which the highest number of Hispanic/Latinx students among institutions of higher education in the state of Colorado.
Learn more about MSU Denver's Designation
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
MSU Denver is dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion and has been named one of the Top Colleges for Diversity by Insight Into Diversity for 10 consecutive years.
Learn more about DEI at MSU Denver
Transfer Student Leader
50% of MSU Denver students are transfers. As the top transfer destination for Coloradans, our students make an immediate impact on our workforce and community.
Learn more about MSU Denver's ExcellenceDepartment of Communication Studies
Book an Appointment with an AdvisorCampus Location:
Central Classroom Building 120
Mailing Address:
Campus Box 34
P.O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362