The University of Texas Permian Basin Online
Bachelor of Arts in Communication

Online, USA

DEGREE TYPE

DURATION

4 years

LANGUAGES

English

PACE

Full time, Part time

APPLICATION DEADLINE

EARLIEST START DATE

STUDY FORMAT

Distance Learning

* rolling admission

Key Summary

About: UT Permian Basin’s online BA in Communication covers rhetoric, media, public relations, small group, crisis and interpersonal communication. You’ll develop written, spoken communication, critical thinking, research and ethical analysis. The flexible online programme offers four tracks: Communication Studies, Strategic Messaging, Professional Communication and Sports Media. You can complete coursework on your own schedule, anywhere.

Career Outcomes: A BA prepares you for roles across media, corporate, nonprofit, government and agency settings. Roles include Advertising Professional, Broadcaster, Corporate Communications Manager, Public Relations Professional, Journalist, Marketing Manager, Media Specialist, Social Media Manager; it also supports pathways into content strategy and internal communications.

Major employers, recruiting firms, and the U.S. Department of Labor agree that communication is one of the top skills today’s job candidates need. UT Permian Basin’s online Bachelor of Arts in Communication program covers a diverse range of communication types, empowering you with in-demand skills you can apply in practically any industry.

Our BA in communication emphasizes written and spoken communication and offers a comprehensive foundation in this multifaceted field, from the origins of rhetoric in Western thought to an analysis of modern communication media. Through our program, you’ll develop critical thinking and research skills and acquire practical knowledge in topics such as public relations, small group communication, crisis communication, and interpersonal communication. Our program also offers an exploration of the dark side of communication and demonstrates the critical importance of an ethical approach.

Our convenient, collaborative online program enables you to complete classwork on your own schedule, anywhere. Online communication tools ensure your professors and classmates are always within reach to help guide and inspire you along the way.

Customize Your Communication Program With a Specialty Track

Our BA in communication program empowers you to align your studies with your interests by choosing one of four separate tracks:

Communication Studies
Gain a broad understanding of communication that will help you in all your professional and personal endeavors. Our standard program track allows you to choose any electives that suit your interests and professional ambitions.
Strategic Messaging
Discover how to effectively promote your organization’s products, services, and/or mission to a public audience.
Professional Communication
Communicate more effectively within an organization through the study of interpersonal communication, small group communication, leadership, and related topics.
Sports Media
Learn how to craft public relations and other media messages for sports organizations. Note: This track does not cover the technical aspects of media production.

General Education

Students must complete 42 credits from the following areas of study to complete general education requirements: communication (6 credits); U.S. history (6 credits), language, philosophy, and culture (3 credits); mathematics (3 or 4 credits); life and physical sciences (8 credits; 2 courses with labs); political science (6 credits); creative arts (3 credits); social and behavioral science (3 credits); component area (3 credits).

ARTS 1301 - Art Appreciation - 8 weeks - 3 credits
BIOL 1108 - Biology for Non-Science Majors Laboratory - 8 weeks - 1 credit
BIOL 1308 - Biology for Non-Science Majors - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 1115 - Communication Lab - 8 weeks - 1 credit
COMM 1301 - Introduction to the Study of Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 1315 - Introduction to Public Speaking - 8 weeks - 3 credits
ECON 2301 - Principles of Macroeconomics - 8 weeks - 3 credits
ECON 2302 - Principles of Microeconomics - 8 weeks - 3 credits
ENGL 1301 - Composition I - 16 weeks - 3 credits
ENGL 1302 - Composition II - 16 weeks - 3 credits
ENGL 2322 - British Literature to 1800 - 16 weeks - 3 credits
ENGL 2323 - British Literature Since 1800 - 16 weeks - 3 credits
ENGL 2327 - American Literature to 1865 - 16 weeks - 3 credits
ENGL 2328 - American Literature Since 1865 - 16 weeks - 3 credits
GEOL 1101 - Physical Geology Laboratory - 8 weeks - 1 credit
GEOL 1102 - Historical Geology Laboratory - 8 weeks - 1 credit
GEOL 1301 - Physical Geology - 8 weeks - 3 credits
GEOL 1302 - Historical Geology - 8 weeks - 3 credits
HIST 1301 - History of the United States to 1877 - 16 weeks - 3 credits
HIST 1302 - History of the United States Since 1877 - 16 weeks - 3 credits
HIST 2322 - World Civilizations - 16 weeks - 3 credits
MATH 1314 - College Algebra - 8 weeks - 4 credits
MATH 1324 - Applications of Discrete Mathematics - 8 weeks - 3 credits
MATH 1332 - Contemporary Mathematics I - 16 weeks - 3 credits
MATH 1325 - Applications of Continuous Mathematics - 8 weeks - 3 credits
MATH 2412 - Precalculus - 8 weeks - 4 credits
MUSI 1301 - Jazz, Pop & Rock - 8 weeks - 3 credits
MUSI 1306 - Music Appreciation - 8 weeks - 3 credits
PLSC 2305 - American National Politics - 8 weeks - 3 credits
PLSC 2306 - State and Local Politics - 8 weeks - 3 credits
PSYC 1301 - Introduction to Psychology - 8 weeks - 3 credits
SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology - 8 weeks - 3 credits

Core

24 credit hours are required for core

COMM 1301 - Introduction to the Study of Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 1315 - Introduction to Public Speaking - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 1318 - Interpersonal Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3310 - Modern Media in Society - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3330 - Rhetoric in Western Thought - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3300 - Theories of Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3370 - Research Methods - 16 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4390 - Senior Seminar in Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits

Communication Electives

15 credit hours, at least 12 upper-level.

COMM 3341 - Public Relations - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3304 - Public Messages - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3312 - Media Writing - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3321 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3333 - Political Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3385 - Research Methods - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3389 - Multilisting Course - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4360 - Intercultural Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4315 - Communication Law - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4350 - Communication and Instruction - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4323 - Dark Side of Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4356 - Argument and Persuasion - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3371 - Rhetorical Criticism - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4379 - Topics in Rhetoric - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4389 - Senior Seminar - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4391 - Contract Study - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4392 - Internship - 8 weeks - 3 credits
PSYC 3301 - Introductory Statistics - 16 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3355 - Advanced Public Speaking - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4307 - Organizational Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3311 - Advertising Strategies - 8 weeks - 3 credits

Upper-Level Electives

You need 48 upper-level hours to graduate. Since most courses are 3 semester credit hours, you will need about 16 upper-level courses. At UTPB, any course number starting with a 3 or a 4 is an upper-level course. The number of upper-level elective hours you require will depend on the courses you take in your major and minor. Most COMM students need 2-3 upper-level elective courses, and you should visit with your adviser to see how this applies to your degree plan.

There are no Upper-Level Electives courses available.

Minor Requirement

In general, the minor is 18 credit hours with 12 credit hours at the upper level. Please talk to your advisor about specific minor requirements.

There are no Minor Requirement courses available.

Communication Studies Track

Students pursuing this track will take an additional 15 upper-level credit hours in Communication. Those hours will be chosen in consultation with their advisor.

There are no Communication Studies Track courses available.

Strategic Messaging Track

Students pursuing this track will take an additional 15 upper-level credit hours in Communication. Of those 15 hours, at least 12 must be selected from the courses listed below.

COMM 3311 - Advertising Strategies - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3312 - Media Writing - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3313 - Social Media - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3331 - Public Advocacy - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3333 - Political Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3341 - Public Relations - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3342 - Crisis Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3371 - Rhetorical Criticism - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3380 - Politics of National Memory - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4340 - Organizational Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4356 - Argument and Persuasion - 8 weeks - 3 credits

Sports Media Track

Students pursuing this track will take an additional 15 upper-level credit hours in Communication. Of those 15 hours, at least 12 must be selected from the courses listed below.

COMM 3312 - Media Writing - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3313 - Social Media - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3314 - Sports Broadcasting - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3315 - Sports Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 3341 - Public Relations - 8 weeks - 3 credits
COMM 4383 - Current Topics in Sports Communication - 8 weeks - 3 credits

Professional Communication Track

Students pursuing this track will take an additional 15 upper-level credit hours in Communication. Of those 15 hours, at least 12 must be selected from the courses listed below.