Communication, B.A.
The bachelor of arts in communication offers a liberal arts degree program focused on understanding communication as a central constitutive feature of human society. This degree guides students' conceptual and pragmatic learning about how interpersonal, environmental, organizational, cultural, and mediated messages and encounters shape people's personal, group, and societal attitudes, values, beliefs, and actions.
While developing several core communication competencies, each student in this degree program also works with their advisor to select upper-division coursework that will advance their knowledge and ability in areas that suit the student's particular communication learning goals. Students may choose courses to align with one or more areas of study: organizational and relational communication; culture and communication; environmental communication.
This degree program prepares students for a wide range of professional work and for graduate study in communication and related fields. Communication students are actively guided to explore the professional training available to them through a host of community-based academic internships.
UP Core Requirements — 40 credit hours
All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.
See UP Core Requirements
The core requirement for the Diversity & the Common Good Habit is satisfied by CST 225 within the major
CST 300/320/330 and CST 475 are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.A. in Communication.
College of Arts and Sciences B.A. Requirements — 24-33 credit hours
See College Requirements, B.A.
Major Requirements — 45 credit hours
Required Courses — 15 credit hours
| CST 101 | Introduction to Communication and Media | 3 |
| CST 107 | Public Speaking for Change | 3 |
| CST 225 | Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others | 3 |
| CST 233 | Organizing Across Contexts | 3 |
| CST 265 | Creativity and Digital Tools | 3 |
Research Methods Courses - 6 credit hours
Select two courses from the following:
CST 392 will fulfill the research methods requirements. Please confirm the eligible yearly course offering with the department chair.
Upper-division CST courses - 21 credit hours
Students select seven 3-credit hour upper-division CST courses in consultation with their academic advisors. At least three of these courses must be 400-level. Students may choose courses to align with one or more areas of study: organizational and relational communication; culture and communication; environmental communication.
Senior Project - 3 credit hours
To be completed senior year:
Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours
Total Credit Hours: 120