BA Communication

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Colorado Boulder

Program Overview

The BA in Communication at the University of Colorado Boulder combines communication theory, analysis and practice to help students understand how communication shapes relationships, organizations, culture and society. It is ideal for students who want to strengthen speaking, writing, listening, audience analysis, collaboration and problem-solving skills while preparing for careers across business, nonprofit organizations, media, marketing, health communication and consulting.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students establish a strong foundation with COMM 1210: Perspectives on Human Communication, which introduces communication across personal, group, organizational and technological contexts, and COMM 1300: Public Speaking, which develops presentation skills. COMM 2600: Group Interaction adds practical experience with decision-making, conflict management, leadership, virtual teamwork and group effectiveness through an innovative group project and online simulation.

Year 2:

The second year broadens students' understanding of communication across cultures, relationships and professional environments. Students can choose courses such as COMM 2320: The Craft of Argument, COMM 2400: Discourse, Culture and Identities, COMM 2410: The Practice of Intercultural Communication, COMM 2500: Interpersonal Communication or COMM 2650: Business and Professional Communication, allowing them to develop skills relevant to argumentation, diversity, workplace communication and interpersonal relationships.

Year 3:

Students move into advanced theory and research through COMM 3210: Communication Theory and COMM 3300: Rhetorical Thinking, while also completing a research-methods course such as COMM 3740: Qualitative Research Methods, COMM 3750: Quantitative Research Methods or COMM 3760: Rhetorical Research Methods. Upper-level options such as COMM 3340: Political Communication, COMM 3370: Environmental Communication, COMM 3610: Communication, Technology, and Society and COMM 3620: Advanced Teamwork and Collaboration allow students to connect communication theory with contemporary issues.

Year 4:

The final year focuses on advanced specialization, independent thinking and professional application. Students complete a senior seminar such as COMM 4220: Senior Seminar: Functions of Communication, COMM 4600: Senior Seminar: Organizational Communication or COMM 4610: Senior Seminar: Communication Studies of Science and Technology, followed by a capstone such as COMM 4710: Capstone in Cultural & Relational Communication or COMM 4720: Capstone in Public & Professional Communication.

Focus Areas:

Human communication, public speaking, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, organizational communication, business and professional communication, rhetoric, persuasion, communication research, political communication, environmental communication, communication technology, social movements, storytelling, teamwork and collaboration.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop the ability to analyze communication practices, communicate effectively through speaking and writing, listen and ask effective questions, design innovative messages, analyze audiences, understand communication across cultural settings, conduct communication research, manage conflict, build consensus and collaborate effectively in groups.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The BA in Communication is offered through CU Boulder’s College of Communication, Media, Design and Information (CMDI) and is covered by the university's institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The Communication degree is an interdisciplinary liberal-arts program rather than a separately professionally accredited communication degree.

Reputation & Employability:

CU Boulder is ranked No. 46 among public universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report for 2026. The university reports a $57,880 median salary for CU Boulder Communication students 1–5 years after graduation, while 130+ organizations employ CMDI graduates, including National Geographic, Condé Nast, Microsoft, NPR, Uninterrupted and NBC.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Communication program deliberately combines theory with practice, giving students opportunities to develop speaking, teamwork, argumentation, research and professional communication skills. Students can apply classroom learning through group projects and simulations, internships, student organizations, communication-focused events and specialized resources such as the Josephine Jones Speaking Lab and Sustainability and Storytelling Lab.

• COMM 2600: Group Interaction — Students practice group communication through an innovative group project and online simulation, working on decision-making, conflict management, leadership, planning, coordination and virtual teamwork.

• COMM 2650: Business and Professional Communication — Students practice workplace communication, networking, interviewing, self-assessment and informative and persuasive business presentations.

• COMM 3740/3750/3760/3770: Research Methods — Students develop practical research capabilities through qualitative, quantitative, rhetorical or broader research-and-reasoning approaches.

• Josephine Jones Speaking Lab — Students can receive one-on-one consultations on presentation development, including thesis creation, persuasive and ethical arguments and delivery. The lab offers both in-person and remote consultations.

• Sustainability and Storytelling Lab — This Communication initiative focuses on communicating issues surrounding environmental, economic and social justice, giving students an opportunity to engage with communication around contemporary sustainability challenges.

• TEDxCU — The Communication department identifies TEDxCU as a community-engagement opportunity where students can participate in an environment focused on ideas, communication and public engagement.

• COMM 4930 Internship — Communication students can pursue an internship for academic credit after meeting the program's requirements, gaining supervised professional experience alongside their degree.

• CMDI Career & Internship Resources — Students have access to an online job and internship platform, career fairs, resume reviews, mock interviews, professional-development workshops and one-on-one career counseling.

• CMDI Student Organizations — CMDI provides publications, organizations and clubs where students can develop professional skills, connect with peers and interact with alumni guest speakers.

Official facilities and student resources: CU Boulder CMDI facilities, labs, organizations and career resources.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BA in Communication prepares graduates for a wide range of professional environments because its curriculum develops transferable skills in speaking, writing, research, collaboration, audience analysis, message design and problem-solving. CU Boulder specifically identifies career opportunities across general business and corporate communication, nonprofit organizations, fundraising, human resources, speech writing, mediation and negotiation, hospitality, health communication, media and entertainment, communication consulting, sales and marketing.

Typical job roles: Communications Specialist, Corporate Communications Specialist, Public Relations Specialist, Marketing Communications Specialist.

Students can strengthen their career transition through several university-supported opportunities:

• CMDI Career Services — Students receive one-on-one career advising, resume reviews, mock interviews, professional-development workshops and access to CMDI career fairs featuring local and national employers.

• Employer Network — More than 130 organizations employ CMDI graduates, including National Geographic, Rogers & Cowan, Condé Nast, Microsoft, NPR, Uninterrupted and NBC.

• 3,000+ Employer Database — CMDI Career Services reports connections with more than 3,000 employers in its database, giving students access to opportunities across communication, media and information fields.

• Communication Graduate Salary — CU Boulder reports a $57,880 median salary for Communication students 1–5 years after graduation, providing a program-specific indicator of early-career outcomes.

• Industry-Supported Internships — CMDI treats employers as educational partners, with approved internship employers supervising students, teaching real-world skills and evaluating their professional development.

• Alumni Network — CMDI's alumni community includes nearly 40,000 professionals, with graduates working in technology firms, law firms, advertising agencies, nonprofits and major media organizations.

• Career Support After Graduation — CMDI Career Services remains available to alumni, including access to its online job database, career advising, resume support and employer connections.

• Long-Term Accreditation Value — The degree is supported by CU Boulder’s institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, providing an established institutional quality framework for graduates pursuing employment or further education.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into CU Boulder’s MA in Communication, with graduate study areas including Community & Social Interaction, Organizational Communication, and Rhetoric and Culture. Students interested in advanced research can progress to CU Boulder’s PhD in Communication, while related graduate programs in communication, media, strategic communication and other CMDI fields can provide additional specialization.