Communication Studies BA
- Bachelor's Degree
- Online
- Online
2 Years
Fall Term (Aug.)
Spring Term (Jan.)
Summer Term (May)
$466/Credit
An Online Degree Completion Program in Communication Studies
Do you have some college credits but need to finish your degree? Take our online Communication Studies Bachelor of Arts degree completion program.
This program focuses on understanding core processes and techniques of communication. Successful communication is key to your personal, social and professional life. You’ll gain skills to improve your own communication and to support better communication in any group situation.
What You’ll Learn
- Communication theory: The foundational ideas behind how we share messages.
- Public speaking and media: Skills for speaking to groups and using different communication modes.
- Leadership and persuasion: Effective tactics for leading others and changing viewpoints.
- People skills: Communication in relationships, families, small groups, the workplace and across cultures.
- Hands-on practice: We strongly suggest doing an internship (up to six credits). You will be able to apply what you learn and get feedback on your work.
Also Offered On Campus
We also offer this program in a traditional on-campus delivery.
Convenience and Flexibility
- Enjoy quality online education: This program is the same degree we offer on our campus, taught by the same faculty.
- Finish on your terms: Start any term and study part time or full time. Choose from a wide variety of communication courses.
- Get transferable skills: You’ll gain applied communication skills that apply to any industry.
Careers for Communication Experts
Take on Many Roles – In Any Industry
Communication skills are consistently ranked as the top skills employers seek. Our communication studies degree prepares you with valuable skills that you can use in any industry.
Graduates with this degree pursue a wide range of careers, including:
- Marketing Communications
- Community Relations
- Motivational Speaker/Trainer
- Communication Consultant
- Human Resources
- Sales and Customer Service
- Event Planner
- Lobbyist
- Training Facilitator
The Benefit of a Bachelor's Degree
Why finish your degree? Yes, you will gain new knowledge and skills. But you will also open doors to better employment opportunities and earnings. In 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that — compared to those who only completed some college credit — those with a bachelor’s degree had…
Visit the full U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics article to view interactive charts for earnings and unemployment data by education level.
Course of Study
Fully Online Degree Completion
The Communication Studies online degree completion program should take about two years to complete if you have about 60 transferable credits.
Your personal time to completion will depend on:
- How much college credit you have already completed, particularly any Communication Studies coursework.
- What coursework you need for the major and for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
- How many credits you take per term. Attending part time or full time also impacts the amount of federal aid you may receive.
Online Course Tutorial
If you don’t have recent experience taking classes online, you’ll have the chance to complete our online course tutorial. This tutorial will help you learn our Canvas course platform and prepare you to succeed in your online courses!
Courses Are Available Every Term
Fall and Spring Semesters
You will have many 16-week courses available to choose from each term.
Interim Session
Online Communication Studies courses are often also offered during UNC’s interim session, which runs between the fall and spring semesters. These are quick, intensive courses.
Summer Sessions
- Multiple courses are offered in the summer term during the two 6-week sessions. If you take two 3-credit courses each session, you can earn 12 credits in the summer term.
- You can also take internship credits (COMM 492) each summer.
To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
There are 36 required credits in the Communication Studies major. We offer the required coursework and a wide mix of elective courses online.
Additional Credits Required for UNC Graduation
The rest of your 120 total credits for this bachelor’s degree will come from credits you take at UNC or elsewhere.
- These credits will include completing the Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) coursework, which satisfies general education areas required for all undergraduate degree programs at all public higher education institutions in the state of Colorado. See the Courses & Degree Requirement Details button for more information.
- Many of these credits may come from the courses you transfer. See the Transfer Credit topic below for details.
- If you need additional coursework to reach 120 credits, see the Taking LAC or Elective Courses Online topic below.
View Courses & Degree Requirement Details
Please review both the Program Overview and Degree Requirements tabs.
Optional Minor
Do you need 18 or more additional credits for graduation besides your Communication Studies and LAC coursework? If so, we recommend adding a minor. A declared minor will give you depth of knowledge in an added topic and will appear on your official transcript. Minors that can be completed online via Extended Campus courses are American Sign Language (ASL), Psychology and Sociology. Your transfer coursework may contribute to these minors or other UNC minors.
Waiver of Liberal Arts Curriculum Requirements
Individuals with an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or a Bachelor’s degree (regardless of date of completion) from a regionally accredited institution will have their Liberal Arts Curriculum requirements waived. See the Undergraduate Catalog for more information about LAC waiver and transfer evaluation policies.
Taking LAC or Elective Courses Online
Some options if you need this additional coursework:
- A wide range of other online courses are available at UNC. See the UNC Course Search – use the “Go to schedule of classes” button (online LAC course availability varies by term).
- You can also search for online (and in-person) courses at any community college, particularly one near you (tuition is often lower for local residents).
Transfer Credit
You are considered a transfer student if you have completed any college-level coursework after you completed high school.
Please visit the Transfer of Credits pages from the UNC Office of the Registrar for information about:
- How many credits can transfer
- Requirements of credits transferred, such as your earned grade and institutional accreditation
- The transfer evaluation process
- Transferology – check your previous coursework in our published course equivalencies. You can do this before you apply to UNC.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Thomas Endres
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking undergraduate students who are enrolled in 9 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Bachelor’s degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 12 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Coordination of Federal Financial Aid
If you start this program while you are still working on your associate degree at another school, you will keep applying for federal financial aid through that school until you finish that degree. If you are enrolled in this UNC degree program and take extra classes at other schools but are not pursuing a degree at those schools, you will apply for federal financial aid through UNC. There may be some rules or limits. Check the consortium information for more details.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
You must meet the current UNC undergraduate admission requirements .
We recommend – but don’t require – that you can either transfer 60 or more college credits or have earned an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree. The more completed coursework you can transfer, the less coursework you will need to complete in this program. The Course of Study section above provides information about the credit requirements for this degree.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
International Student Eligibility
You are eligible to apply: We accept international students to online UNC programs. We can’t guarantee that our programs meet distance education requirements for every country. Before you apply, check your country’s policies and regulations. You should not apply if you live in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions.
No student visa: Students in online UNC programs do not need to come to the United States. You will not get a student visa or receive any immigration documentation. You do not need to provide financial documentation when applying.
You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Visit the Academic Department
On-Campus Delivery Also Available
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Recommended Application Deadlines
For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 60 days before the start of each term:
- Summer term: March 15
- Fall term: June 15
- Spring term: Nov. 15
You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact an Enrollment Counselor for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Program: Communication Studies (B.A.)
- Campus / Site: Distance-Online
- Start term: Fall Term (Aug.), Spring Term (Jan.) or Summer Term (May)
Apply to UNC
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status
Once you submit your application, your Application Checklist will guide you through the application fee, which transcripts to provide, etc.
If you have questions, email extended.campus@unco.edu or meet with an Enrollment Counselor.