With a CU Denver BA in Communication, you could become a social media maverick, a PR powerhouse, a captivating storyteller, or anything in-between. We're here to hone your skills, with a degree tailored to the blueprint of the future you want. We don't churn out cookie-cutter graduates; we sculpt communicators who shape the world.
We get it—this is a pivotal moment in your life, and we’re committed to making your college experience extraordinary. When you’re working toward your BA in Communication, our exceptional faculty are your copilots who celebrate your unique successes as much as they challenge you to rise to your academic best.
And let’s talk tech—because we know that communication isn’t static. Communication is an innately human endeavor and as such, it's always changing. We know you don’t just want to keep up; you want to set the pace. We're right there with you. Our curriculum evolves with the industry, and we see the digital realm as an opportunity, not an obstacle.
Here, inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s our foundation. Your background and your identity are the assets you bring to your classes and community. We are a vibrant community filled with energy, ideas, and passionate mentors who cultivate your voice.
Are you a transfer student? You can have your transcripts evaluated to see which credits will be accepted. Additionally many of the community colleges have tranfer agreements with us. See your advisor for more. Learn more about transferring credt under Application process (below).
And we know graduation isn’t the finish line; it’s your launchpad. Our alumni? They’re in boardrooms, fashioning social media trends, and reporting live from news desks and studios around the country—and so much more.
Media Learning Lab
Are you interested in learning about tech related to Communication? The Media Learning Lab allows you to check out both tools and software including cameras, lighting, screens, audio equipment, and the Adobe Creative Suite. Learn more
Our program's comprehensive curriculum blends theory with hands-on practice, ensuring our graduates are versatile and job ready. Connect with professionals, alumni, and industry leaders for networking opportunities in our classes, internships, and events.
Internships: Kick-start your career at the same time you earn your degree by taking advantage of an internship tailored to your interests and goals. Build your network, gain real-world experience, and earn credit—all while creating meaningful contributions.
Flexible Learning: Choose your pace! Dive into traditional semester-long classes or accelerate your studies in our 8 or 16 week-long courses, online, on campus, or in a hybrid format.
Global Perspectives: Enrich your worldview and explore the world with our study abroad programs in Spain, the Dominican Republic, or a longer stay with our sister institution, the International College Beijing in China.
Faculty Excellence: Our award-winning faculty bring industry expertise and leading-edge research to the classroom. They’re not just educators; they’re mentors invested in your success.
Alumni Highlight
Samantha Mesa graduated in 2013 and has gone on to become a primetime anchor at the ABC affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa where she cohost's "We are Iowa" and Midday. She also fills in on evening primetime shows and enterprising special reports. She says her time at CU Denver, "Profoundly affected my growing passion to pursue finding solutions to our worlds pressing issues through research and dialogue."
Careers
Careers for a communications major are flourishing. Right now, the world is actively seeking people who have the power to connect with an alchemy of words, to adapt in a variety of communication channels.
Some position titles of recent Undergraduates in Communication
- Anchor and Reporter
- Associate Account Manager
- Blog Writer
- Channel Communications Coordinator
- Data Management Intern
- Digital Marketing Manager
- Editor-in-Chief
- New Media Editor Assistant
- Platoon Sergeant
- Social Media Ambassador
- Social Media Analyst
- Talent Acquisition Specialist
Companies
Some of our BA Communication alumni have gone on to work at
- Bayard Public Relations
- Bloom Marketing
- Children's Hospital Office of Public Relations
- Crispin Porter + Bogusky
- Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver
- Level 5 Marketing
- Linhart Public Relations
- Metzger Associates
- Ogilvy Public Relations
- The Integer Group
- Turner Public Relations
- Yelp
Take a semester or two at the International College in Beijing
Enrich your worldview and explore the world with our study abroad programs in Spain, the Dominican Republic, or a longer stay with our sister institution, the International College Beijing in China.
Curriculum
With our unique core curriculum, you can choose your own adventure or take a more guided path in one of our six most popular routes: Media & Cultural Studies, Strategic Communication, Community Service & Public Affairs, Global & Intercultural Communication, Health Communication, Inquiry & Analysis.
Majoring in Communication: 39 hours
You’ll learn indispensable lifelong skills like forging connections using only words and images, adapting to a variety of media platforms, critical thinking and more. Course topics include:
- Communication and Communities
- Health Communication
- Desiging Health Messages
- Professional Presentations
- Global Communication
- Media Studies
- Communication, Citizenship, and Social Justice
- Researching & Writing in Comm
- Intercultural Communication
Add Certificates to your Bachelors Degree
You may use your courses as credit towards your BA in Communication and also earn one of the certificates we offer. You can earn certificates in:
- Global and Intercultural Communication
- Health Communication
- Mediation
- Strategic Communication
- Digital Studies
See the Extend your Degree tab below for explanations of each area.
Exit course
You will take an exit course which will give you a path toward a career or towards graduate school. Options include:
- Advanced Strategic Communication
- Internship in Communication
- Thesis or Project
- Global or Travel Studies
- Senior Seminar course such as Transitioning from College to Career, or Queer Media Studies
Our graduates move mountains. Whether it’s in an internship, a study abroad, or in a postgraduate work; we take pride in what our alumni create in the world.
CU Denver Core: 34-40 Hours
You’ll be educated in:
- English and Mathematics
- International and Cultural Diversity Perspectives
- Arts and Humanities
- Behavioral, Physical, and Social Sciences
College of Liberal Arts and Science Core—15 Hours
These courses give you a better understanding of the issues and skills you need to succeed.
Topics include:
- Logic, Language, and Scientific Reasoning
- Psychology
- Writing for the Sciences
- Public Health
Electives and/or foreign language proficiency
You may also need to take coursework in a foreign language offered through Modern Languages. Talk to your advisor for details, especially if you’ve taken foreign language courses or have experience in a foreign language in your past.
Internships
Student Spotlight - Work from Exit Courses
Derek D. Bowers pinpoints the 2016 election as an event that motivated his career path and senior thesis project. This election “was actually the first election I was ever able to vote in,” he explains, and it “compelled me to seek a career in politics and social justice.”
This passion led Bowers to produce a thesis that explored the Russian social media disinformation campaigns during the 2016 Presidential campaign through an analysis of disinformation targeted toward two audiences: African-American voters and right-leaning voters. Bowers tracked social media campaigns rife with divisive misinformation aimed toward influencing each group.
Bowers says, “Writing this thesis has been one of the most daunting yet fun experiences of my life. I have learned an incredible amount and feel that I am well-prepared for graduate and professional-level writing.”
He explains, “Communication touches every aspect of our daily lives. From the communication practices of the IRA to the way we interact with each other on social media, communication is helping to shape every interaction we have. It has far-reaching impacts as well, from how we communicate to those closest to us to how we make a decision of whom to vote for.”
You can seamlessly integrate an internship aligned with your interests and career goals into your university journey. Build your practical skills and grow your professional network with a community partner of your choice—all while earning academic credit.
Here are a few examples of some of the associations, positions, and fields with whom we've collaborated recently:
- Youth on Record—Podcast, Non-profit
- Colorado School District—Multimedia and Public Relations, K-12 Education
- Colorado Clinical and Translational Science Institute—Marketing Communications, Health and Health Research
- Art from Ashes—Social Media Management, Non-Profit in the Visual Arts
- Comcast NBC Universal—Project Management, Movies, TV, and Music
- Aurora and Denver Police Departments—Law Enforcement
- Colorado Sierra Club—Storyteller, Environmental Protection
- Regional Transportation District (RTD)—Communication, Transportation and Logistics
- New Era Colorado—Grassroots Organizing, Politics and Policy
- Live Nation Entertainment—Marketing, Movies, TV, Music, and Live Events
- Apple—Operations Analysis, Electronic and Computer Hardware
- S & P Global—Marketing and Sales, Financial Services
- Denver Mayor’s Office—Communication, Government
- 303 Magazine—Fashion Editorials, Journalism, Media, and Publishing
- Disney ABC—Network Ad Sales, Corporation & Entertainment
- Music Mecca—Music Journalism, Music and Publishing
- Edelman—Public Relations, Advertising, PR, and Marketing
- Amazon—Marketing, Internet and Software
- Nordstrom—Retail Management, Retail Stores
- Mortenson Construction and Real Estate Development—Strategic Communication, Construction
- Colorado Eagles—Media, Sports
- NextGen Technologies—Business Development/Government Contracts, IT and Business
- Colorado Department of Corrections—Democratic Communication Workshop Lead, Government
Real World Experience through Exit Courses
Senior Seminar: Transitioning from College to Career – Ready to graduate? By the end of this class, you’ll have created your own credential portfolio, including a polished cover letter to a prospective employer, an updated resume reviewed by the CU Denver Career Center, a list of 3 professional references, an updated online portfolio (public or private), and a minimum of two samples of your academic work.
Senior Thesis or Project: Do you want to do a deep dive into a specific topic or research interest? Interested in what graduate-level work may feel like? This is the (exit) course for you. You choose the subject, and our faculty will guide you to explore fresh communication research questions, methods, or conversations, advancing your intellectual expedition.
Inclusion is our value
CU Denver is home to one of the most diverse student populations in Colorado.
- Join your choice of 100+ student groups and organizations which support your identity and interests
- Your department and faculty are committed to the pursuit of equity and inclusion in the classroom, lab, and beyond
- Learn more at our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Find your people
Campus can feel like a huge place. We help you find your people by offering the experience of a more traditional, small liberal arts program—for a fraction of the cost. We offer a variety of clubs and networking opportunities.
- Lambda Pi Eta Communications Honor Society
- CU Denver’s Honors Program
- Study Abroad in one of our department’s programs
- Our Communication Department Events like Communication Days or Comm Award Ceremonies
- The Communications Media lab
See your future
I’ve always seen education as my way out of struggle and poverty, so I took choosing my college very seriously. My high school counselor took me to tour colleges, and I remember CU Denver felt like home - it’s the heart of the city. The big, brand new, modern, pretty buildings and opportunities for internships spoke to me.
During my COMM 2020 class, I was like, “Yep, this is it. I’m supposed to be a Comm major. This is what speaks to my soul. These are my people. I don’t know if there’s anywhere else in the university like that.” Your Communication Degree will always apply in your life in any capacity. It’s not just going to feed into your life professionally, but personally as well.
-Anya Dickson-Arguello, Digital Equity Program Manager for The Denver Mayor's Office of Social Equity & Innovation, BA in Communication, Graduated in 2019