Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Information Sciences in

Communication Studies

Online

Program Overview

UA’s online Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Information Sciences (BACIS) with a major in Communication Studies equips you with the critical skills necessary to evaluate social issues, express opinions and assume positions of responsible leadership in a democratic society.

Online Program Format

120 Credit Hours

$399 Tuition Per Hour

Connect With Others Through Effective Communication

Cooperation, negotiation and mutual understanding are the cornerstones of successful relationships at work, in the family and among our communities. Students in the online Communication Studies bachelor’s program learn the theoretical foundations, speaking skills, and critical thinking & research tools for the study and application of human communication in its many forms across social and cultural contexts.

Application Deadline	Applications accepted year round
Are test scores required?	ACT and SAT scores are not required through the Fall 2026 entry term
Scholarships and Grants Available	Discover a range of scholarships and grants to support your educational journey

Curriculum

The Communication Studies major consists of 120 credit hours.

Please note that courses are subject to change.

Required Core Courses (47-49 hours)

6 hours of freshman composition (satisfied by EN 101 and EN 102)
3 hours of math
6 hours of history sequence
6 hours of social and behavioral sciences courses
3 hours of fine arts
3 hours of literature
6 hours of humanities courses
8 hours of natural sciences
6-8 hours of foreign language or computer science

Foundation Course (3 hours)

COM 100 Rhetoric and Society
COM 101 Principles of Human Communication

Oral Performance Foundation (3 hours)

COM 123 Public Speaking

Additional Oral Performance Requirement (3 hours)

COM 323 Advanced Public Speaking

Methods and Analysis (3 hours)

COM 300 Human Communication Research

Capstone Course (3 hours)

COM 499 Capstone Seminar

Electives (21 hours)

At least 12 hours at 300–400 level and at least 3 hours of Writing credit.

COM 220 Interpersonal Communication
COM 250 Nonverbal Communication
COM 270 Discourse of Sport
COM 350 Organizational Communication
COM 352 Business and Professional Communication
COM 463 Relational Communication
COM 465 Intercultural Communication

Minor Requirement

All students must complete a minor in addition to their major requirements, and students commonly select Advertising and Public Relations.

Admission

To apply for formal admission to any of the undergraduate degree programs offered through UA Online, you must complete an admissions application and submit transcripts from all colleges previously attended (and a high school transcript if you have less than 24 semester hours of college coursework). Transfer students considering admission should review UA’s transfer information and policies.

Applicants must meet one of the following admission requirements:

If you have earned more than 24 college-level credit hours at the time of your application to the University, you will need to meet the transfer student admission requirement of a minimum 2.0 overall college GPA.

If you have earned less than 24 college-level credit hours at the time of your application to the University, you will need to meet both the 2.0 overall college GPA required for transfer students, as well as admission requirements for freshmen students.

Find more information and learn about restrictions related to this degree program that may exist regarding licensure in the state in which you reside.

Student Spotlight

Inspiring stories of success from students and alumni.

Take a look at some of our UA Online stories.

See All Stories

Dawn Stephens

Devoted Mother

When Dawn Stephens determined it was time to finish her bachelor’s degree, she chose UA Online’s New College LifeTrack.
Read More : Devoted Mother to Full-Time Special Ed Teacher | BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
Captain Ryan Jacobs

This Turtle Soars

A dedicated member of the United States Air Force who excels with honors wherever he lands.
Read More : This Turtle Soars | MS in Marketing Analytics
Megan Brannan-Pierce

Q&A with Megan

We caught up with her to learn more about the exciting transformation of her career since graduation.
Read More : Q&A with Megan Brannan-Pierce | MA in Special Education – Gifted
William Jones

Hunger and Heart

UA Online student William Jones built a bridge from his Master of Science degree to pursue Higher Education Administration.
Read More : Hunger and Heart | Redefining Leadership Through Education | Executive EdD in Higher Education Administration
Janet Williams

Building Her Best Legacy

Janet Williams knew she could be an even better teacher to her fourth grade students.
Read More : Building Her Best Legacy | EdS in Elementary Education
Savannah Fisher

Mastering Her Next Move

When Savannah Fisher was a busy undergraduate, she knew she’d soon be pursuing an MA in Elementary Education.
Read More : Mastering Her Next Move | MA in Elementary Education
Noel Taylor

Pursuing Excellence

He embraced the academic rigor of his courses along with the camaraderie and companionship.
Read More : Pursuing Excellence and Carrying It Forward | EdS in Educational Leadership
McKinsey Poole Threlkeld

Defining Her Passion

McKinsey thought she was supposed to be a middle school classroom teacher, but the COVID-19 pandemic gave her the space to take a step back.
Read More : Defining Her Passion, Delivering Compassion | MA in Higher Education Administration
Matthew and Madison Barrett

Meet the Barretts

Matthew and Madison Barrett share their experiences as they balanced work, life and the pursuit of their graduate degrees with UA Online.
Read More : Meet the Barretts: A Shared Journey of Success at UA Online