Communication Associate of Arts

My Academic Plan

Courses are displayed to show the fastest path to your degree and should be completed in the order listed. If you are unable to complete all courses listed in a semester, complete as many courses in this sequence as your schedule allows. If you have questions or concerns about your MAP, please see your Pathways Advisor.

Program Description

This program is designed for students wanting to earn an Associate of Arts degree (AA) by completing their first two years at a community college, and who plan to transfer to a university to complete the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication. However, it should be noted that some students also transition directly and successfully into the workforce with their Communication AA. The field of Communication Studies, including all of the COM courses offered at our institution, explores a range of human communication contexts from public speaking, to interpersonal conversation, to work groups and teams, to co-cultures, to the media, to communication with ourselves, and many others. This program introduces students to the study and application of Communication, and includes courses that are common to four-year institutions in Colorado. Career paths for Communication degree holders include law, politics, teaching, business/non-profit, advertising, marketing, journalism, communication/social media directors, public relations, sales, and others.

Students intending to transfer to Colorado State University-Ft. Collins as a Communication Studies major should contact an advisor immediately. Students intending to transfer to other public universities in Colorado should follow the MAP below. 

Learn more about this program

First Semester

COM 1150	Public Speaking	3
ENG 1021	English Composition I: GT-CO1	3
GT- AH	Any Arts & Humanities (GT-AH) Course	3
ELECTIVE	Any Approved Elective List Course	3
GT- MA1	Math for Liberal Arts (MAT 1240) or Any GT-MA1	3
Total Credit Hours:		15

Second Semester

COM 1250	Interpersonal Communication: GT-SS3	3
ENG 1022	English Composition II: GT-CO2	3
GT- SS	Any Social Sciences (GT-SS) Course	3
ELECTIVE	Any Approved Elective List Course	3
GT- HI1	Any History (GT-HI1) Course	3
Total Credit Hours:		15

Third Semester

COM 2300	Intercultural Communication: GT-SS3	3
COM 2220	Group Communication: GT-SS3	3
GT- SC1	Any Science (GT-SC1) Course	4
GT- AH	Any Arts & Humanities (GT-AH) Course	3
ELECTIVE	Any Approved Elective List Course	3
Total Credit Hours:		16

Note:  COM 2220 has limited offerings, so students are encouraged to take it as soon as they can. If a student cannot fit this course into their schedule during Semester 3, they should fulfill the required COM Elective and then prioritize taking COM 2220 in Semester 4.

Fourth Semester

GT- SC1/2	Any Science (GT-SC1/2) Course	3
REQUIRED	Any Additional COM Course	3
REQUIRED	Any GT-SS or Any GT-HI1 Course	3
REQUIRED	Any GT-SS or Any GT-HI1 Course	3
ELECTIVE	Any Approved Elective List Course	2
Total Credit Hours:		14

Note:  Please talk to an Advisor if you have questions regarding which COM Elective to take.

Total Credit Hours: 60

Important Program Notes:

Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), you may complete ENG 1021 (GT-CO1) and ENG 1022 (GT-CO2) OR ENG 1022 (GT-CO2) and a gtPathways-approved CO3 course (GT-CO3).

Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), additional COM courses beyond COM 1150, COM 1250, and COM 2220, and any additional COM courses identified in the Additional Required Courses section of the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement, may not count toward the Communication major at the receiving 4-year institution. See explanation in Limitations section of the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement.

You must take COM 2220 in either Semester 3 or Semester 4. COM 2220 is offered at Westminster Campus in fall semester and is offered at Boulder County Campus and Larimer Campus in spring semester. If you are unable to take COM 2220 in Semester 3, you should fulfill your COM Elective by taking COM 2250 or COM 1300 or COM 2270 or COM 2400 or COM 2200, depending on campus offerings and prioritize to take COM 2220 later.

Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), you must take two gtPathways Natural & Physical Science courses (GT -SC1, GT-SC2). One of these courses must have the required laboratory (GT-SC1).

If you take more credits in mathematics and science than are listed, it will reduce the 11 credits of electives needed. 

You must complete a minimum of 60 credits to complete this degree. If receiving financial aid, you should only take courses and credits as required for this degree. Check with your advisor to monitor your completion progress.