UMass Boston

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Communication Minor

Gain the Expertise You Need to Become an Effective Communicator.

UMass Boston’s Communication Minor program equips you with a fundamental skill set to effectively connect with people, convey ideas, and navigate social and professional interactions. You’ll develop your writing, speaking, interpersonal communication, and digital media communication skills. Through a combination of theoretical study and practical applications, this program gives you the tools you need to succeed in a rapidly changing media landscape.

The skills you learn in this program apply to a variety of fields. After finishing, you’ll open the door to career paths like journalism, broadcasting, advertising, public policy, community outreach, and many more.

Expand Your Studies

How to Apply/Declare

Current Undergraduate Students: Complete an Undergraduate Program Add/Change form after meeting the following criteria:

  • Complete courses COMM 100 and 200 with a combined GPA of 2.75 for both courses. COMM 200 must be taken at UMass Boston.

Prospective Undergraduate Students: Apply for admission to UMass Boston by completing an application. Start by reviewing the first-year and transfer application pages for important information about requirements, deadlines, and application status checks. Use the links below to apply: 

Apply as a First-Year Student

Apply as a Transfer Student

Curriculum

Introductory Communication Courses (6 Credits)

  • COMM 100 - Introduction to Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 200 - New Media Society 3 Credit(s)

Communication Electives (9 Credits)

Complete three courses from the list below.

  • COMM 215L - Gender & Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 220 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 240 - Organizational communication 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 250 - Analyzing Media 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 255 - Visual Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 260 - Psychological Effects of Mass Media 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 270 - Introduction to Strategic Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 280 - Special Topics 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 300 - Information Technology and Human Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 305 - Communication in Diverse Organizations 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 310L - Love, Sex, and Media Effects 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 315 - New Media, Identity & Self 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 320 - Social Influence and Compliance Gaining 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 325 - Relational Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 330 - Health Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 335 - Lying & Deception 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 340 - Communication and Community Mobilization 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 345 - Environmental Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 350 - Political Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 370 - Advertising/PR Campaign Planning 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 372 - Social Media and Strategic Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • COMM 380 - Special Topics 3 Credit(s)

Outside Elective (3 Credits)

Complete one course from the list below.

  • AMST 215L - America on Film 3 Credit(s)
  • AMST 235 - The Social History of Popular Music 3 Credit(s)
  • AMST 310 - Television in American Life 3 Credit(s)
  • AMST 335 - Music And Politics 3 Credit(s)
  • AMST 355L - Black Popular Culture 3 Credit(s)
  • AMST 375 - Best Sellers in American Society 3 Credit(s)
  • AMST 410 - Cultural History of U.S. Media 3 Credit(s)
  • AMST 430 - Music & Amer Lit 3 Credit(s)
  • ART 295L - Introduction to Video 4 Credit(s)
  • ART 297 - Introduction to Digital Media Art 4 Credit(s)
  • ART 395L - Video Workshop 4 Credit(s)
  • ENGL 203 - Writing Craft/Context/Design 3 Credit(s)
  • ENGL 216 - Reading and Writing Journalism 3 Credit(s)
  • ENGL 306 - Advanced Nonfiction Writing 3 Credit(s)
  • ENGL 307 - Journalism and Media Writing 3 Credit(s)
  • ENGL 308 - Professional Editing 3 Credit(s)
  • ENGL 309 - Multimedia Authoring 3 Credit(s)
  • ENGL 312 - Digital Culture and Composition 3 Credit(s)
  • ENGL 340 - Literature and Visual Media 3 Credit(s)
  • ENGL 341L - Gender and Film: Multidisciplinary Perspectives 3 Credit(s)
  • MKT 301 - Principles of Marketing 3 Credit(s)
  • MKT 403 - Integrated Marketing Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • MKT 430 - International Marketing 3 Credit(s)
  • MKT 479 - Digital Marketing 3 Credit(s)
  • POLSCI 330 - Presidential Elections (A) 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 230 - Social Psychology 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 234 - Psychology of Cross-cultural Relations 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 333 - Group Dynamics 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 335 - Social Attitudes and Public Opinion 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 337 - Communication and Society 3 Credit(s)
  • SOCIOL 300 - Sociology of Media and Communication 3 Credit(s)
  • SOCIOL 364 - Internet, Society, and Cyber Crime 3 Credit(s)
  • SOCIOL 375L - Indian Cinema 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 220 - Women and the Media 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 325L - Sexual Identities in American Culture 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 341L - Gender and Film: Multidisciplinary Perspectives 3 Credit(s)
  • WGS 394L - Radical Voices of Resistance: Gender, Race and US Social Movements 3 Credit(s)

Completion Requirements

Complete at least 18 credits from six courses, including two required introductory communication courses, three communication electives, and one outside elective.

GPA: A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required for COMM 100 and 200.
Pass/fail: Only one course taken pass/fail outside of COMM 100 and 200 may be applied toward the minor.
Residency: At least four courses, including COMM 200, must be completed at UMass Boston.
Course level: At least two courses for the minor must be at the 300-level or above.

Contact

Lin (Julie) Zhu, PhD, Department Chair    
Wheatley Hall, 6th Floor, Room 81
617.287.6784
Lin.Zhu [@] umb.edu

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Communication

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Next Steps

Declare or Change Your Minor Request Info About UMass Boston Undergraduate Admissions