Program Overview

The University of New Mexico offers an online Bachelor’s Degree completion program in Communication with a concentration in Interpersonal Communication. The study of Interpersonal Communication will help prepare students to enter more specialized academic pathways or careers, including diversity consulting, fundraising, motivational speaking, event management, and career recruitment.

  • Possible Careers
    • Education, politics, law, government
    • Human resources, labor relations
    • Sales management, consulting
    • Mediation, conflict management
    • Publishing, broadcasting, advertising, public relations, business (general)

Learning Goals

In your online coursework, we will examine a variety of interpersonal communication concepts, with special emphasis on the application of communication skills in different situations. As you advance in your coursework, you will delve into advanced analysis of theories and research on communication processes, relational development, and conflict resolution. 

Admissions

Tuition and Fees

Regular UNM tuition and fees apply

Admissions Requirements

The Interpersonal Communication Bachelor’s Degree offers all of the courses associated with the major requirements needed to complete the BA in an online format. To qualify for admission to the program, students must have already completed a majority of the UNM General Education requirements, as well as college and minor requirements.

The College of Arts and Sciences requires a minimum of 90 credit hours taught within its departments. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences must declare a major and a minor, or two majors, or a special curriculum approved by the College. Half of the major must be completed at the University of New Mexico. A quarter of the minor must be completed at the University of New Mexico.

Once admitted all students seeking to declare a major within the College of Arts and Sciences will first be admitted as a Pre-major.  Pre-major status applies to students who must satisfy prerequisites or meet department conditions before transitioning to Major status. The following are the general requirements to transition:

  • A minimum of 26 credit hours; 23 credit hours must be in courses acceptable toward graduation
  • A UNM GPA of 2.0 or better
  • Demonstrated academic achievement by satisfying the following University General Education areas:
    • Completion of Writing and Speaking
    • Completion of Mathematics
    • Completion of Foreign Language
  • Completion of introductory coursework specified by each department. See the department section of the catalog for details.

For additional degree and program requirements for the BA in Interpersonal Communication, please refer to the UNM Catalog.

Degree Requirements

To graduate with a BA degree in Interpersonal Communications, a student must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. UNM requires 31 credit hours distributed between seven areas to complete the UNM General Education requirements.  The university also requires completion of a 3 credit hour U.S. and Global Diversity and Inclusion requirement. Students may transfer coursework from other accredited institutions to fulfill these requirements.

The major requirements for completing the program total 18 credit hours. Below is a list of all of the required courses and the planned offerings.

Core Requirements for Communication Majors

  • COMM 1115 - Introduction to Communication (formally CJ 101)
  • CJ 300 - Theories of Communication (Comm 1115 is prerequisite)
  • CJ 301 - Communication Research Methods (Comm 1115 is prerequisite)
  • CJ 332 - Business & Professional Speaking
    or CJ 333 - Professional Communication
  • CJ 400 - Senior Seminar: Perspectives in Communication (CJ 300, CJ 301 and CJ 332 or 333 are prerequisites )

Coursework for Interpersonal Communications Concentration

(Must take starred (*) course and any two others in the sequence.)

  • COMM *2120 - Interpersonal Communication (formerly CJ 221)
  • CJ 318 - Language, Thought, and Behavior
  • CJ 320 - Mediation
  • CJ 323 - Nonverbal Communication
  • CJ 344 - Interviewing
  • CJ 421 - Communication and Relationships 

At a Glance

Major Requirements: 36 Credit Hours*

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Tuition: Regular tuition and fees apply

*To complete degree requirements for the major, students must complete additional general education and college requirements (see Degree Requirements tab for more information)

Contact

Website: Communication & Journalism
Phone: (505) 277-5305
Email: cjadvise@unm.edu