Cultivate
Provides opportunities inside and outside the classroom to cultivate and enhance your overall learning and academic experience.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Major milestones are activities Communication Studies Major, B.A. students should complete during their first year, middle years and final year at MSU Denver.
Explore the Communication Studies Major, B.A.
We provide our students contemporary course offerings and flexible degree programs that fit their schedules and meet them where they are. Our faculty come from around the world (and even MSU Denver) and are fully committed to providing diverse and inclusive learning environments. We ensure students are gaining advanced communication, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and analytical skills and strategies they can take into the real world while staying on track for graduation.
CAREER MILESTONES
There are nine essential skills you should have in order to find, acquire, maintain, and grow within a job.
Essential skills build through majoring in Communication Studies include:
- Critical Thinking: Ability to identity and solve problems in personal, professional, and public contexts
- Oral & Written Communication: Apply communication strategies appropriate to purpose, context, technology, and audience
- Global Learning: Cultivate a critical awareness of diverse experiences and viewpoints in order to practice ethical communication
Students graduating from Communication Studies find themselves as:
- Research Analysts (public and private)
- Managers and specialists in various fields (manufacturing, marketing, human resources)
- Law
- Teaching
- Editors, Writers or Authors
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, about 114,300 communication related employment opportunities are projected each year from 2022-2032.
Click here to explore career opportunities by major.
Many students also choose to pursue a graduate degree.
WHAT ARE MAJOR MILESTONES?
Major milestones consist of activities students should complete during their first year, middle years and final year at MSU Denver. These milestones will help prospective and current students explore major and career options and create a year-by-year plan to integrate curricular (what happens inside the classroom), co-curricular (what happens inside and outside the classroom, and non-curricular (what happens outside the classroom) experiences. For example, milestones might list specific classes student should take at specific times along their journey or may suggest when students should participate in research opportunities with faculty members.
Simply put, Major Milestones are meant to enhance your student experience and set you up for success.
MAJOR MILESTONES CATEGORIES
Engage
Highlights activities you can engage and participate in globally, nationally and locally to enhance your essential skills and start building your resume.
Prepare
Lists steps to prepare for postgraduate success whether that's entering the workforce, attending graduate school or pursuing other goals and plans.
HOW TO USE THE MAJOR MILESTONES TOOL
- Scroll to your current year in school.
- Read the steps listed in each category: Cultivate, Engage and Prepare.
- Complete any necessary steps listed.
- Check out further resources by connecting with your academic advisor, the Classroom to Career Hub, and your department faculty.
All options listed below are available in-person and online unless noted otherwise.
ARRIVE - Your First Year at MSU Denver
First Year Milestones
- Join a student organization and get connected to support on campus.
- Declare a major, (explore our fully online programs!) or meet with an exploratory advisor to learn about options.
- Attend signature events on campus (Convocation, Fall Fest, Spring Fling, etc.).
- Check out Career Link for on-campus and career-aligned jobs.
- Attend Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) career workshops and events.
- Write your early experience resume and utilize resume resources from the C2Hub.
- Meet with our faculty advisors to set a plan for success through the major.
- Take Presentational Speaking COMM 1010 or Fundamentals of Oral Communication COMM 1100.
- Learn about events and how to get involved.
- Attend a Lambda Pi Eta Honor club event.
- Visit a Debate team meeting.
- Familiarize yourself with C2Hub and internship policies.
- Take a career assessment with C2Hub Advisors.
- Make note of campus resources.
THRIVE - Your Middle Years at MSU Denver
Middle Years Milestones
- Consider adding a minor or adding a certificate to your chosen major.
- Explore resources like the tutoring program or the writing center.
- Get familiar with MSU Denver’s Academic Planning Tool.
- Explore student leadership on campus and volunteering in your community.
- Earn credit and gain experience through an internship, study abroad, or community-engaged learning.
- Attend identity or interest-based campus events like the Richard T. Castro speaker series.
- Connect with the Undergraduate Research and Scholarship program.
- Attend an in-person Career Fair to network and secure a professional headshot.
- Connect with the Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) for opportunities for professional mentoring and job shadowing.
- Take COMM 2400 and COMM 3100 & other introductory COMM courses.
- Review degree progress report with faculty advisor.
- Add a minor or program certificate.
- Consider an executive position with our honors club, Lambda Pi Eta and attend semester events.
- Join the debate team and/or take the debate class COMM 4130.
- Start conducting informational interviews with potential employers and faculty members to strategize your post-graduation plans.
- Attend career fairs.
SOAR - Your Final Year at MSU Denver
Final Year Milestones
- Meet with your advisor to complete remaining graduation requirements.
- Ready to Graduate? Check out this guide from the registrar!
- Attend or present in-person at a major-specific or industry-specific conference or networking event.
- Attend in-person alumni and campus-wide networking events.
- Submit a proposal to present in-person at the Undergraduate Research Conference.
- Seek to collaborate with local civic organizations.
- Finalize your portfolio of relevant projects and skills.
- Get help on your industry-ready resume, then attend in-person career-focused events.
- Identify needs for Professional Certifications or MCAT/LSAT etc. and prepare for professional school admissions.
- Prepare and submit applications for jobs, explore graduate school, or relevant post-grad training.
- Meet with faculty advisors to ensure graduation requirements are being met.
- Take a senior experience class.
- Apply for graduation.
- Consider working with a faculty member as a teaching assistant (TA) or tutor.
- Help with department service events.
- Consider other elective courses.
- Consider conducting mock interviews or further resume assistance with a faculty member.
- Join the department Linked-In page for job postings.
Roadrunner Roads
Things every student should do at MSU Denver.
Roadrunner Upkeep
- Complete FAFSA/CASFA/COF/Scholarship Applications every year.
- Stay on track for graduation by meeting with your advisor every year and check into the Rowdy Pit Stop every semester.
- Read The Runner in your email every Monday.
Roadrunner Career Readiness
- Find and get hired for jobs during college and beyond by visiting the Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) and utilize C2Hub resources for students.
- To be prepared for any opportunity that comes your way, update your resume early & often.
- Explore options for hands-on learning and explore graduate school & get prepared for both.
- Log in to Career Link each month to stay up to date on programs, events, and job/internship opportunities.
Roadrunner Wellbeing
- Explore wellness and belonging resources from CESA.
- Access mental wellbeing support through the Counseling Center.
- Visit Rowdy’s Corner when you need some food access support.
- Nourish your physical well-being by checking out the Rec Center and checking out Exercise Sciences, including for-credit courses.
- Determine if you need to fill out the Health Insurance Opt-Out Waiver each semester.
Additional College Resources
College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (CLAS) Steps for Success
Major Map
Download the Communication Studies Major, B.A. Map (from CLAS), a print version of this webpage so you can refer to it later.
Academic Program Page
Visit the Communication Studies Major, B.A. Academic Program Page to learn more about this program and all it offers.
Student Success Roadmap
Complete additional steps on the CLAS Student Success Roadmap to round out your MSU Denver experience.
Follow Us
Contact the Department of Communication Studies
Connect with Us
Phone: (303) 615-0400
Email: [email protected]
Campus Location:
Central Classroom
Room 120
Central Classroom Building, Auraria Campus – Google Map