Bachelor of Science in Communications

2.7 Minimum GPA

Note: CAPS is designed for students with adult responsibilities who may require part-time and flexible course schedules. Current high school students and recent graduates seeking a traditional WashU college experience should apply through the undergraduate admissions office: admissions.wustl.edu.

Below is a list of requirements for an application to the undergraduate degree in Communications. Applications will be reviewed once all requirements are received.

Application Deadlines

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis and typically take four to six weeks. An application is incomplete and will not be reviewed until all of the application requirements have been received or processed. Applicants are encouraged to submit all materials by the following dates:

• Summer 2023: April 30, 2023
• Fall 2023: July 31, 2023
• Spring 2024: Dec. 31, 2023

Completed Application Form

The online application is available on our Apply page. Applications are ready for review when all fields on the application form are completed and the required documents have been received.

Transcripts

Official (issued directly from the college or WashU) or unofficial (student-issued) copies of transcripts from the three most recent years of college-level work. If you have fewer than six units of transferable credit or CAPS course work, then proof of high school completion, General Educational Development (GED) or High School Equivalency (HSE) must be submitted. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the registrar to the WashU School of Continuing & Professional Studies. Electronic transcripts should be forwarded to washucaps@wustl.edu. For transcript questions, please contact our Admissions Coordinator, Patricia Agnew, at paagnew@wustl.edu.

Non-United States course work transcript verification
If the transcript you submit for consideration is from a college or university outside the United States, a course by course transcript evaluation is also required. Evaluations will be accepted from World Education Services (WES), Spantran or another member institution of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). For Spantran evaluations, you must use this form. 

Personal Essay

Tell us about yourself in a brief essay (about 250 words). Why are you applying to WashU School of Continuing & Professional Studies? What are your goals, both academic and professional? Is there additional information we should know about you when considering your application?

REQUIRED CORE COURSES: 18 UNITS

All WashU School of Continuing & Professional Studies undergraduate students must satisfy the same general-education requirements. Requirements specific to the BS in Communications include:

• Foundations of Communications (U48 234)
• Market Research and Communications Strategies (U48 305)
• Communications Technology and New Media (U48 378)
• The Business of Communications (U48 381)
• Communications Ethics and the Law (U48 4160)
• Digital Communication Analytics (U48 385)

INTERNSHIP OR CAPSTONE: 3 UNITS

• An Internship in Communications OR
• Integrated Studies Capstone: A&S Professional Track (U56 352)

Note: Students in Communications should fulfill their upper-level writing distribution requirement with either Writing for Public Speaking (U11 324) or Argumentation (U11 3120).

CONCENTRATION: 13-15 UNITS

Students complete their degree with one of the following concentrations:

Integrated Marketing Communications (13 units)
Integrated Marketing Communication focuses on the coordination and integration of all aspects of marketing communications such as advertising, public relations, promotion, direct marketing and social media to build awareness and reinforce a brand’s core image.

• Marketing Concepts (U44 270)
• Integrated Strategic Communications (U48 262)
• Social Media for Public Relations (U48 3090)
• Public Relations Principles and Practices (U48 350)
• Strategic Planning (U44 364)

Public Relations (13 units)
Public Relations considers the theoretical and practical applications of communications with various publics, including the news media, employees, consumers, the community, shareholders and the government.

• Public Relations Principles and Practices (U48 350)
• Crisis Communications (U48 372)
• Writing for Business Communication (U48 203) or Effective Editing (U48 3451)
• Social Media for Public Relations (U48 3090)
• Strategic Planning (U44 364)

Applied Media Practice (13 units)

Applied Media Practice centers on the technical skills and knowledge needed to effectively work in within a variety of digital media and technology platforms.

• Website Design and Development (U48 218)
• Advanced Website Development (U48 318)
• Making the Cut: Editing Digital Video (U49 308) or Shoot, Cut and Upload: Create Media Like a Pro (U49 346)
• Photojournalism (U49 330) or Audio Storytelling: From Podcasts to Newscasts (U49 327)
• Social Media for Public Relations (U48 3090)

Professional Writing (15 units)

Professional Writing provides the skills to write effectively, in both print and digital formats, at a professional level to address the communication challenges found in business, nonprofit and governmental organizations.

• Introduction to Journalism: Research to Writing (U48 211)
• Effective Editing (U49 345)
• Technical Writing (U11 331) or Grantwriting (U76 470)
• Two upper-level writing electives from English Composition or Journalism