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Communication Studies – Interpersonal and Family Communication – Bachelor’s Degree Program (BA)

Earn your Communication Studies - Interpersonal and Family Communication Bachelor’s Degree from University of Montana

Earn your degree in Communication Studies with a concentration in Interpersonal and Family Communication at UM and walk away with a solid ability to communicate with others — at home, on the job and in the field. Our program offers flexible remote learning opportunities and extensive hands-on engagement.

The Interpersonal and Family Communication program prepares students in dyadic communication — communication between two people. You’ll focus on close, personal relationships like friendships, family relationships, romantic relationships and more general interpersonal interactions. As a Communication Studies major, you’ll also gain an understanding of how we create and make sense of messages shared in relationships with one another — and be able to apply these principles in any context, from teaching, management, social work to athletic training.

Add internships, hands-on service learning, research and study abroad opportunities, and you’ll dramatically increase your odds of having strong connections that boost your career and improve your life.

Interpersonal and Family Communication FAQs

  • It focuses on communication in close personal relationships — friendships, family dynamics, romantic partnerships, and general interpersonal interaction. Students learn how messages are created and interpreted in these contexts, and how to apply those principles in careers from teaching to management to social work.

  • Graduates pursue careers in human resources, counseling support roles, education, nonprofit management, healthcare communication, social services, and organizational leadership — drawing on their interpersonal communication expertise.

  • UM estimates average salaries for its Communication Studies graduates at $68,946 annually. Public relations specialists earn an average of $62,810 (source: Bureau of Labor Statistics); human resource managers average $121,220.

  • Yes. Communication Studies students at UM participate in internships (approximately 30 per year), service learning, community research projects, and study abroad programs. The department also sponsors a chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the national communication honor society.

  • Yes. UM offers an M.A. in Communication Studies, and recent graduates have been admitted to Ph.D. programs at universities including Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, and Texas.

Jump To

30

Many communication studies courses are limited to 30 or fewer students

$69K

estimated salary of alumni from the communication studies degree at UM

62%

of UM communication studies graduates are working in a field related to their major

Other Communication Degree Options at UM

What Can You Do With a Communication Studies Degree?

The world is your playing field as a Communication Studies graduates. In fact, a recent report from LinkedIn named Communication Studies one of the 10 most versatile college majors.

Graduates of our Communication Studies program often apply to social work and counseling graduate programs to further their knowledge. Business is also on their radar as they’re skilled at creating connections with individuals and groups. Case in point: one graduate built a woman’s empowerment organization called Inner Enso in Washington; another built a very successful mushroom farm here in Missoula called Mother Fungi. Others are owners of thriving businesses in town.

Why Employers Choose UM Communication Studies Graduates

When you earn your bachelor’s in Communication Studies at UM, your resume is likely to go to the top of the pile for good reason: You have two of the top skills employers seek in new hires — excellent written and spoken communication skills. You’ll also have a good sense of what’s appropriate and effective in communicating with others in one-on-one interactions. That can go a long way in securing and retaining a job.

Communications Jobs

Potential careers for Communication Studies graduates include:

  • Communication specialist
  • Business owner
  • Public relations officer
  • Writer or editor
  • Sales representative
  • Marketing analyst
  • Human resources or personnel manager

Communications Salaries

What can you look forward to, financially speaking? Salaries for Communication Studies graduates vary widely depending on your field and level of experience. Public relations specialists, for example, earn an average of $62,810 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For human resource managers, the average salary is $121,220.

We estimate that graduates of our bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies earn an average of $68,946 annually.

Experiential Learning in the Communication Studies Program

It’s only natural that hands-on experience would play a big part in a program that focuses on one-on-one interaction. With internships, community service learning and study abroad opportunities under your belt, you’ll be very well versed in real-world communication and human relationships.

Internships and Service Learning in the Communication Studies Program

Every semester and each summer, our internship program takes students beyond the four walls of the classroom. Students engage their knowledge in the community and within local organizations. Some have taken on internships in their Greek houses, with Flagship (our local after-school program), and with many other local nonprofit social service organizations.

Many of our Communication Studies courses also feature service learning components. Our Research Methods course, for example, collaborates with the Humane Society of Western Montana to connect their key messages with community stakeholders. We also offer the opportunity for advanced students to work with faculty on research projects in gathering and analyzing social science data. 

Study Abroad Opportunities for Communication Studies Students

Our study abroad opportunities challenge students to use their communication and human relationship skills around the globe. For instance, students have traveled to central Europe to study human communication and resilience. Learn more about study abroad opportunities at UM.

Career Development in the Communication Studies Program

At UM, we go beyond helping you succeed in your academic coursework: We make sure you hit the ground running in your career once you graduate.

No other Communication Studies program gives students the benefit of working with faculty who are so well grounded in the immediate community — with service learning and research partnerships a common occurrence — and so involved in shaping the discipline of communication studies through high-profile research, publications and leadership in academic associations. Throughout your time with us, our faculty will serve as mentors, providing direction from real-world experience.

Clubs and Student Organizations for Communication Studies Majors

Student organizations offer the chance to build your professional network and make new friends. Opportunities for majors in communication studies include:

Communication Studies Degree Requirements

A concentration in Interpersonal and Family Communication promises a robust mix of courses that speaks to both the written and spoken word. Our Nonverbal Communication class, for example, uncovers the fascinating world of communication outside of words. In Relationships and the Brain, you’ll learn how different structures and processes of the brain are directly involved in communication behaviors.

Visit classes for bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal and Family Communication majors.