Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies will complete a course of study that consists of 33 hours of COMS courses. A minimum of 120 total hours is required for the degree (including state core and College of Media & Communication core courses). The department recognizes that each student has unique educational objectives and professional goals. Therefore, a flexible and individualized plan of undergraduate study is developed to be compatible with the student's aims. A total of 12 hours toward the major must be completed in residence at Texas Tech. Communication studies is among the most popular and fastest-growing majors at colleges and universities across the country. Its majors are highly sought after by employers in a diverse array of fields because of their excellent oral and written communication skills, entrepreneurial spirit, capacity for critical thinking, collaboration and negotiation abilities, and relational and intercultural competence. Equipping students with such essential and transferable skills uniquely positions graduates to succeed in the rapidly changing, global information landscape of the 21st century. The Department of Communication Studies at Texas Tech is committed to enriching and enhancing all aspects of students lives: personal, professional, and public. Toward that end, it fosters a welcoming, student-centered environment. The Department features an array of award-winning teachers who are passionate, supportive, and inspiring.