University of Texas Officials Launch 'Communications And Leadership' Degree

AUSTIN, TX -- The University of Texas at Austin Moody College of Communication has created a new bachelor’s degree in communication and leadership aimed at preparing students for careers in public service, philanthropy, nonprofit and nongovernmental organization administration, officials announced Thursday.

Students will be eligible to enroll in the communication and leadership degree starting in the fall 2016 semester, university officials added.
“As a former senior official in the federal government, I know firsthand that communication training and interdisciplinary perspectives are essential to developing leadership skills and the ability to address complex social problems,” Jay Bernhardt, dean of the Moody College of Communication, said in a prepared statement. “Our new communication and leadership degree will provide students with the practical, theoretical and ethical frameworks needed to serve as leaders in civic advocacy and public service sectors — ultimately enabling them to make a range of meaningful social contributions.”
Communication and Leadership curriculum will be interdisciplinary, with students taking courses from various departments within the Moody College, he added.The curriculum focuses on theories and practices of ethical leadership; communication foundations skill and expertise; interdisciplinary understanding of social challenges and communication strategies; and experience in promoting social change through philanthropy, according to a description of the discipline offered by university officials.

The degree plan also will include an internship experience and a capstone project-based course, officials added.
“Leadership requires more than what any one narrow discipline can offer,” Karin Wilkins, faculty director of the Communication and Leadership program, said in a prepared statement. “Our program builds on communication as key to an interdisciplinary perspective, necessary for creative approaches to solving complex social problems. This degree will consider leadership from a range of perspectives and centralize the importance of communication skills and evaluation to enable ethical and effective approaches to social change.”
Admission to the degree is open to incoming freshmen and internal and external transfer students. For more information on the program, visit moody.utexas.edu/comm-leadership.