Path to a free self-taught education in Communication Studies!
The Communication Studies curriculum is a complete education in Communication Studies using online materials.
Note: When there are courses or books that don’t fit into the curriculum but are otherwise of high quality, they belong in extras/courses, extras/readings or extras/other_curricula.
Process. Students can work through the curriculum alone or in groups, in order or out of order.
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Communication | Establishes key models, scope & history of the field. | Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies (Open Textbook) | Understanding Human Communication (Oxford) (YouTube lectures) |
| Critical Reading & Academic Writing for Communication | Builds habits of clear, critic-informed writing and interpretation. | They Say / I Say (for academic argument basics) | Writing in College (Georgia Tech) |
| Introduction to Social Science Thinking | Grounds empirical inquiry and theory. | Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices (Open Textbook) | Methods and Statistics in Social Sciences Specialization (University of Amsterdam) |
| Communicative Ethics & Responsibility | Frames questions of values, power, and impact. | Ethics for the Information Age | Ethics in Communication (Purdue) |
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interpersonal Communication Theory | How people construct meanings with others. | Interpersonal Communication: A Mindful Approach to Relationships (Open Textbook) | Interpersonal Communication (Coursera – Shanghai Jiao Tong) |
| Group & Organizational Communication | Dynamics of teams and organizational information flow. | Organizational Communication: Foundations of Theory and Practice | Organizational Communication (edX – Northwestern) |
| Listening & Dialogue Practices | Applied listening and dialogue tools. | Listening: Processes, Functions, & Competency | Active Listening (Coursera – UC Irvine) |
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Literacy & Analysis | How to decode mediated messages. | Understanding Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication | Media Literacy (Crash Course) |
| Communication & Culture | Cultural frameworks & meaning systems. | Culture and Communication (Hall & Hall) | Intercultural Communication (Coursera – Shanghai) |
| History of Media & Communication Technologies | Tech history shaping society. | The Media of Modernity | History of Media and Communication (Coursera – Michigan) |
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science Research Design | Invests in systematic inquiry. | Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices (Open Textbook) | Understanding Research Methods (Coursera – SOAS University of London) |
| Qualitative Methods | Interpretive methods for rich meaning. | Qualitative Communication Research Methods (Lindlof & Taylor) | Qualitative Research Methods (Coursera – Amsterdam) |
| Quantitative Methods | Surveys, stats & effects. | Discovering Statistics Using SPSS | Statistics for Social Sciences (Coursera – Amsterdam) |
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhetorical Theory | Systematic study of arguments and symbols. | A Rhetoric of Society (classics compendium) | Rhetoric (Yale – Rosa Eberly) |
| Persuasion & Social Influence | How messages influence beliefs & behavior. | Influence: Science & Practice | Persuasion (Coursera – Michigan) |
| Visual & Multimodal Communication | Study of image/text/sound combos. | Visual and Multimodal Communication: Applying the Relevance Principle | Multimodal Literacies: Communication and Learning in the Era of Digital Media (Coursera – Illinois) |
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Media, Platforms & Algorithms | Understand mediated networks dynamics. | Networked: The New Social Operating System | Digital Media & Society (Coursera – Illinois) |
| Data, Privacy & Digital Ethics | Ethics in digital context. | The Ethics of Emerging Media | Digital Ethics (edX – Microsoft) |
| Emerging Technologies & Communication Futures | Speculative study of future comm tech. | Communication Technology Update and Fundamentals | Exploring Emerging Technologies for Lifelong Learning and Success (Coursera – SUNY) |
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic Communication | Crafting organizational messaging. | Strategic Communication (textbook) | Strategic Communication (Coursera – Colorado) |
| Writing & Speaking for Professional Contexts | Professional writing/speaking fluency. | The Craft of Research | Dynamic Public Speaking (Coursera – Washington) |
| Intercultural & Global Communication Practice | Practice in diverse contexts. | Intercultural Communication: Globalization… | Intercultural Communication (Coursera – Shanghai) |
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical & Cultural Theory | Power and representation. | Communication as Culture | Media and Cultural Studies (Coursera – Illinois) |
| Advanced Textual & Discourse Analysis | Rigorous content analysis. | Doing Discourse Analysis | Discourse Analysis (Coursera – Lancaster) |
| Global Media Systems & Industries | World media ecologies. | Global Communication | Global Media (edX – Michigan) |
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network Theory & Social Media Dynamics | Structural dynamics of digital networks. | Networks, Crowds & Markets | Networks (Coursera – Michigan) |
| Human–Computer Interaction | Design & interaction. | Human-Computer Interaction (Dix et al.) | Human-Computer Interaction (Coursera – Georgia Tech) |
| Digital Policy, Governance & Regulation | Law & governance issues. | Platform Regulation | Internet Governance (edX – ITU) |
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Relational Communication | Emotion & conflict transformation. | The Dark Side of Close Relationships | Advanced Interpersonal Communication (Coursera – UC Irvine) |
| Organizational Communication Strategy | Org change & culture. | Organizational Communication | Organizational Communication (Coursera – Rutgers) |
| Facilitation & Conflict Resolution | Practice negotiation/facilitation. | The Skilled Facilitator | Negotiation (Yale – Coursera) |
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contemporary Rhetorical Criticism | Expert argument analysis. | Contemporary Rhetorical Criticism | Rhetorical Criticism (Coursera – Georgia) |
| Argumentation Theory | Public argument foundations. | Argumentation and Debate | Argumentation (Coursera – UC Irvine) |
| Advocacy & Social Movements | Strategic societal change. | Communication & Social Movements | Social Movements (Coursera – Copenhagen) |
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Research Methods | Mixed methods & design. | Mixed Methods Research | Mixed Methods (Coursera – Michigan) |
| Theory Construction & Conceptual Modeling | Scholarly framing. | Theoretical Frameworks in Communication | Limited full courses; supplement with readings |
| Scholarly Writing & Publication Practices | Publish and present. | Writing for Scholarly Publication | How to Write a Paper (Coursera – Stanford) |
| Project Type | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empirical Research Project | Apply method to real study. | Communication Research Methods (Merrigan & Huston) | Understanding Research Methods (Coursera – SOAS) |
| Strategic Communication Campaign | Real campaign buildout. | Strategic Planning for Public Relations | Strategic Communication Campaigns (Coursera – Colorado) |
| Media/Cultural Analysis Portfolio | Theory + analysis synthesis. | Media and Cultural Studies: Keyworks | Media and Cultural Studies (Coursera – Illinois) |
| Digital Communication Prototype | Prototype a digital artifact. | Design Thinking for Strategic Innovation | Prototyping and Design (Coursera – Minnesota) |
After completing the requirements of the curriculum above, you will have completed the equivalent of a full bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. Congratulations!