This page lists TI ICs in a variety of categories commonly used for student projects. It may save you some time selecting appropriate ICs for your project.
Using the CC11xx and CC25xx devices, students can develop their own proprietary MAC and network layers. With free downloadable software and a development kit, you are able to test range, data rates and modulation/transmission techniques straight out of the box. Once you are satisfied with the performance of the radio, you can connect your own MCU to a transceiver, or program the SoC CPU, to start developing your project immediately.