The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication is designed to examine the nature of mediated, organizational, and public relations communication processes through theoretical grounding and applied knowledge. Students will learn essential writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills professionally relevant to careers in communication. The program curriculum is devised to provide students with significant communication training and internship opportunities.

The Communication Degree is designed to prepare students to serve as public communication professionals within corporate, non-profit, government, healthcare, and education settings. In this design, students have the freedom to choose an emphasis within their degree. Please see the emphasis options below:

Media Studies Emphasis (6 credits)

The Media Studies Option is designed to examine the nature of the mass media through theoretical grounding and applied knowledge with a concentration in (1) the construction and delivery of media messages and (2) the effects of mediated messages and the structures and practices of the media industries on culture, society, politics, the economy, and individual attitudes and behavior.  This approach prepares students for careers as trained media professionals as well as to be critical consumers of media messages.  The study of message construction and analysis is offered in a variety of contexts including news gathering and reporting, public relations, video production, and advertising.  In each context theoretical perspectives are combined with skills training related to print and electronic media.  Career options in the field of Media Studies include public relations, marketing, broadcast news, corporate communications, and advertising. 

Organizational Communication Emphasis (6 credits)

The Organizational Communication Option is designed to educate students entering the fields of business and social service as managers, trainers, human resource officers, and corporate communication staff.  This option also provides excellent preparation for graduate study in communication as well as law.  The programs in Organizational Communication enable the student (1) to acquire a mature understanding of interaction and other communication issues in organizational situations; (2) to improve the ability to contribute to productive organizational performance; (3) to increase personal effectiveness related to technical communication concerns; and (4) to apply learning to real-life organizational settings.

Public Relations Emphasis (6 credits)

The Public Relations Option is designed to prepare students to serve as public communicators in a variety of settings including (but not limited to) corporate, non-profit, government, healthcare, and education.  The program curriculum is devised to provide students with significant communication training and internship opportunities.  Students will learn essential writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills.  Additionally, students will be exposed to a variety of theoretical approaches to the practice of public relations.  The curriculum is modeled on the Public Relations Society of America’s Undergraduate Education recommendations.