The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts prepares individuals for the communication demands of social and professional life through a broad-based liberal arts program studying the nature, processes, and effects of messages. The degree also prepares students to communicate in varied channels and contexts of contemporary communication, analyze communication messages of multiple forms and styles, communicate ethically, and employ the theory and methods of the field while appreciating the history and content of the discipline.

Communication Arts majors will find job opportunities in a variety of fields, including public communication, public relations, journalism and fields in management, training and customer service. Specific careers include  integrated marketing communications,  corporate and public sector consulting, speech writing, publicity, sales, community relations, public affairs, government, public and social service, news reporting, radio,  public relations, human resources/relational management, sports marketing, media relations, primary and secondary teaching, personnel, editing or writing for various media , business and industrial communication. Additionally, Communication Arts graduates will be well-prepared for graduate studies.

To earn the B.A. in Communication Arts, you must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. In addition to the general education requirements and School of Arts and Sciences requirements, you will complete at least 42 credit hours as follows:

Part 1: Core. (24 hours)

The core of the Communication Arts curriculum grounds graduates in the theoretical and applied nature of the discipline, culminating in a capstone project in the Senior Seminar. All Communication Arts majors must complete each of the following courses:

• SPCH-C 200 Introduction to Mass Communication
• SPCH-S 205 Introduction to Speech Communication
• SPCH-C 321 Persuasion
• SPCH-S 336 Communication Theory
• SPCH-C 380 Organizational Communication
• SPCH-S 398 Independent Study in Speech Communication (Senior Seminar)
• SPCH-S 427 Cross Cultural Communication
• SPCH-C 300 Internship/Practicum OR any 300 level communication class not taken to satisfy a requirement in Part 2 or Part 3 of the degree.

Part 2: Experiential Component. (6 hours)

The experiential component of the Communication Arts degree is designed to provide students with real world experience in the field of communication. These courses link students to the broader community, beyond the campus, pushing them to work with and/or develop projects with constituent groups outside the classroom. Through class assignments, such as interviewing workshops (C 325) and group designed and administered surveys (C 393), students will initiate and manage projects and campaigns designed to address real world problems in a mentored and supportive setting. To receive credit, students must earn a grade of B- or higher in the experiential courses. Students choose two courses from among the following:

• SPCH-C 393 Communication Research Methods
• SPCH-S 280 Introduction to Radio
• SPCH-C 325 Interviewing
• SPCH-S 201 Communicating in Public
• JOUR-J 343 Broadcast News

Part 3: Concentration. (12 hours)

The final component of the B.A. in Communication Arts is the concentration. These concentrations build upon the core and experiential components of the degree by providing students with a focused area of study. Students must complete each course in the chosen concentration, and will choose from the following:

1. Public Communication. The Public Communication concentration focuses on developing students’ presentational skills and is designed to prepare them for careers in business, government, marketing, sales, advertising, speech writing, and other careers in which oral and written communication skills are essential.

• SPCH-S 228 Argumentation and Debate
• SPCH-C 444 Political Communication
• COAS-S 200 Leadership Studies
• NMCM-N 351 Cyberculture and Community

2. Journalism. The journalism concentration develops student writing, editing, layout and photography skills, teaching students the journalism basics of reporting and editing. Students are encouraged to combine their understanding of core skills in the profession with online media and their own unique interests to better prepare them for a market which demands great breadth and sensitivity to the intersections between social issues, human nature and technology.

• SPCH-J 200 Writing for Mass Media
• ENG-W 365 Theories and Practices of Editing
• NMCM-N 250 Graphic Design I OR JOUR-J344 Photojournalism Reporting
• JOUR-J 290 Internship in Journalism

3. Public Relations/Corporate Communications. The Public Relations/Corporate Communication concentration prepares students to strategically manage communication resources for both profit and nonprofit organizations. Coursework prepares students to enhance a corporation’s image and reputation, monitor and resolve its issues, influence relevant attitudes and opinions, in efforts to adapt the organization to its environment and the environment to the organization. Grounded in communication theory and the four step process, students will enhance their writing and planning skills and learn a variety of communication formats and media techniques for relating to diverse publics.

• SPCH-S 233 Intro to Public Relations
• SPCH-S 333 Public Relations
• SPCH-C 391 Public Relations Campaigns
• NMCM-N 250 Graphic Design I