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Organizations across industries rely on strong communication to connect with customers, coordinate teams and craft compelling messaging. A bachelor’s degree in communication can help prepare students with skills in writing, public relations strategy, public speaking, digital communication and more.

When pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communication, classes can help students learn not only how to convey a message, but also skills in research and analysis. These may be helpful in a variety of professional fields and industries, including management, business and finance, art, entertainment and sports.

The defines communication as how people use, express and interpret messages in different situations. This includes multiple means, from spoken language to digital media, and a variety of methodologies, such as the social sciences, humanities and aesthetics.

Taking this definition to a broader level, communication encompasses the use of words and images to convey meaning to diverse audiences through multiple media.

Strong communication skills and knowledge are vital for building and maintaining relationships, both at home and in the workplace. Communication is helpful between teams or even individuals who are working together. Other times, it is the very business function of a company, such as a public relations firm or a media company. Communication, in other words, impacts businesses on many levels.

Courses for a bachelor’s degree in communication program may include topics such as:

• Logic, rhetoric and storytelling
• Interpersonal, intercultural, organizational and corporate communication
• Journalism
• Marketing
• Leadership
• Communication technology
• Mass communication

Skills taught in a bachelor’s degree in communication program may include theory and application in the following domains: 

• Intercultural communication: This refers to the ways people speak and relate to one another when they come from different ethnic, socioeconomic or geographical backgrounds.
• Public relations: The field of public relations offers a strategic way for organizations to communicate and build strong, positive relationships with their stakeholders.
• Social media: This type of communication involves using online platforms to create and share content as a relationship-building and marketing initiative.
• Interpersonal communication: This focuses on an individual’s ability to connect with another individual or a small group of people. It often involves active listening and collaboration; it may also require an ability to navigate difficult conversations.
• Organizational communication: This refers to the way teams and colleagues within a workplace collaborate and share information. This type of communication can impact decision-making and the culture within an organization.
• Corporate communication: This refers to the ways an organization shares essential messages with its stakeholders, such as employees, customers and investors. This includes both internal and external communication strategies used to promote the company’s brand, reputation and goals.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in 2023 that with a degree in the United States were employed in the field of communication.

Some of the job titles that align with a bachelor’s degree in communication include:

• Media relations specialist
• Staff writer
• Communication specialist
• Editor
• Copywriter

When deciding on a program, prospective communication students may find it helpful to explore schools for:

• Institutional accreditation: Check whether the school is institutionally accredited. Institutional accreditation is a process of external quality review to evaluate an institution against its own mission and the accreditor’s criteria for accreditation and confirm that it accomplishes what it claims.
• Faculty: Some programs have faculty who have professional experience in the areas they teach, allowing them to combine theory with knowledge of real-world application.
• Online programs: Many schools offer asynchronous online programs, meaning that materials are available 24/7. So, while there are still deadlines students must meet, they can complete coursework when it fits into their schedules.

If you’re curious to learn more about earning a bachelor’s degree in communication, ������ý offers several business programs, including an online communication degree.

Contact ������ý for more information.