Apply
College of Arts and Sciences

BA in Communication

At a Glance

In the Bachelor of Arts in Communication program, you create advertising, public relations, and social media campaigns for real clients, all while learning how to effectively communicate with different target audiences.

Full Time
Rolling Admission

Degrees Offered

Total Credits

Bachelor of Arts

39-45

Minor

18

Overview

In the Bachelor of Arts in Communication program you create advertising, public relations, and social media campaigns for real clients, all while learning how to effectively communicate with different target audiences.

About the Major

You prepare for today's fast-paced communications industry by getting real-world experience from the start! Through internships, on-campus organizations like our student-run agency Crested Communications and classroom activities, you develop the wide range of skills employers are looking for! And in courses taught by our accomplished faculty, you'll learn how to write effectively, prepare and deliver strong oral presentations, and how to create and conduct communication research. 

Our flexible program allows you to select your area of emphasis based on your interests and career goals; Communication Studies, Advertising and Public Relations, or Media Strategies. 

Degree Requirements

Required courses and credits are dependent upon your Area of Emphasis:

  • Advertising and Public Relations: 45 credits
  • Communication Studies: 39 credits
  • Media Strategies: 45 credits

Communication Core Courses

Five core courses must be completed by Communication students. Examples include:

Communication in the Digital Age
Introduction to Digital Media Production
Making Sense of Social Media


For more information, and to see a complete list of degree requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

Advertising and Public Relations Emphasis Core Courses

Five core courses must be completed, as well as one course in each of the Communication Analysis and Campaign categories. Examples include:

  • Communication and Advertising  
  • Introduction to Public Relations  
  • Advertising Copywriting and Layout  

For more information, and to see a complete list of emphasis requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

Communication Studies Emphasis Core Courses

Three core courses must be completed, as well as two courses in each of the Human Resources and Communication Strategies categories. Examples include:

  • Persuasion
  • Small-Group Communication  
  • Capstone in Communication Studies
  • Business and Professional Communication  
  • Organizational Communication   

For more information, and to see a complete list of emphasis requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

Media Strategies Emphasis Core Courses

Four core courses must be completed, as well as three media strategies electives. Examples include:

  • Organizational Communication
  • Introduction to Media: Industries, Content and Audiences
  • Audience Analysis

For more information, and to see a complete list of emphasis requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

Communication Minor Requirements

The minor in Communication requires a total of 18 credits. Examples of courses include:

  • Communication in the Digital Age  
  • Research Methods in Communication
  • Communication Theory

For more information, and to see a complete list of minor requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

Learning Outcomes by Area of Emphasis

Advertising and Public Relations

Advertising and public relations students will be able to:

  • Write effectively in a variety of formats used in the field of communication.
  • Prepare and deliver effective oral presentations.
  • Understand and describe major theories of communication.
  • Identify and define the major sub-disciplines in the field of communication.
  • Demonstrate awareness of ethical dilemmas in the field of communication.
  • Locate and use credible sources of information on communication topics and issues.
  • Identify and evaluate the research methods used in a scholarly journal article.
  • Demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of the advertising and public relations disciplines expected for entry-level employment.
  • Produce materials commonly used in the advertising and PR fields.
  • Integrate production and analysis that contribute substantively to advertising and PR campaign development.

Communication Studies

Communication studies students will be able to:

  • Write effectively in a variety of formats used in the field of communication.
  • Prepare and deliver effective oral presentations.
  • Understand and describe major theories of communication.
  • Identify and define the major sub-disciplines in the field of communication.
  • Gain awareness of ethical dilemmas in the field of communication.
  • Locate and use credible sources of information on communication topics and issues.
  • Identify and evaluate the research methods used in a scholarly journal article.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental concepts in human communication.
  • Illustrate human communication concepts.
  • Analyze situations through the application of human communication theories/concepts.
  • Identify and analyze human communication problems and generate and evaluate solutions.

Media Strategies  

Media strategies students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a professional level of writing standards across a wide range of disciplines
  • Master client relationship engagement skills
  • Master work environment skills such as collaboration and report or client content development
  • Professionally present work
  • Think critically
  • Reflectively critique one's own work

Areas of Emphasis

Communication Studies

Enhance your skills in group collaboration and leadership, conflict management, team presentations, persuasion, and adapting to digital communications. These skills are valuable for corporate training, human resources, sales, corporate and employee communications, and management positions.

Advertising and Public Relations

Prepare for advertising, public relations and marketing positions and produce portfolio-level work for local clients in our campaigns classes and by participating in national competitions sponsored by the American Advertising Federation and the Public Relations Student Society of America.

Media Strategies

If you want to work in the business side of media, the media strategies area of emphasis gives you a solid foundation to build your career. Learn about the inner workings of the media industry and how media major organizations are structured.

Accelerated MA In Communication Program

The School of Communication also offers an Accelerated MA in Communication that allows a high-performing undergraduate student to earn up to 9 credits that will count toward both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Typical application occurs spring of your Junior year, so that if accepted, you may register for graduate classes in the fall of your Senior year. Contact Associate Professor and Program Director Kristin Comeforo for more information.

Joshua Marcial

Communication '21

Joshua Marcial recently completed a communication internship with UHart’s College of Arts and Sciences that will help him achieve his career goal of working in the field of corporate communications. A communication major with an emphasis in media & journalism, Joshua also interned with Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury (NHSW), which he says helped him learn how vital a role communication plays in the success of an organization. Joshua says the wide variety of courses he took, and the support of faculty in the School of Communication, contributed to his success. In his first year, he was already receiving hands-on training for video production. Later, he had the opportunity to record documentaries, cover UHart athletic events for ESPN3, and host a podcast that focused on how COVID-19 affected Division 1 athletes. 

Read more.

My brother attended the University, which allowed me the opportunity to receive an early look at the campus. I thought about other schools, but when I saw the School of Communication and the television studio during an open house tour, I knew this would be home for me.

Bryson Owens

Communication, '18, M'20

Bryson Owens is working remotely as an associate video producer for Newsweek providing video content for its social media channels and website including the presidential and vice-presidential debates, the Amy Coney Barrett supreme court confirmation hearings, as well as election night coverage.

Owens says he became interested in politics at a very young age, and as an undergraduate and graduate student, he took multiple politics and government courses that directly and indirectly intertwined with media communications. He says his final graduate project, College During COVID, co-produced with Bianca Ross ’18, M’20, was cited as the reason his resume stood out from the others.

Read more

“What triggered my thirst to pursue all facets in the communication and media industry was taking courses such as: Gender/Sex in Pop Culture, Intro to Television Production, Political Advertising and Women in the Media, and Media Process and Effects. Communication Professors Karen Schermerhorn, Jack Banks, Sundeep Muppidi, and Kristin Comeforo really pushed me to think critically, be unbiased in my analysis, and see the world and how the media has the power to change it.”

Similar Programs

Cinema Students Hero Image

Cinema

Work with new technology and collaborate with faculty on professional sets. There are opportunities to present at film festivals, study a semester abroad, and get additional experience through an internship at a production company in Connecticut, New York, or Boston.

Digital Media Journalism Students

Digital Media and Journalism

Our digital media and journalism degree prepares you for a career in digital media production, broadcast journalism, sports media, or as a media business professional.

Start your UHart journey today. Take the next step.