What do you learn in a bachelor's in communication?

The ability to help businesses and organizations get their message across to the public is highly valuable in today's marketplace. Pursuing a bachelor's in communication is a great way to start learning this skill. Read on to explore what you can expect to learn in one of these degree programs.

What to expect from a bachelor's program in communication

The primary goal of a communication bachelor's program is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to convey a message effectively. Studies may gain skills in persuasion, narrative creation, and media communication.

With a degree in communication, you can qualify for roles like marketing manager, public relations specialist, social media manager, political strategist, journalist, and grant writer.

Bachelor's in communication curriculum

Bachelor's in communication curricula typically include courses in:

• Communication theory: Study predictive communication models and learn how they affect communication strategy.
• Analyzing culture and media: Understand the relationship between culture and the media. Students will learn how race, class, or nationality impact media.
• Cultural studies and communication: Explore how culture is created, circulated, and negotiated through different communication methods.

Specializations and concentrations

Most bachelor's programs in communication provide opportunities for students to focus their studies. Concentrations include:

• Public relations: Understand how brands and organizations communicate with the public.
• Digital media: Learn about digital communication channels like social media, websites, email, and podcasts.
• Political communication: Discover how messaging and communication can positively and negatively affect political campaigns.

Graduation requirements for a communication bachelor's degree

To graduate with a communication bachelor's degree, you'll need to complete 120 credits — typically over four years. The credits are shared across general education, core communication, and elective courses.

On top of this, you'll be required to complete a capstone to demonstrate what you've learned. Depending on the degree program, this may be an internship, simulated scenario, or research project.

• Internships often take place with a company or organization such as a political campaign, news outlet, or business.
• Simulated scenarios might involve designing a communication initiative for a company or developing a recovery strategy for a simulated brand challenge.
• Research projects are generally up to the student, though they must be approved by the school. Projects may cover topics like election messaging or how a business decision affected marketing campaigns.