Share ideas. Build understanding. Communicate. You’ll do that here.

Majoring in Communication provides students with the opportunity to learn how to communicate effectively in relationships and public settings, explore the ways culture and gender shape communication, develop problem-solving and argumentation skills, and interrogate the ways ethics and visual communication shape our understandings. We provide the things that employers seek most. The B.A. in Communication provides essential skills.

What to Expect

Students will work closely with faculty who are invested in encouraging a sense of community within the department. There are opportunities to join clubs such as the Collegiate Communication Organization (CCO) and Redhawk Speech and Debate. Students may also be invited to join our honors society, Lambda Pi Eta.

We are invested in helping you connect your passions and skills to opportunities in the field of Communication.

Careers in Communication

Here are a few jobs our recent graduates secured.

  • Social Services Specialist for the Division of Child and Family Services
  • Youth Development Professional with the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis
  • Youth Specialist in the Missouri Department of Social Services
  • Business Development Analyst for Schaefer’s Electric Enclosures
  • Insurance Producer for Arnold Insurance
  • Community Support Specialist for Compass Health Network
  • Healthcare Recruiter for Maxi Healthcare Group
  • Multimedia Journalist for Fox 23 KBSI
  • Sephora Beauty Team Lead for Kohl’s
  • Regional Sales Professional at Amor Equipment
  • Franchise Sales Executive for Goodhead Insurance Agency
  • Areas Sales Manager for South by Sea Collegiate Apparel

Internship Opportunites

The department seeks to facilitate experiential learning opportunities for students. Whether a student completes an internship with a local organization or ventures further away, the department works to support student success. Below are a few of the companies that our students have completed their internships with.

  • Safe House of Southeast Missouri
  • Ebb & Flow
  • Ciao Ristorante and Enoteca
  • Gateway Grizzles
  • Mississippi County Health Department
  • Lichtenegger Law Firm
  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
  • KRCU: A National Public Radio affiliate
  • Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center

Graduate Program of Recent Graduates

  • Belmont University
  • DePaul University
  • Duke University
  • Northwestern University
  • Saint Louis University
  • University of Arkansas
  • University of Central Florida
  • University of Mississippi
  • University of Missouri
  • Washington University

Communication (BA) Degree Map

Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree.

Outcomes & Careers

  • $66K

    Market Research Analyst

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for market research analysts is $65,810.

  • $141K

    Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Manager

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is $141,490.

  • $63K

    Human Resources Specialist

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for human resources specialists is $63,490.

What You'll Study

Degree Map

Our program provides a comprehensive curriculum covering various aspects of communication. You'll explore topics like interpersonal and intercultural communication, ethics, visual rhetoric, public address, and communication research. The Communication curriculum requires 48 hours for the major. Students are also expected to complete at least 120 credits, including the general education requirements, and at least 39 senior division hours.

Required Courses: 

  • SC001 Exit Interview (0) 
  • PS280 Introduction to Global Issues (3) 
  • SC105 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3) 
  • SC155 Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication (3) 
  • SC200 Introduction to Communication Research (3) 
  • SC215 Intercultural Communication (3) 
  • SC314 Argumentation & Problem Solving (3) 
  • SC316 Gender Communication (3) 
  • SC357 Rhetoric of Images (3) 
  • SC359 Ethics of Dialogue & Deliberation (3) 
  • SC363 Communication Theory & Research (3) 
  • SC425 Persuasion (3) 
  • SO201 Social Problems in Contemporary Society (3) 
  • SW207 Understanding Cultural and Social Diversity (3) 

Choose 3 hours: 

  • SC310 Speechwriting (3) 
  • SC491 Investigating Communication (3) 

Choose 3 hours: 

  • SC423 Political Communication (3) 
  • SC504 Leaders of Social Change (3) 

Choose 3 hours: 

  • MC434 Public Relations Campaigns & Case Studies (3) 
  • SC483 Internship (3) 

Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major program.

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
  • Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
  • Written Communication – 6 hours
  • Oral Communication – 3 hours
  • Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
  • Mathematics – 3 hours
  • Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
  • Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
  • Civics examination

Freshman Year 

Fall Semester (16 Hours) 
  • UI100 (1) 
  • EN100 (3) 
  • SC105/SC155 (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours) 
  • SC105/SC155 (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 

Sophomore Year 

Fall Semester (18 Hours) 
  • SC215 (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • Elective (3) 
Spring Semester (15 Hours) 
  • PS280 (3) 
  • SC200 (3) 
  • SW207 (3) 
  • Elective (3)
  • Elective (3)

Junior Year 

Fall Semester (15 Hours) 
  • SC310/SC491 (3) 
  • SC314 (3) 
  • SO201 (3) 
  • Elective (3) 
  • Elective (3) 
Spring Semester (15 Hours) 
  • SC316 (3) 
  • SC357 (3) 
  • SC363 (3) 
  • Elective (3)
  • Elective (3) 

Senior Year 

Fall Semester (15 Hours) 
  • MC434/SC483 (3) 
  • SC359 (3) 
  • SC423/UI504 (3) 
  • SC425 (3) 
  • Elective (3)
Spring Semester (14 Hours) 
  • SC001 (0) 
  • SC483/MC434 (3) 
  • Elective (3)
  • Elective (3)
  • Elective (3) 
  • Elective (3)

 Degree requirements for all students: a minimum of 120 credit hours, completion of the General Education program, and completion of 39 senior division hours (300-599). Refer to the Undergraduate Bulletin or Degree Works for additional graduation requirements for your program. 

A minimum 2.0 GPA in the major and overall are required to graduate with a BA degree. 

Hands-on Learning

You can gain hands-on real-world experience through internship opportunities, our award-winning debate team, and various student organizations.

Get Funding for Your Education

Missouri’s opened the door to a more educated workforce. We want to help you walk through it. If you’re an adult learner and a Missouri resident returning to college, learn about the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant. It’s a statewide financial aid program that can be used to pursue a certificate, degree or industry-recognized credential in a high need area in Missouri. This major is eligible for the Fast Track grant.

Become a Redhawk.

Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.

 

Location
Office Location
Academic Hall 213
Mailing Location
One University Plaza, MS 3225
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701