Programs of Study
The Department of Communication offers a wide range of degree programs for aspiring communication professionals. Our programs are designed to help you realize your professional goals and have prepared our students to:
- Lead natural disaster relief efforts like Leah in Corporate Communication
- Cover top football events at the NFL Network like Christian in Sports Communication
- Win a News Emmy like Rachel or intern at HBO's "Euphoria" like Lynsie in Broadcast Media
- Combat human trafficking abroad like Sarah in Journalism
- Gain valuable experience at Twitter/X's headquarters in San Francisco like Celeste in Public Relations
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Communication Media
Three concentrations are available to students under the Communication Media major. Students are offered a wide array of courses leading to successful careers in Broadcast Media, Journalism, and Sports Communication.
Communication Media (B.A.)
Broadcast Media provides hands-on opportunities from the first day students enter the classroom and studios. In small class sizes, our students learn both the theory and the practice of professional media communication giving them skills that translate directly into the professional world.
Broadcast Media (B.A.) Sample Plan
Broadcast Media (B.S.) Sample Plan
2024-2025 Bulletin Broadcast Media (B.A.)
2024-2025 Bulletin Broadcast Media (B.S.)
Students who concentrate in Journalism engage in active learning, have the opportunity to participate in service learning, as well as the opportunity to work in student media. Students can also receive real-world experience through internships, many of which are placed through department and faculty connections in the professional realm.
2024-2025 Bulletin Journalism (B.A.)
2024-2025 Bulletin Journalism (B.S.)
The award-winning Sports Communication program focuses on the structure, strategies and techniques of live sports production of APSU Athletics through broadcast partner ESPN. Students gain valuable hands-on experience in the areas of producing, directing, announcing, and all areas of radio, television and video scoreboard sports broadcast production.
Sports Communication (B.A.) Sample Plan
Sports Communication (B.S.) Sample Plan
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Professional Communication
Three concentrations are available to students under the Professional Communication major. Students are offered a wide array of courses leading to successful careers in Corporate Communication, Public Relations and Information Specialist. The skills gained in these concentrations are highly sought after by employers and are valuable in a variety of career paths outside the field of communication.
Professional Communication (B.A.)
Professional Communication (B.S.)
Corporate Communication students develop real world skills through practical application. Students develop effective communication skills useful in corporate America, can get involved in service-learning or study abroad, and can get involved in a number of professional organizations. Courses in this concentration are geared toward staying on-top of current social trends through the use of social, and students will develop effective professional writing skills as well.
Corporate Communication (B.A.) Sample Plan
Corporate Communication (B.S.) Sample Plan
2024-2025 Bulletin Corporate Communication (B.A.)
2024-2025 Bulletin Corporate Communication (B.S.)
All courses in this concentration are offered online providing lots of flexibility. Students pursuing in this concentration can gain public relation skills, effective written and speaking skills, and can learn more about communication law and theories. Students in this concentration can also gain real-world experience through internships in the professional realm. The flexibility of this program allows students to gain knowledge in each of the other concentrations all online.
Information Specialist (B.A.) Sample Plan
Information Specialist (B.S.) Sample Plan
2024-2025 Bulletin Information Specialist (B.A.)
2024-2025 Bulletin Information Specialist (B.S.)
Students concentrating in Public Relations gain strong written and speaking skills as well as learning how to build relationships. Additionally, students will be able to learn more about communication law as it relates to the public while developing research skills. Public Relations students also learn how to communicate messages to the public ethically and effectively.
Public Relations (B.A.) Sample Plan
Public Relations (B.S.) Sample Plan
2024-2025 Bulletin Public Relations (B.A.)
2024-2025 Bulletin Public Relations (B.S.)
The Communication Arts minor provides students with skills which are applicable to, and can enhance, any career. This minor provides students with access to a wide array of classes from the Department of Communication so that students can build the kind of minor that helps to meet their personal and professional goals. The minor requires 21 credit hours of elective courses in Communication. For Professional Communication or Communication Media majors, these courses cannot duplicate required classes.
This minor prepares students to assume leadership roles within the industry. It offers in-depth knowledge of event planning, as well as, event execution. In addition, students get hands-on experience working with other professionals in the industry.
This minor is most closely linked to students with concentrations in Public Relations or Corporate Communication. The Public Relations and Corporate Communication industry is growing and many available job opportunities will require employees to work in event planning. These portions of the industry include: conventions, meetings, special events, fundraisers, community events, advertising rallies, and campaign functions.
The Journalism minor allows students to develop skills for future careers at broadcast outlets, online news organizations, newspapers, and other print publications. The curriculum focuses on multimedia journalism and provides students, in any major, with the tools they will need to get their start in this rapidly evolving field. The minor requires 24 credit hours in Communication. For Professional Communication or Communication Media majors, these courses cannot duplicate required classes in your major.
The Popular Culture minor teaches students a host of methods for critically understanding popular culture. As part of this minor students examine film, popular music, TV shows, video games, social media, sports, and other new and developing forms of popular cultural expression. The minor requires 18 credit hours in Communication. For Professional Communication or Communication Media majors, these courses cannot duplicate required classes.
Students in the Social Media Minor gain knowledge and skills that require them to use enhanced analytical as well as creative skills to increase their critical thinking. Students with this minor have the potential to find jobs as Social Media Associates, Social Media Managers, Social Media Marketers, Social Media Directors, or Social Media Influencers. Students can also apply these skills in other fields and areas. Emphasis is placed on: theories and concepts; content creation; application; analytics; campaigns; real world applications; ethics; content analysis; job market.
The Film Studies minor is offered in collaboration with the Department of Languages and Literature (18 credit hours). It is structured in three tracks (Critical Film Studies, Applied Film Studies, and Comprehensive Film Studies) to examine and apply the terms and concepts of film appreciation, theory, criticism, and production. Students who take this minor will receive an understanding of films from several different cultures and gain an ability to produce and analyze films in technical, theoretical and cultural terms.
Graduate Programs of Study
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communication Arts
The Corporate Communication concentration provides students with a broad set of skills that are applicable in many professional communication settings. Students are able to tailor their graduate program by choosing electives to best fit their career needs and objectives.
The General Communication Concentration is the most open-ended graduate degree program. It allows students the most elective choices and can help students prepare for doctoral studies by completing a master’s thesis.
The Marketing Communication Concentration graduate program is designed to prepare students for careers in marketing communications such as marketing communication, advertising, public relations, sales, and working with converged media.
The Media Management Communication Concentration graduate program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to advance their careers to leadership roles in the media industry. Students can use the skills they learn in the program to pursue executive positions in sales, marketing, media operations, and general media management.