About the B.A. in Communication and Media
Our Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media degree program prepares you for the dynamic and competitive field of workplace communication across a digital landscape. We'll prepare you to become a well-rounded professional by creating real-world experiences in the physical and virtual classroom that allow you to exercise your creativity while meeting the demands of fast-paced businesses. You’ll enter the job market as a savvy verbal, written and visual communicator, well-versed in areas of community relations, organizational communications, professional writing, conflict management, and public relations with expertise in social media, podcasting and video projects.
Program Highlights
Customizable Experience
Shape your degree to meet your interests and professional goals by choosing from courses in digital, video, verbal and written communication, as well as pairing your degree with a minor, such as our popular Marketing minor.
Flexible Class Options
Choose from multiple different modalities to fit your coursework around your schedule, including campus-based, blended, and an accelerated online option with condensed six-week terms (normally 12 weeks).
A Unique Combination
In NLU’s B.A. in Communication and Media program, students take one interpersonal communications course and one media course each term. The interpersonal communication topics include civic, community, intercultural, multigenerational and organizational communication as well as professional writing and public relations. The media courses include mass media, social media, digital narratives, podcasting and video shorts.
Real-World Expertise
Learn from faculty who bring years of experience in professional communications and media to the classroom. Become skilled in contemporary communication practices and the latest media technologies that employers are looking for.
Communications Quarterly Magazine
The B.A. in Communication and Media program resides within the Communication Studies Department, which oversees the Undergraduate College’s student magazine, Communications Quarterly. Communication and Media majors write articles for publication consideration and have opportunities to collaborate on the content and publishing process. This is a great venue for Communication and Media majors who are interested in journalism.
Paris Café Writing Scholarship
Communication and Media majors who have been published in Communications Quarterly have the opportunity to apply for the Paris Café Writing scholarship. The scholarship covers costs for one student to travel to Paris, France for one week to hone their creative writing skills through the Paris Café Writing program. Learn more
What You Will Learn
Throughout the Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media program, you’ll learn why communicating well is a fundamental skill that all businesses and organizations need. Highlights of the areas covered are:
Organizational Communication
Delivering oral, written, and visual presentations in the workplace; devising public relations and conflict management strategies; addressing issues within employee relations; and creating business proposals and pitches.
Society and Culture
Addressing societal topics that affect diverse communities; civic and community issues in communication; collaborating cross-culturally and cross-generationally; and exercising self-expression through writing for publication.
Digital Media
Analyzing media use best practices; building a professional social media presence; delivering content across multiple media formats; designing and recording podcasts and vlogs, and examining ideological principles between platforms.
Optional Marketing Minor
Pair with our new Marketing minor to learn how to harness your creativity to meet the practical needs of businesses and nonprofits. Explore topics like digital marketing and advertising, market research, and marketing for startups and nonprofits.
Career Outlook
Job prospects are strong for communication majors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, communications and media occupations are projected to grow 4% from 2019-2029, which will result in 46,200 new jobs.* Additionally, advertising, marketing, and promotions manager positions are expected to grow 6% during this time, faster than the average growth rate for all jobs. Due to an increased variety of media platforms, opportunities for bachelor’s degree holders in Communication and Media look only to increase in the future.
According to Payscale’s 2021 College Salary Report, some of the highest paying jobs for Communication majors include Director of Marketing, Director of Communications, Director of Public Relations, and Social Media Director, with mid-level salaries averaging $92,200 per annum.
With a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media, you will be prepared for these fast-growing careers, as well:
- Event Planner, +11%
- Public Relations Specialist, +9%
- Sales Representative, +7%
- Screenwriter, +8%
- Marketing Manager, +10%
- Editorial Writer, +11%
- Publications Editor, +6%
- Writer/Author, +8%
- Photojournalist, +7%
- Advertising Agency Coordinator, +5%
If you wish to continue your study in a graduate program, the Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media prepares you for admittance into programs like the Master’s in Communication, Master’s in Media Studies, Master’s in Marketing, Master’s in Business (MBA), Master’s in Fine Arts (MFA), and Master’s in Public Relations, among others.
