The B.F.A. with a major in Communication with an emphasis on Organizational Communication or Interpersonal Communication prepares students for a wide variety of professional careers. Through the study of the theory and practice of communication, students in the Communication major gain expertise in the skills most valued in the 21st-century workplace. Students learn team leadership, decision making, critical and creative thinking, problem solving, presentational skills, persuasion, research, writing, technology, and intercultural communication by examining communication in multiple contexts. With the B.F.A. in Communication, students are prepared to move directly from the academic to the organizational environment. For information on careers in Communication, please visit the department website.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers conducts an annual survey, asking employers to identify the top skills they seek in college graduates. Of the top ten skills identified, nine are directly related to courses taught in the B.F.A. with a major in Communication. Similarly, for over four decades, the Fortune 500 list of most valued skills has been dominated by those taught in the Communication major.
Grade Point Average Requirement for the BFA with a Major in Communication
Students who declare a major in Communication must earn a grade point average of 2.25 or better in all Area F courses. Any student who fails to earn a 2.25 or better in Area F courses will be asked to change majors or will be switched to an undeclared major status.
Selected Educational Outcomes
- The Communication major will demonstrate skill in the use of the materials, technology, and methods of communication and expression necessary to be global citizens.
- The Communication major will demonstrate understanding of the theories and practices of interpersonal, intercultural, organizational, and public communication.
- The Communication major will demonstrate skill in the analysis of the communication needs of clients and in the design and implementation of programs to satisfy those needs.
Examples of Outcome Assessments
The Department assesses the extent to which the program requirements create the desired outcomes by using a portfolio system. The completed portfolios will include designated assignments that will vary depending on course selection.
Requirements for the B.F.A. degree with a Major in Communication
with an Emphasis on Organizational Communication or Interpersonal Communication
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core Curriculum Areas A-E (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Core Curriculum Area F | 18 | |
| COMM 1110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM 1500 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 3 |
| COMM 1800 | Communication Technology | 3 |
| COMM 2100 | Introduction to Communication Theory | 3 |
| COMM 2300 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 2500 | Communication, Culture, and Community | 3 |
| Senior College Curriculum | 60 | |
| Communication Core | 30 | |
| Communication and Values | 9 | |
| Argumentation and Advocacy | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Communication Law and Ethics | ||
| Communication Analysis | 6 | |
| Applied Communication Research | ||
| Data Analytics in Communication | ||
| Workplace Skills | 9 | |
| Teams and Leadership | ||
| Conflict Management | ||
| Creativity and Communication Design | ||
| Social Media Applications | 6 | |
| Visual Communication and Aesthetics | ||
| Social Media Strategies | ||
| Emphasis: Select Interpersonal or Organizational Communication | 12 | |
| Interpersonal Communication Emphasis | ||
| Advanced Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Interpersonal Communication Capstone | ||
| Nonverbal Communication | ||
or COMM 4431 | Listening and Interviewing | |
| Health Communication | ||
or COMM 4441 | Communication Across Difference | |
| Organizational Communication Emphasis | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Professional Communication | ||
| Organizational Communication Capstone | ||
| Crisis Communication and Negotiation | ||
or COMM 4531 | Communicating Globally | |
| Guided Electives | 18 | |
| Total hours required for the degree | 120 | |
The B.F.A. with a major in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations prepares students to enter a demanding field in which professionals routinely use critical thinking, analysis, decision-making, writing, communication design, strategic planning, project management, presentation skills, and technology. Public Relations professionals must be responsive to multiple and often competing demands in complex and diverse organizational environments. The program in Public Relations allows graduates to work in a variety of fields, especially medical/health communication, nonprofit, corporate, and other contexts. Graduates can seamlessly move from the academic to the organizational environment. The B.F.A. with a Concentration in Public Relations is certified by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
Students interested in pursuing Public Relations careers in the health care industry are encouraged to complete the Health Communications minor as part of their academic program.
Grade Point Average Requirement for the BFA in Communication with a Concentration in Public Relations
Students who declare a major in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations must earn a grade point average of 2.25 or better in all Area F courses. Any student who fails to earn a 2.25 or better in Area F courses will be automatically switched to an undeclared major status.
Selected Educational Outcomes
Students in the Public Relations concentration will:
- demonstrate skill in the use of the materials, technology, and methods of communication and expression to target messages to appropriate publics.
- demonstrate understanding of the theories and practices of public relations within the global marketplace.
- demonstrate skill in the analysis of the communication needs of clients and in the design and implementation of programs and campaigns to satisfy those needs.
Examples of Outcome Assessments
The Department assesses the extent to which the program requirements create the desired outcomes by using a variety of techniques. Examples of these assessments (and related educational outcomes) include:
- Writing: examining the quality of writing assignments in student portfolios from PREL 3220 and PREL 3240.
- Research: examining the quality of research assignments in student portfolios from COMM 3110, PREL 4200, and PREL 4230.
- Campaign Design: examining the quality of campaign analysis and design in student portfolios from PREL 3230 and PREL 4230.
- Integrated Communication: examining the quality of cohesive packaging of advertising, marketing, and public relations to promote a product or a cause from PREL 4220 and PREL 4230.
Requirements for the B.F.A. degree with a Major in Communication
with a Concentration in Public Relations
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core Curriculum Areas A-E (See VSU Core Curriculum) 1 | 42 | |
| Core Curriculum Area F | 18 | |
| COMM 1110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM 1500 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 3 |
| COMM 1800 | Communication Technology | 3 |
| COMM 2100 | Introduction to Communication Theory | 3 |
| COMM 2500 | Communication, Culture, and Community | 3 |
| PREL 2000 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| Communication Core | 18 | |
| COMM 2300 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 3031 | Communication Law and Ethics | 3 |
| COMM 3111 | Applied Communication Research | 3 |
| COMM 3311 | Teams and Leadership | 3 |
| COMM 3112 | Data Analytics in Communication | 3 |
| JOUR 3510 | News Writing | 3 |
| Public Relations | 21 | |
| PREL 3210 | Strategic Design for Public Relations | 3 |
| PREL 3220 | Strategic Writing for Public Relations | 3 |
| PREL 3230 | Public Relations Case Studies | 3 |
| PREL 3240 | Strategic Design for Digital Media | 3 |
| PREL 4200 | Public Relations Research | 3 |
| PREL 4220 | Integrated Communication | 3 |
| PREL 4230 | Public Relations Capstone | 3 |
| PREL 3250 | Public Relations in Health Care | 3 |
| or COMM 3211 | Event Planning | |
| Guided Electives | 18 | |
| Total hours required for the degree | 120 | |
| 1 | Students are encouraged to take COMM 1100 as part of their Area C requirement. |
