Bachelor of Arts in Communications

University of South Carolina Upstate

The concentration in communication studies provides students with a deep understanding of the centrality of communication in personal, professional, civic and global contexts. Faculty members draw on their professional expertise in cultural, intercultural, interpersonal and organizational communication as well as rhetoric to help students learn practical, analytical and critical thinking skills as they engage in an increasingly diverse and globalized world.

Communications/Mass Media

The concentration in mass media explores the process of mass communication from the perspective of both media producers and consumers. Students develop skills in writing, editing, and video production for traditional and developing mass communication platforms as well as in the critical analysis of media and their role and impact on culture, politics and society.

Communications/Public Relations

The concentration in Public Relations prepares students to become strategic communicators both face-to-face as well as through the use of traditional and new media platforms. In addition, the program emphasizes the importance of research and analytics to better understand and communicate with clients and their publics in order to meet set objectives in areas such as corporate messaging and branding, political communication, non-profits and health messaging.

Curriculum

The curriculum enables you to understand the centrality and complexity of communication in your personal, professional and civic life as well as encourage you to engage in ethical human communication and prepare you to become a critical consumer of knowledge and information.

Courses reflect a variety of disciplines in the field of communication including organizational communication, intercultural communication, interpersonal communication, small group and rhetoric. Several courses explore how race, class, gender and sexuality shape experiences and perceptions of difference in organizations, the environment and national/international public communication.

Career Opportunities

A communication studies concentration provides a competitive advantage in professional and/or academic careers. Employers consistently rank oral and written communication skills, critical thinking and the ability to work with diverse populations as the most desired characteristics for future employees. Communication studies majors learn how to market themselves in any profession including, but not limited to human resources, health communication, business, marketing, advertising, media and politics.