Communication Studies, BS

What you will study

What is communication studies? As a Communication Studies major at the University of Central Missouri, you’ll learn how to communicate effectively and with confidence in a variety of settings. You’ll also refine your critical thinking skills and become adept at analyzing different kinds of messaging — and how they play a role in shaping relationships and strategies of various organizations.

Focus your undergraduate studies to align with your career goals. For Communication Studies majors with specific career paths in mind, we offer three learning pathways: Communication Consultancy, Social Media and Influence and Relational Communication. 

You’ll also be empowered to explore knowledge within other disciplines in relation to communication studies. UCM Communication Studies majors have a lot of elective credits to study topics outside of the field and further increase their career skills. 

Here’s a taste of some of the popular courses you’ll have a chance to take in the Communication Studies BS at the University of Central Missouri:

• Dale Carnegie Communication: Leave a positive impression with anyone and everyone. In this course, you’ll learn tactics for networking, remembering names and making a positive impact with every interaction.
• Small Groups/Teams: Study and learn in teams with your peers through the entire semester, honing the skills you need to be an effective collaborator and communicator. 
• Social Influence: Dive deep into the common traits of the most influential persuaders and learn how to protect yourself against manipulative messaging.
• Women, Minorities and the Media: Dig into the ways in which gender and other aspects of identity are represented in the media. Learn how you can use messaging to empower people on a personal level and inspire positive societal change.

 

 

Unique learning opportunities in communication studies

At the University of Central Missouri, our focus is on preparing you for your future with classes that are relevant to your interests and career goals. Your growth opportunities don’t end in the classroom, though. Take advantage of a variety of ways to gain hands-on, real-world job experience as a Communication Studies major at UCM:

• Internships: Gain course credit and work experience simultaneously through internships. Our alumni engagement program, industry contacts and vast faculty network can help connect you with exciting opportunities to bolster your resume and further your learning. 
• Study abroad: Learn how different cultures communicate in other countries. Our Center for Global Education maintains an extensive network of connections throughout Europe, the Middle East and Oceania that you can use to find quality education opportunities in exciting new locations. 
• Service learning: At UCM, we believe that applying our learning to community work is one of the most effective ways to make coursework meaningful to students. You can discover the importance of communication studies with service and applied projects in multiple classes.

 

What can you do with a Communication Studies major from UCM?

A bachelor’s in Communication Studies is one of the most valuable degrees you can take into the workforce. The interpersonal communication, teamwork, writing and public speaking skills you’ll pick up and hone as a Communication Studies major at the University of Central Missouri can make you a versatile, competitive prospect in the job market. 

In fact, 95% of graduates from the University of Central Missouri’s Communication Studies program report feeling prepared to enter the job market upon graduation. Plus, 95% start their career or grad school within six months of completing our undergraduate program.

UCM Communications Studies majors have gone on to establish successful careers in an array of fields, including:

• Human resources
• Public relations
• Advertising and marketing
• Sales
• Community relations
• Writing and publishing
• Recruiting 
• Management

Learn more about careers in communication studies 

Explore possible career pathways that a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies can open for you using the interactive tool below. Gain insights into potential earnings, job outlooks and more.

 

 

Financial assistance options for your Communication Studies degree

Did you know that 94% of UCM undergraduates receive financial aid? We believe that you shouldn’t have to go into massive debt to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, and we work hard to make education affordable for our students. 

Tuition at UCM is lower than many other colleges in Missouri and is lower than the national average. We award $21 million in institutional aid to students annually. In fact, we’re ranked as a top overall university nationally for low student debt by LendEDU. Explore all the ways you can pursue a Communication Studies degree affordably by visiting our Financing Your Education page.

You can learn more about program-specific scholarships with the UCM Scholarship Finder.