Communication Studies
The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies at Kent State University is a fully online program that provides students with a strong foundation in communication theory, media studies, and interpersonal communication. This program prepares graduates for diverse careers in public relations, media, corporate communication, and more, offering flexibility and valuable skills for today’s fast-paced communication landscape.
Communication Studies Bachelor’s Degree Program Overview
When employers are asked what they look for in new hires, communication skills top the list every time. The key to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies is flexibility. The curriculum allows students to design an individual, communication-based program of coursework that prepares them for the future. The Communication Studies major provides students with the knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed across professional industries — from government and business to nonprofits and education. The program’s mission is to teach students to communicate effectively, lead responsibly, understand how communication affects identities, communities and cultures, think analytically and reason critically.
The Communication Studies major comprises the following concentrations (both of which are offered in-person or fully online):
- The Applied Communication concentration allows students to gain expertise in organizational communication, advanced presentational speaking, professional writing and visual design. Students combine theoretical knowledge and technical skills while mastering professional tasks such as conducting training seminars, creating web content, designing promotional materials, managing communication campaigns and writing press releases.
- The Communication Studies–General concentration features flexibility and choice. Students create a personalized plan of study tailored to their specific academic interests and career goals in areas such as global and intercultural communication, advocacy, social media, corporate communication and workplace consulting, presentational and motivational speaking, campaign design and more. This concentration is appropriate for those who have diverse academic interests. It permits students to take courses across the schools in the College of Communication and Information and provides space for electives that students could use to pursue a minor in another discipline.
Students may apply early to the following master’s degree programs and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Program Policy in the University Catalog for more information.
- Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies
- Master of Arts degree in Media and Journalism
- Master of Arts degree in Visual Communication Design
- Master of Library Information Science degree in Library and Information Science
- Master of Science degree in Emerging Media and Technology
- Master of Science degree in Health Informatics
- Master of Science degree in Knowledge Management
- Master of Science degree in User Experience
There are many study abroad/away opportunities. For more information contact the Office of Global Education or coordinator of the college’s International Study Programs.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Display competence in verbal, nonverbal and written communication.
- Advocate courses of action to stimulate improved decision-making.
- Influence others through demonstrated presentational speaking skills.
- Communicate ethically.
- Foster inclusive dialogues and tailor messages that respect diversity, empower others and bring about social change.
- Articulate creative, effective and evidenced-based solutions to communication problems.
- Coordinate action, solve problems, foster well-being, engage in critical thinking and participate in civic life.
- Communicate effectively in a technological, multicultural and global society to bring about meaningful social change.
- Apply information and media literacy in an effective and ethical manner.
The program learning outcomes reflect the university’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, creativity and community outreach and engagement.
Graduation Requirements:
- Minimum Overall GPA 2.0000; Minimum Major GPA 2.250
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Display competence in verbal, nonverbal, and written communication.
- Advocate courses of action to stimulate improved decision-making.
- Influence others through demonstrated presentational speaking skills.
- Communicate ethically.
- Foster inclusive dialogues and tailor messages that respect diversity, empower others and bring about social change.
- Articulate creative, effective, and evidence-based solutions to communication problems.
- Coordinate action, solve problems, foster well-being, engage in critical thinking, and participate in civic life.
- Communicate effectively in a technological, multicultural, and global society to bring about meaningful social change.
- Apply information and media literacy in an effective and ethical manner.
Program Structure
- 120 minimum total credits: 40 program requirements, 34 Kent Core credits, 37 general elective credits, and 9 CCI core elective credits
- Communication Studies-General concentration comprises 6 credits of Communication Studies (COMM) electives, and 12 credits of Communication Studies (COMM) upper-division electives (30000 or 40000 level)
- Applied Communication concentration
Communication Studies Bachelor’s Degree Program Admissions Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog’s Academic Policies.
Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program’s Coursework tab.
Important Dates
Program Courses
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| COMM 15000 | INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) | 3 |
| COMM 26000 | CRITICISM OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE (DIVD) (KHUM) | 3 |
| COMM 35852 | INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (DIVG) | |
| COMM 35912 | GENDER AND COMMUNICATION (DIVD) | |
| COMM 46605 | COMMUNICATION ACROSS THE LIFESPAN (DIVD) | |
| COMM 34000 | DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN COMMUNICATION (WIC) 1 | 3 |
| COMM 45902 | COMMUNICATION AND INFLUENCE (WIC) | |
| COMM 45092 | INTERNSHIP IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES (ELR) 2 | 3 |
| COMM 46091 | SENIOR SEMINAR (ELR) | |
| EMAT 10310 | MY STORY ON THE WEB | 3 |
| Communication Studies (COMM) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) | 6 | |
| Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| College of Communication and Information Core Electives, choose from the following: | 9 | |
| CCI 10095 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION | |
| CCI 12001 | PHOTOGRAPHY | |
| CCI 40089 | BRANDING AND SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES FOR ITALIAN LIFESTYLE (DIVG) (ELR) | |
| CCI 40095 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION | |
| CCI 40189 | ITALIAN POP CULTURE (DIVG) (ELR) | |
| CCI 40289 | ITALIAN CINEMA (DIVG) (ELR) | |
| CCI 40389 | DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING (DIVG) (ELR) | |
| CCI 40489 | MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (DIVG) (ELR) | |
| CCI 45089 | INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (DIVG) (ELR) | |
| CCI 46089 | INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (DIVG) (ELR) | |
| EMAT 25310 | CREATIVE CODING | |
| EMAT 33310 | HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION | |
| LIS 30010 | INFORMATION FLUENCY IN THE WORKPLACE AND BEYOND | |
| MDJ 20001 | MEDIA, POWER AND CULTURE (DIVD) (KSS) | |
| MDJ 21008 | SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES | |
| UXD 20001 | INTRODUCTION TO USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN | |
| VCD 13000 | VISUAL DESIGN THINKING | |
| Kent Core Composition | 6 | |
| Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning | 3 | |
| Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 3 | 9 | |
| Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 4 | 6 | |
| Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 | |
| Kent Core Additional | 3 | |
| General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 5 | 38 | |
| Concentrations | ||
| Choose from the following: | 18 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 | |
1A minimum C grade is required in COMM 34000 or COMM 45902 to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement
2Students may apply a maximum of 6 credit hours of COMM 45092 toward their major requirements.
3Students who take COMM 26000 will need to fulfill 6 credit hours of Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts. Students who do not take COMM 26000 will need to fulfill 9 credit hours of Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts.
4Students who take MDJ 20001 to fulfill a College of Communication and Information Core Elective will need to fulfill 3 credit hours of Kent Core Social Sciences. Students who do not take MDJ 20001 will need to fulfill 6 credit hours of Kent Core Social Sciences.
5A maximum of 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses may be applied toward the degree program.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| COMM 35864 | ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| COMM 45807 | HIGH IMPACT PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING | 3 |
| VCD 37000 | VISUAL DESIGN FOR MEDIA | 3 |
| Communication and Information Interdisciplinary Electives, choose from the following: | 6 | |
| Any Communication and Information (CCI) course | ||
| Any Emerging Media and Technology (EMAT) course | ||
| Any Library and Information Science (LIS) course | ||
| Any Media and Journalism (MDJ) course | ||
| Any User Experience Design (UXD) course | ||
| Any Visual Communication Design (VCD) course | ||
| Additional Concentration Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| Any Communication and Information (CCI) course | ||
| Any Communication Studies (COMM) course | ||
| Any Emerging Media and Technology (EMAT) course | ||
| Any Library and Information Science (LIS) course | ||
| Any Media and Journalism (MDJ) course | ||
| Any User Experience Design (UXD) course | ||
| Any Visual Communication Design (VCD) course | ||
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| Communication Studies (COMM) Electives | 6 | |
| Communication Studies (COMM) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) | 12 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
Communication Studies Bachelor’s Degree Program Tuition and Fees
Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
| $592.97 | $1,778.91 | $52,200 full-time1 |
Non-Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
| $602.97 | $1,808.91 | $53,400 full-time2 |
1The flat-rate semester fee of $6,526.80 applies to full-time Ohio resident undergraduate students taking between 12-18 credit hours per semester. This program is calculated at 8 semesters. For part-time semesters: The $592.97 per-credit-hour tuition rate applies to part-time Ohio resident undergraduate students taking fewer than 12 credit hours per semester.
2The flat-rate semester fee of $6,526.80 applies to full-time non-Ohio resident undergraduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking between 12-18 credit hours, PLUS a surcharge of $10 per credit hour of actual credits taken (between 12-18 semester credits or $120-$180). This program is calculated at 8 (15 hour) semesters. For part-time semesters: The $602.97 per-credit-hour tuition rate applies to part-time non-Ohio resident undergraduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking fewer than 12 credit hours per semester, PLUS a surcharge of $10 per credit hour.
The tuition listed above is for the Kent campus. The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies is offered at both the Kent campus and one or more Regional campus. The tuition rate will be assessed individually for each campus, however, the individual tuition assessments added together will not exceed the Kent campus flat rate capped at between 12-18 credits. If the tuition added together for each campus does exceed that amount, then the student account will be adjusted. Please visit the Admissions website for information regarding Regional campus tuition.
An additional Distance Learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change.
Total program cost based on Tuition Guarantee Program for a full-time student taking 12-18 credit hours for 8 semesters. Actual tuition costs may vary based on a student’s chosen academic plan. For a complete listing of tuition rates for approved online programs, please contact Kent State’s Financial, Billing & Enrollment Center at 330-672-6000 or via our website Contact Us link.
The total program costs are estimates and are not final or binding. Program costs are based on standard fees, but fees may vary based on the actual classes taken. Kent State University disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance upon these program cost estimates by any person. Program costs are subject to change without notice.
Careers
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Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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