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Bachelor of Arts in Communications

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Grand Canyon University's Bachelor of Arts in Communications program develops leaders in the fields of human communication and media. The program is built on a values-based liberal arts foundation. Students develop the knowledge, creativity, and intermodal communication skills necessary to design and deliver compelling messages.

General Education Requirements

General Education coursework prepares Grand Canyon University graduates to think critically, communicate clearly, live responsibly in a diverse world, and thoughtfully integrate their faith and ethical convictions into all dimensions of life. These competencies, essential to an effective and satisfying life, are outlined in the General Education Learner Outcomes. General Education courses embody the breadth of human understanding and creativity contained in the liberal arts and sciences tradition. Students take an array of foundational knowledge courses that promote expanded knowledge, insight, and the outcomes identified in the University's General Education Competencies. The knowledge and skills students acquire through these courses serve as a foundation for successful careers and lifelong journeys of growing understanding and wisdom.

Competency Requirements GCU Course Options Total Credits
University Foundations Upon completion of the Grand Canyon University's University Foundation experience, students will be able to demonstrate competency in the areas of academic skills and self-leadership. They will be able to articulate the range of resources available to assist them, explore career options related to their area of study, and have knowledge of Grand Canyon's community. Students will be able to demonstrate foundational academic success skills, explore GCU resources (CLA, Library, Career Center, ADA office, etc), articulate strategies of self-leadership and management and recognize opportunities to engage in the GCU community. Students with fewer than 24 credits will fulfill the University Foundations requirement with a specified lower-division course. An upper-division selection will be made available to students that enter the university with more than 24 credits. UNV-103/303, University Success: 4 credits 4 credits
Effective Communication Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to construct rhetorically effective communications appropriate to diverse audiences, purposes, and occasions (English composition, communication, critical reading, foreign language, sign language, etc.). Students are required to take 3 credits of English grammar or composition. UNV-104, 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: 4 credits

ENG-105, English Composition I: 4 credits

ENG-106, English Composition II: 4 credits		 9-12 credits
Christian Worldview Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to express aspects of Christian heritage and worldview. Students are required to take CWV 101. CWV-101, Christian Worldview: 4 credits 4 credits
Critical Thinking Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to use various analytic and problem-solving skills to examine, evaluate, and/or challenge ideas and arguments (mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, physical geography, ecology, economics, theology, logic, philosophy, technology, statistics, accounting, etc.). Students are required to take 3 credits of intermediate algebra or higher. PHI-105, 21st Century Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: 4 credits

MAT-134, Applications of Algebra: 4 credits

BIO-220, Environmental Science: 4 credits		 11-12 credits
Global Awareness, Perspective and Ethics Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to demonstrate awareness and appreciation of and empathy for differences in arts and culture, values, experiences, historical perspectives, and other aspects of life (psychology, sociology, government, Christian studies, Bible, geography, anthropology, economics, political science, child and family studies, law, ethics, crosscultural studies, history, art, music, dance, theater, applied arts, literature, health, etc.). HIS-221, Themes in U. S. History: 4 credits

PSY-100, Psychology in Everyday Life: 4 credits

SOC-100, Everyday Sociology: 4 credits

If the predefined course is a part of the major, students need to take an additional course.		 6-8 credits

Courses

Course Number Course Title Course Description Credits
COM-126 Communications and the Media This course is a study of media history and theory with an emphasis on the implications and impact of mass messages on meaning, culture, and society. 4
COM-151 History and Criticism of Visual Media This course presents the history of visual art and its connection and influence on modern media. Students gain an artistic vocabulary by becoming familiar with many kinds of visual art, developing their skills in visual analysis, increasing their understanding of aesthetic theory, and applying that understanding in presentations. Prerequisite: COM 126. 4
COM-231 Persuasive Theory This course is a study of the theory and practice of communication as it relates to influencing attitude and behavioral change. The course begins by presenting a historical overview of persuasive theory from its classical beginnings and progresses to analyzing persuasive strategies and their use by contemporary practitioners. Examples for analysis are taken from advertising, public relations, religion, sales, politics, and propaganda. 4
PHI-305 Ethical Thinking in the Liberal Arts This course considers the role that ethical thinking plays in the liberal arts. Topics are set in historic, literary, artistic, political, philosophical, religious, social, and scientific perspectives. The impact and contributions of leaders in these fields are also considered. 4
COM-302 Writing for the Media This course is a study of the content, styles, and formats of media writing, with an emphasis on the differences in writing across diverse media modalities. 4
COM-311 Principles of Public Relations This course presents an overview of the theory and practice of public relations, media relations, promotion, research, and campaigns, as well as an application of theory, through problem solving and case study. 4
COM-315 Intercultural Communications This course creates an awareness of the skills necessary to promote positive communication and relationships across cultural differences. Students explore verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors. Other cultures are explored through an examination of demographics, family structure, religion, politics, education, social life, art, and literature. 4
COM-321 Public Relations Writing and Design This course is a study of planning, producing, and evaluating written public relations messages for and from a variety of media, including print, broadcast, and the Web. Student writing assignments include news releases, newsletters, public service announcements, coverage memos, position papers, background papers, reports, and proposals. 4
COM-331 Visual Media and Storytelling This course focuses on the elements that make up almost all storytelling. Students are encouraged to discover and develop their unique voices as writers and storytellers, while understanding the critical importance of working as part of a creative team. This course emphasizes the use of traditional storytelling, classic mythology, and the ways in which these devices apply to contemporary media. 4
COM-435 Consumer Communications and Behavior This course provides an integrated marketing communications perspective for today's changing world as well as a behavioral science approach that studies distinct buyer strategies and decision-making processes of purchase by consumers. Topics include external and internal influences on today's buyers, purchase and postpurchase processes, customer satisfaction, customer commitment, branding and positioning, creative strategies, media strategies, distribution strategies, and integrated marketing communications. 4
COM-445 Communication Issues and Critical Thinking This course provides a capstone, or practicum, for the communications student that facilitates the practical application of historical and modern communications styles across modalities in language that is industry-specific. The course emphasizes the ethical and social responsibility of communications in real-world situations. 4
Required Course Total Credit:44


General Education Requirements:34 - 40 credits
Courses:44 credits
Open Elective Credits:36 - 42 credits
Total Degree Requirements:120 credits


Disclosure

Books & Supplies (Per Program) Tuition & Fees (Per Program) Room & Board
(Per Semester, If Applicable)		 On Time Graduation Rate Median Private Loan Debt Median TIV Loan Debt Median Institutional Financing Plan Debt
Non-Traditional Traditional Non-Traditional Traditional Non-Traditional Traditional Non-Traditional Traditional Non-Traditional Traditional Non-Traditional Traditional
$1,400 $3,200 $54,550 $66,150 $2,965 N/A 100% N/A N/A N/A $12,635 N/A N/A

Program SOC

OccupationsSOC Code and Link
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1122.00
Public Address System and Other Announcers 27-3012.00
Public Relations Specialists 27-3031.00
Technical Writers 27-3042.00
Copy Writers 27-3043.04
Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers 27-3043.05
Actors 27-2011.00
Broadcast News Analysts 27-3021.00
Desktop Publishers 43-9031.00
Editors 27-3041.00
Reporters and Correspondents 27-3022.00
Technical Writer 27-3042.00
Writers and Authors 27-3043.00
Producers 27-2012.01

* Program subject to change.

  1. It is the policy of the University to collect and remit sales, use, excise and/or gross receipts taxes in compliance with state and local taxing jurisdiction regulations which require the University to remit tax where applicable. These regulations vary by location. Please note: It is also the policy of the University to require payment of sales, use, excise, and/or gross receipts tax. Payment of tax is ultimately the student's financial responsibility to the University regardless of financing arrangements.

    Per Hawaii requirements: It is hereby stated that students residing in the State of Hawaii will be charged Hawaii General Excise Tax on all transactions. Students living in the District of Oahu will be charged 4.5%. Students residing in other Hawaii districts will be charged 4.0%.
  2. Book costs are based on an average. Costs may increase or decrease depending on electronic availability or publisher's book costs.
  3. Room and board costs may be higher or lower depending on housing and meal plan choice. This number is based on an average for students on campus.
  4. Some Non-Traditional programs may be offered on the ground campus or on-line.
  5. N/A identifies that a program is not offered in that modality or that fewer than 10 students graduated within the reported timeframe.
  6. Tuition and Fees for each program are based on current rates. Future Tuition and Fee Rates may vary. Tuition was calculated using the number of credit hours in the program times the current tuition rate.
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