Bachelor’s in Communications Degree

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Overview

Communicate With Confidence and Authority

Interpersonal and organizational communication is the foundation of human societies. As a communications degree major at Grand Canyon University, you will explore the principles and best practices of communication exchanges. The BA in Communications is offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at GCU. It examines interpersonal and organizational communications, with an emphasis on the latter to help prepare you to pursue your professional objectives. 

Why GCU

Earn Your BA in Communications at GCU

You will be immersed within an academically stimulating learning environment that encourages you to tackle communication challenges head-on and work toward personal and professional growth. This program examines effective communication strategies across different settings and situations while addressing professional ethics.

The comprehensive curriculum in this bachelor’s in communications degree program offers numerous opportunities for thoughtful reflection and skills development. 

Pursue an Online Bachelor’s in Communications

GCU’s online learning platform can provide greater accessibility to your coursework, which may offer more convenience and flexibility as you pursue higher education. As an online student, you can enjoy interactions with peers and instructors, and the same quality of instruction as our on-campus students. 

Take Your Communication Courses on Campus

In addition to the digital format, this degree in Communications is available via in-person classes for those who seek a traditional on-campus college experience. As an on-campus student, you will be immersed within our faith-based campus environment, which offers numerous and ongoing opportunities to reaffirm your faith through worship activities, peer groups and community service initiatives.

Coursework

Core Competencies and Coursework

This degree program integrates a research-based approach into the curriculum, which is designed to provide you with a thorough framework for achieving your personal and professional goals. Beyond having opportunities to become an effective communicator and presenter of ideas, you will be taught key advocacy and conflict-resolution skills. This will involve exploring small group exchanges, public relations fundamentals, critical thinking skills and ethical decision-making. 

Some of the core concepts that are integral to the communications degree program include the following:

The principles and elements of argumentation and advocacy

The fundamentals of public relations

Conflict and negotiation communication in interpersonal, organizational and international contexts

Communication research design, implementation and interpretation

The Christian Perspective on Persuasion and Influence

As a private Christian university, GCU emphasizes the role of ethics in decision-making and business leadership. You are encouraged to explore the Christian worldview and understand how it applies to everyday situations. The instructors will help guide you in considering how to become an effective servant leader. 

Some of the additional core competencies you will examine as a communications major include the following: 

  • The theoretical art of persuasion and its strategic applications in communication campaigns
  • Communication styles, rituals and traditions, including verbal and nonverbal communication, in a diverse and intercultural world
  • The expression and interpretation of communications in everyday personal interactions
  • Principles and processes of small group communication, including skills pertaining to participation and leadership

Examine Powerful Communication Skills To Inspire and Influence 

GCU strives to graduate work-ready professionals who are fully equipped to apply best practices in communications across a variety of settings and industries. You will be expected to develop foundational skills that are applicable to a wide range of professional functions, including public relations, sales and marketing, human resources and political communications. 

Some of the skills you will be taught in this degree program include the following:

How to improve relational quality through communications

How to thoroughly analyze the effectiveness of a communications campaign

The implementation of communications theories in everyday situations

The development of leadership skills

Careers

Career Paths for Communications Majors

Skills taught in a communications degree program can help enhance career paths across many fields and areas of expertise. Regardless of your career direction, you can continue to develop and apply your communication skills in diverse situations and settings.

An in-person or online communications degree can help lay the foundation for pursuing careers across various fields, industries and roles including:

Public relations specialist

Public relations manager

Broadcast announcer

Radio disc jockey

Media and communication worker

$66,320

Median annual wage for media and communication occupations as of May 20231

Accreditation

Complete Your Degree From an Institutionally Accredited University 

Our instructors are qualified individuals who are knowledgeable in their fields. We prioritize the quality of our education with the intention of preparing our graduates to tackle modern challenges across every industry. GCU is proud to be continually accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies. 

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about earning your bachelor’s degree in communications with our answers to these frequently asked questions.

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Start Communicating With Purpose

Use a communications degree to pursue a variety of careers across industries. 

Apply Now

1 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Media and Communication Occupations as of May 2023, retrieved Aug. 7, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates in media and communication occupations, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.

2 Keiling, H. (2024, April 18). 16 Top Jobs for Graduates with Communications Degrees. Indeed. Retrieved Aug. 7, 2024.

3 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Public Relations and Fundraising Managers as of May 2023, retrieved Sept. 23, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as public relations and fundraising managers, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.

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