Communication Studies
How people create meaning and persuade through communication.
Communication studies examines how humans communicate, interpersonally, in groups, through media, and publicly, drawing on theory from rhetoric, psychology, and media studies. It's broader than journalism or PR, covering the underlying dynamics of persuasion, meaning-making, and relationships.
Coursework mixes theory courses (rhetoric, media theory) with applied skill-building (public speaking, interpersonal communication), and many programs let students concentrate in an area like organizational communication, media studies, or public relations.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Introduction to Communication Theory
- ✓Public Speaking
- ✓Interpersonal Communication
- ✓Media Studies
- ✓Rhetorical Theory & Criticism
- ✓Organizational Communication
- ✓Research Methods
- ✓Senior Capstone Project
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Introduction to Communication Theory
- +General education requirement
- ✓Public Speaking
- +General education requirement
- ✓Interpersonal Communication
- +General education requirement
- ✓Media Studies
- +Free elective
- ✓Rhetorical Theory & Criticism
- +Free elective
- ✓Organizational Communication
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Research Methods
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Senior Capstone Project
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Interested in how messages, media, and persuasion work
- ★Comfortable speaking and presenting publicly
- ★Wants a flexible degree applicable across many industries
- ★Curious about media's role in shaping public opinion
Common minors & double-major pairings
Marketing · Psychology · Political Science
Roles this major could lead to
Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.
UX Designer
Designs how digital products work and feel from the user's perspective.
UX Writer / Content Designer
Writes the words inside a product, buttons, error messages, onboarding, that guide users.
Video Editor
Assembles raw footage into a finished, coherent video.
Marketing Manager
Plans and oversees campaigns that build awareness and drive customer action.
Content Strategist
Plans what content an organization creates and why, across channels.
Social Media Manager
Manages an organization's presence and engagement on social platforms.
Public Relations Specialist
Manages how an organization communicates with media and the public.
Copywriter
Writes persuasive text for ads, marketing, and brand messaging.
SEO Specialist
Optimizes content and websites to rank well in search results.
Journalist / Reporter
Researches, verifies, and reports news and stories to the public.
Technical Writer
Writes documentation that explains how a product or system works.
Instructional Designer
Designs curriculum, courses, or training materials based on learning research.
Legislative Aide / Staffer
Supports an elected official's policy work, research, and constituent services.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Communication Studies major?
How people create meaning and persuade through communication.
What courses do Communication Studies majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Introduction to Communication Theory, Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Communication Studies program?
Communication Studies coursework typically builds skills like Public speaking and presentation, Persuasive and analytical writing, Understanding media effects and messaging, Interpersonal and group communication strategy.
Is Communication Studies a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Interested in how messages, media, and persuasion work" or "Comfortable speaking and presenting publicly" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What can you do with a Communication Studies degree?
Majors in this field often go on to roles like UX Designer, UX Writer / Content Designer, Video Editor. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.
What other majors pair well with Communication Studies?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Marketing, Psychology, Political Science.
How is Communication Studies different from Journalism?
They're related but distinct. Communication Studies: How people create meaning and persuade through communication. Journalism: Reporting, verifying, and telling stories that inform the public. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Communication Studies degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
From our guides
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/communication-studies