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Online Communication Degree Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Ali Rule Lamoureux, who earned her degree from SNHU, standing with her arms folded in front of her and wearing a blue blouse with white flowers.

Cost per credit $330

Total courses 40

Term length 8 weeks

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Program Overview Why get an online communication degree?

Having strong communication skills is vital in any workplace, and it's a characteristic that many people don't possess. By diving into how to communicate with your audience – whether it's one-on-one with a colleague or in an ad you create for a national audience – the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication at Southern New Hampshire University can set you up for success, no matter the industry you're in.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Verbal, visual and written communication
  • Branding and brand management
  • Global communication
  • Creative and critical thinking
  • Presentation skills
  • Strategic storytelling
Ali Rule Lamoureux, who earned her degree from SNHU, pointing to a chart she's holding while talking to a man.

Courses & Curriculum Online communication classes that prepare you for your career

The BA in Communication curriculum covers a wide range of topics, from communication theory to industry-specific knowledge, to help you develop your ability to strategize and deliver effective messages.

Throughout the program, you'll have the opportunity to learn from inspiring instructors – like Telemundo, NFL and MLB anchor Humberto Gurmilan – who have real-world experience in the industry and are committed to helping you earn your degree.

Concentrations

Online communication concentrations

Choose from one of four career-focused concentrations to tailor your degree more closely to your goals.

Build effective communication strategies within an organization by strengthening interpersonal relationships and promoting teamwork when you earn a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Business Communication.

When you get your business communication degree online, you set yourself up for success within workplaces across a variety of industries. This focused BA in Communication gives you the opportunity to develop additional written and oral communication skills that are useful in any professional workplace.

Add a business concentration to your degree, and position yourself to understand and shape communication strategies for real-world workplace dynamics.

Career outlook:

Those in media and communication occupations can continue to see growth in the industry – about 3% through 2032, on pace with the national average for all occupations.1 Some of the roles you may be positioned for could include public relations specialists, technical writers and editors, among many others within the business world.

Courses may include:

  • Business Communication
  • Crisis Communication
  • Leadership and Team Building

 

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New, or digital, media gets newer every day. Writing and producing content for new media platforms – like tweets, online articles and social media campaigns – is essential for today's winning communication strategies. It's the new frontier – and it's here to stay. By pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in New Media, you'll learn how to insert new media into the context of a larger campaign.

The unique courses offered in Southern New Hampshire University's new media concentration delve into a variety of subject areas, including new media technology, social media research and marketing, interpersonal development in mediated environments and content production for new media platforms. This kind of in-depth study is usually found only at the master's level.

The online bachelor's degree in communication and new media will expose you to many areas of the field, including business communication, graphic design and public relations, making you an expert generator of online "buzz" – a value to any organization.

Pursue the online bachelor's in communication and new media, and you'll gain a variety of communication, computer and graphic design skills to help prepare you for careers in management, advertising, media, communications, public relations and more.

If you're interested in this new media concentration, you may also want to check out our online marketing degree, which offers a social media degree concentration and a digital marketing degree concentration.

Career outlook:

As audiences continue to consume media, the need for more attention-grabbing content increases. Media and communication occupations should expect to see 3% growth through 2032.1

Courses may include:

  • New Media Technologies
  • Social Media Marketing Strategy
  • Writing for New Media

 

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If you're interested in learning how to use emerging technologies to communicate effectively in today's world, consider the Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Professional Writing from Southern New Hampshire University.

Earning a professional writing degree online not only makes practical sense, it makes sense career-wise. The program emphasizes the skills necessary to leverage the wide array of platforms available to today's communicators, including the web and social media. You'll learn tools and sharpen techniques to understand copywriting, editing, technical writing and writing for your target audiences. Hand in hand with these skills, you'll gain the analysis and problem-solving abilities necessary to keep up with cultural and technological changes.

When you enroll in the professional writing degree online program, you'll be exposed to critical skills in thinking, writing, research, strategic planning and execution. With focused writing courses, this online BA in Communication with a professional writing concentration places an emphasis on rhetoric and career orientation designed to prepare students as specialists in corporate, government, agency and nonprofit communications.

Our professional writing degree online not only explores traditional communication channels but also trains you to use emerging technologies to communicate effectively.

Career outlook:

By earning your professional writing degree online, you position yourself for a variety of writing careers. Your degree opens doors to such roles as author or technical writer. These occupations are expected to grow in the coming years. Between 2022 and 2032, writing occupations can expect to see 4% growth, while technical writers can expect to see 7% growth in the same time period.1

Courses may include:

  • Technical Writing Communication
  • Writing for New Media
  • Writing for Public Relations

 

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Set yourself up for success in the ever-evolving world of public-facing communication with an online public relations degree concentration, which provides the skills and knowledge necessary to build positive relationships between organizations and a variety of audiences.

Any organization relies on its public relations specialist to craft a favorable public image. By using a wide variety of media platforms and types of communications, public relations specialists serve as the direct line of communication between an organization and the public.

Career outlook:

Within the industry, positions in public relations are expected to grow 6% through 2032, creating 18,000 new jobs.1

Courses may include:

  • Organizational Branding
  • Public Relations
  • Writing for Public Relations
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Upcoming term starts: October 28, 2024 | January 06, 2025

Next term starts:
Sept. 02, 2024

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Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.2% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2023 survey with 21,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

Online Classroom

What does an online course look like?

You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

  • Schedule of weekly assignments
  • Discussion boards
  • Grades
  • Instructor announcements
How to Take an Online Class at SNHU
5 ways SNHU makes the admission process "easy-peasy" #shorts

Admission Applying to SNHU is fast and free

No application fee. No test scores. And no college essay. Just a simple form with basic information. It’s another way SNHU helps you reach your goals sooner.

All it takes is 3 simple steps

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You’ll fill out one form to verify your high school completion or GED. Then, if you’ve attended college before, you’ll submit a form for each school so we can request your transcripts for you. (Also for free!)

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which means we meet certain standards of academic quality, and have the tools and resources necessary for students to be successful. The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

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Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online undergraduate programs

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 120-credit degree*
Full- and part-time students
$330
$990
$39,600
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$231
$693
$27,720

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

$9,900 $14,850 $19,800 $24,750 $29,700
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 30 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $29,700

If 45 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $24,750

If 60 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $19,800

If 75 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $14,850

If 90 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $9,900

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a bachelor's degree. Most bachelor's degrees require 120 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 90 credits, requiring a minimum of 30 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator, and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Career Outlook What can I do with a BA in Communication?

No matter what career path you choose after graduation, one thing is certain – you'll be ready to start the next chapter in your career. The BA in Communication program provides you with a unique opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills employers look for through hands-on learning.

Occupations

The online communication degree prepares you for a career in industries such as new media, advertising, professional writing, communication, broadcast and public relations.

Career opportunities include:

Serve as a liaison between clients and an agency team to bring strategies to life through marketing and advertising execution.

Persuade and educate audiences to purchase products or services by crafting messaging that highlights their benefits.

Plan and execute strategy and messaging for social media to increase brand awareness and build relationships.

3%

Projected job growth for media and communication occupations through 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.1

$66,320

The overall median salary in 2023 for media and communication occupations, according to the BLS.1

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

Faith Ellis, who earned her degree from SNHU in 2021.
Faith Ellis, who earned her degree from SNHU in 2021.

My degree brought me confidence, a wealth of knowledge, and helped me mature and critically think through issues.

Faith Ellis '21

Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers about the online BA in Communication

Yes. Studying communication online is an ideal way to learn more about the subject – especially considering the digital tools and platforms that are crucial to the field today.

In an online BA in Communication program, you'll go through the same type of curriculum and learn the same skills that you'd experience in a brick-and-mortar program, such as how to:

  • Communicate effectively
  • Shape messaging through strategy
  • Problem-solve through creative and critical thinking
  • Master communication tools

Southern New Hampshire University communication graduates have found success in many organizations and industries after they've graduated. Your online degree also positions you well for graduate school, should you choose to pursue a master's in communication or another master's-level program.

Because a communication degrees covers a broad range of topics, it can open the door to a wide range of job opportunities. Employment in media and communication occupations is projected to grow 3% from 2022 to 2032 - which is about as fast as the average for all occupations - and will result in about 114,300 job openings each year. Demand for media and communication occupations is expected to arise from the need to create, edit, translate and disseminate information through a variety of different platforms.1

Additionally, the median annual wage for media and communication occupations (such as announcers, interpreters and translators, and technical writers) was $66,320 in 2023.1 By comparison, the median annual wage for all occupations was $48,060.1

Courses in our online degree program are designed to build your communication skills: oral, written and visual. In addition, the program can develop your savvy in:

  • Branding
  • Global communication
  • Law and ethics
  • Presentation skills
  • Strategic storytelling

You'll have a variety of electives to choose from to round out your degree. Some of these include courses like:

  • Crisis Communication
  • Digital Graphic Design for the Web
  • Digital Photography
  • Electronic Public Relations
  • Introduction to Screenwriting Workshop
  • Leadership and Team Building
  • Social Media Marketing Strategy
  • Web Site Design

If you know there's an area of communication you'd like to focus on, opt out of choosing your own electives and add a concentration to your online communication degree. A specialized degree lets you learn even more in a specific area of the field.

For example, we offer concentrations in business communication, new media, professional writing and public relations. Choose the track that matches your career goals, and you'll take 4 courses that can help you tailor your degree to them. Each class gives you hands-on experience that can give an extra boost to your resume.

Earning a degree in liberal arts – like communication – is a great choice for students because there are so many opportunities to pursue a degree in the subject.

When you think of a communication degree, there are a handful of professions that immediately come to mind, like journalism or public relations. But there are a number of others that you should think about – fields you could enter immediately after graduation, and others that may require additional training or education:

  • Advertising, brand & digital strategy
  • Content writing, copywriting & editing
  • Education
  • Fundraising & event planning
  • Law & lobbying
  • Marketing and product marketing
  • Politics
  • Public relations & journalism
  • Sales
  • Social media
  • Web content

If you decide to pursue your communications degree online, keep in mind that you won't have to limit your career options – you'll have plenty of opportunities you'll be prepared for.

Communication is important because it's a part of everything we do – every human interaction depends on effective communication.

The National Communication Association says that communication is "the discipline that studies all forms, modes, media and consequences of communication through humanistic, social scientific and aesthetic inquiry."2

Everything we say, write or see is a form of communication. They are all messages meant for an audience to receive and decode. And that's why communicators must choose each word and element wisely.

As a student in an online communication degree program, you'll gain a new perspective on what it takes to communicate effectively with others. You'll also gain media literacy skills, allowing you to better interpret messages communicated to you.

Because you'll develop advanced communication skills – a trait employers actively seek out – you could be sought after in a wide variety of industries you're interested in.

Career opportunities for those with an online communications degree are broad: They can position you for jobs in a wide range of industries, which means they can also offer you a variety of salaries.

Overall, media and communication occupations reportedly paid a median annual wage of $66,320 in May 2023.1

Here's a look at what some specific occupations within communications paid for a median salary in that same time period:1

  • Editors: $75,020
  • Public relations specialists: $66,750
  • Reporters, correspondents and broadcast news analysts: $57,500
  • Technical writers: $80,050
  • Writers and authors: $73,690

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects new communications jobs to be created from the need for more information through a variety of platforms.1

New media is a broad term used to describe essentially all digitally-based media we see and experience. While new media in the early 1900s may have consisted of radio and film, today new media includes web-based/cloud email and computing, the wide expanse of the Internet, social media channels (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) and smartphone applications.

David Gerrold, a popular science fiction author, once said, "What's interesting about the shift from an industrial age to a technological age is that we keep inventing new media: movies, records, radio, television, the Internet and now ebooks – and one of the things that's most interesting about the invention of a new medium is watching it reinvent itself as it penetrates the culture."

The one thing "new media" in our culture represents is ever-changing technology.

By earning a communication degree with a concentration in new media, you'll gain an advantage within careers in this ever-broadening field.

As co-founder of Microsoft Bill Gates once explained, technology and business go hand in hand: "Information technology and business are becoming inextricably interwoven. I don't think anybody can talk meaningfully about one without talking about the other."

The job market seems to be opening up for precisely this type of employment.

The internet has changed the ways in which we engage with others, but the basic need to communicate with others is historically part of what drives us as human beings, and that won't change. Digital/internet-based communication is what helps us to reach business and personal communication goals, as they offer unique ways to create, innovate and communicate.

Digitally based interactions are fast, far-reaching and a low-cost endeavor compared to traditional media marketing (newspapers, television, radio, etc.) for businesses looking to grow.

Your path can take you just about anywhere you would like to go. While some positions are usually found in companies that boast 100 or more employees, every size business uses new media to keep ahead of the pack. As diverse as the population is, with as many employment options as there are, combined with the sheer expanse of the internet, you can find a way to use what you've learned. In fact, not many industries forgo digital involvement these days no matter the size of the payroll. Whether you are taking over the family shop that is boutique-sized or you are at the helm of a Fortune 500 company's marketing plan, SNHU provides the skills necessary to enter or advance in the world of new media.

Traditionally, a 120-credit bachelor's degree in communication takes a student about 4 years to complete.

However, at SNHU, that isn't always the case.

SNHU also accepts up to 90 transfer credits toward your bachelor's in communication, meaning you could have as few as 10 courses – and as few as 5 terms – to get your degree.

With six 8-week terms per year and the ability to take one course (half-time), or two courses (full-time), reaching the end may be sooner than you think.

The courses in the online bachelor’s in communication program can vary depending on which concentration you choose, or any transfer credit you may bring in.

You can determine which courses will be required for you specifically through an official evaluation of previous transcripts. Apply today to get started.

Related Articles

Sources & Citations

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet at:

  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/ (viewed April 24, 2024)

Cited projections may not reflect local or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

2National Communication Association, What is communication, on the internet, at https://www.natcom.org/about-nca/what-communication (viewed April 28, 2021).