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Online Bachelor's Degree BA in Communication

Learn Critical, Universal Communication Skills with a Communication Degree Online

Online Communications BA Program Overview Video

Learn about the tools and techniques you need to get your message across masterfully, while leveraging emerging technologies, with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree online at Southern New Hampshire University.

Employers often cite good communication skills as one of the most critical qualifications in a prospective employee. Our online BA in Communications, with its emphasis on communication theory and industry-specific concepts, will help you strengthen your ability to communicate effectively.

Gain the communication, computer and graphic design skills to help prepare you for careers in advertising, corporate communications, public relations, social media strategy and more with our BA in Communication degree online.

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Concentrations
Communication (BA) - New Media
Communication (BA) - Professional Writing
Communication (BA) - Public Relations

See Yourself Succeed in Communication

Courses in our communication degree online program will help you develop and hone your skills in critical thinking, writing, research and analysis. As emerging technology continues to make the business world smaller, effective written and verbal communication skills will be more important than ever before. Our BA in Communication will thoroughly prepare you to jump right into a role in related fields.

All of our degrees are transfer-friendly, but that's especially true of this degree. Whether you pursue the BA in Communication on its own or tailor your communication degree with a concentration, you'll have a choice of 33 free electives and a wide variety of courses to choose from.

As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your BA in Communication at SNHU include:

  • Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation
  • Convenience. Attend class when it’s convenient for you – online education means 24/7 access
  • Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your undergraduate degree at your own pace, over six 8-week terms per year
  • Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience
  • Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for internship and career opportunities
  • Simple application process. Just fill out an online undergraduate application, and we’ll retrieve U.S. transcripts from your previous institutions and automatically complete an official credit evaluation. Plus, there’s no application fee
  • Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study
  • Transfer-friendly enrollment. Transfer up to 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree

Career Outlook

The communication degree online from SNHU prepares you for a career in such industries as advertising, media, communications, broadcast and public relations. Positions in which you may be interested include media manager, journalist, copywriter, account executive and social media specialist.

Curriculum

Curriculum in our BA in Communication program covers a wide range of topics, offering communication theory and industry-specific knowledge you can use to develop your public speaking abilities and presentation skills.

Courses To Prepare You For Your Career

SNHU's bachelor's in communication program includes:

  • General education
  • Degree-specific courses

General Education Program

Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:

  • Writing
  • Communication
  • Analysis
  • Problem solving

All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.

View Full Curriculum in the Catalog
BA in Communication

Courses May Include
ENG 220 Business Communication

This course is a practical introduction to the preparation of business correspondence, employment applications and resumes and formal research reports. Written communication skills are emphasized.
COM 126 Introduction to Mass Communication

This communications survey course covers mass media, culture, and society. The course focuses on how and why the US media operate as they do, as well as on how media performance might be improved.
COM 212 Public Speaking

This course is designed to help students develop abilities, including organization and delivery skills, for all speaking situations. The evaluation and improvement of voice, diction, articulation and posture also are studied. May not be used as literature elective.

COM 227 Public Relations

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of public relations in the United States. Students study the major figures in this field as well as organizations, their behavior, and the relationships between organizations and their publics.
COM 230 Graphics and Layout in Print Media

This course is an introduction to the principles and practices of graphic design. Students are introduced through lecture, demonstration and hands-on computer work to the basic elements of graphic visual communication. Adobe Illustrator is used as a primary tool in exploring visual perception through a variety of creative exercises that familiarize the student with basic visual principles such as figure/ground manipulation, shape grouping, letterform shape creation, and grid and system creation. Formal elements of graphic design such as line, shape, color, texture, pattern, balance, symmetry, rhythm, space and unity are thoroughly explored by example and hands-on computer exercises; special topics included are: designing with type, layout strategies, logo design, symbol and pictogram development and stationery systems.
COM 235 Multimedia Journalism

This writing practicum introduces students to writing for print and electronic media under deadline. Gathering information by using records, documents, observation, interviewing, and the Internet. Emphasis on library resources, electronic databases, and current events. Basic style and editing based on AP Stylebook and Libel Manual and AP Broadcast News Handbook.
COM 310 Social Media

Twitter, Facebook, blogs, podcasts - the possibilities of social media today are countless and ever-changing. This course is a broad approach to the history, theory, technology, impact and strategic uses of social media. These tools are relatively inexpensive and accessible technologies that enable anyone to create, publish, edit and access messages intended for the smallest to the largest of audiences. Students will examine the strategic uses of social media for community building, civic and political participation, advertising, marketing, public relations, and journalism. This course provides hands-on experience with the most current technology.
COM 430 Organizational Communications

This course gives students the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge, and philosophies in organizational communication through lectures, research, readings, discussions, application, and written assignments. Emphasis is placed on verbal and nonverbal communication, cultural communication, interpersonal relationships within organizations, and dealing with the future and change.

Total Credits: 120

Program Outcomes

Communication Technical Requirements

Students enrolled in the Communication program are responsible for ensuring they have the minimum system hardware and software required in the courses. System requirements often change, so it is important that students maintain awareness of the various minimum hardware requirements for the required software listed below.

Required Software:

The full Adobe Creative Cloud Suite is required in COM-230. It is also required for the following elective courses available for communication students: GRA-220, COM-128, COM-232, GRA-310, COM-476.

Creative Cloud licenses are available at an educational discount directly through Adobe.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs Per Course* Per Credit Hour*
Degree/Certificates $960 $320
Degree/Certificates
(U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty) 		$675 $225

*Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

Additional Costs
No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges as well as several other accrediting bodies. More...