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The Communication (BA) at the University of Connecticut explores how people, organizations and societies communicate across interpersonal, intercultural, organizational and media environments. It suits students interested in careers in public relations, marketing, digital media, advertising, corporate communication, government and other communication-focused fields while building strong research, writing, persuasion and multimedia skills.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1: Students begin with the foundations of communication through COMM 1000 – The Process of Communication and COMM 1100 – Principles of Public Speaking. These courses introduce fundamental communication concepts and develop students' ability to communicate effectively in professional and public settings.
Year 2: Students move into core areas such as COMM 2100 – Professional Communication, COMM 2200 – Interpersonal Communication, and COMM 2300 – Effects of Mass Media. Students learn how communication works in professional environments, relationships and media settings while beginning to identify areas they want to specialize in.
Year 3: Students can explore more specialized subjects such as COMM 2500 – Persuasion, COMM 2600 – Media in the Information Age, and COMM 2700 – Fundamentals of Digital Production. COMM 2000Q – Research Methods in Communication also develops students' ability to conduct and evaluate communication research.
Year 4: Students deepen their specialization through advanced courses such as COMM 3510 – Marketing Communication, COMM 4530W – Public Relations Writing, COMM 4640 – Social Media for Strategic Communication, or COMM 3700 – Visual Communications. Courses such as COMM 4979 – Digital Portfolio, COMM 4981 – Internship in Communication, COMM 4982 – Research Practicum, and COMM 4997W – Senior Thesis allow students to apply their learning professionally or through research.
Focus Areas
Professional communication, interpersonal communication, media effects and audiences, communication in context, persuasion and promotion, communication technology, multimedia production
Learning Outcomes
Communication theory, research and inquiry, audience-focused message creation, critical analysis, public discourse, ethical communication, interpersonal communication, professional communication, persuasive communication, digital and multimedia communication
Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
The Communication BA is housed within UConn's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and emphasizes communication theory, research methods, professional practice and hands-on learning. The program prepares students for communication careers across advertising, digital media, government, marketing, public relations and related fields.
Reputation & Employability
UConn's Department of Communication has 800+ undergraduate Communication majors and reports that 90% of majors achieve positive outcomes within six months of graduation. The department also ranks 8th out of 227 departments nationwide for total research articles published, demonstrating a strong research environment.
UConn combines communication theory with practical experiences through internships, research practicums, multimedia production and digital portfolio development. Students can work with professional organizations, participate in faculty research, create communication products and build experience that can be demonstrated to employers after graduation:
• COMM 4981 – Internship in Communication — Students can complete supervised fieldwork with a professional communication organization and earn academic credit during the academic year or summer.
• Professional Internship Sites — Previous students have interned with organizations including NBC, NBCUniversal, ESPN, Travelers, The Hartford, Aetna and Cigna, as well as public relations, advertising, marketing and event-management organizations.
• COMM 4982 – Research Practicum in Communication — Students can work as research assistants supporting faculty and graduate students with library research, coding, data analysis, focus groups and interviews.
• COMM 4996 – Undergraduate Research in Communication — Students can design and conduct their own communication research projects under faculty supervision, providing preparation for graduate study.
• COMM 4979 – Digital Portfolio — Students can develop a digital portfolio showcasing communication projects and professional skills for potential employers.
• COMM 4799 – Independent Study in Multimedia Production — Students can pursue focused multimedia production work with faculty guidance and develop specialized production experience.
• COMM 4997W – Senior Thesis — Honors students can complete an independent research project on a communication topic with support from a thesis advisor.
• Communication Technology & Digital Production — Courses such as COMM 2700 – Fundamentals of Digital Production, COMM 3600 – New Communication Technologies, and COMM 4640 – Social Media for Strategic Communication develop skills relevant to modern digital communication.
• Career Preparation — UConn's Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills provides one-on-one career coaching, resume and interview preparation, internship and job-search assistance, graduate-school guidance, alumni connections and professional events.
The Communication BA provides a flexible foundation for careers across corporate communication, marketing, public relations, digital media, government, healthcare, education and nonprofit organizations. UConn Communication alumni have moved into roles involving digital marketing, public relations, communication planning, social media strategy, production and project coordination.
Possible career paths: Communication Specialist, Public Relations Specialist, Digital Marketing Specialist, Social Media Strategist
• Career Coaching — The Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills provides one-on-one support for career exploration, resumes, interviews, internships, employment and graduate-school applications.
• Employer & Alumni Connections — Students can connect with alumni and organizations recruiting UConn students through career events and university career resources.
• Industry Experience — Internship opportunities have included organizations in broadcasting, film production, finance, insurance, public relations, advertising, marketing and event management.
• Alumni Career Network — Communication graduates have moved into roles such as Account Manager, Digital Marketing Specialist, Communication Planning Director, Public Relations Coordinator, Social Media Strategist, Production Assistant and Strategic Policy Leader.
• Graduate Outcomes — UConn's latest university-wide undergraduate data reports a 91% positive outcomes rate, with 56% employed and 30% continuing education six months after graduation.
• Average Starting Salary — UConn reports a $67,500 average starting salary for 2024–25 undergraduate graduates who utilized career services. This is a university-wide figure, not Communication-specific.
• Career-Relevant Experiential Learning — UConn reports that 78% of students participated in experiential learning, helping students connect academic learning with professional development.
• Flexible Specialization — Students can combine Communication with related coursework in areas such as Business, Digital Media and Design, Journalism, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health and Sociology, allowing them to tailor the degree toward specific career interests.
Further Academic Progression: UConn offers an Accelerated Master of Arts (MA) in Communication, allowing eligible undergraduate students to take up to 12 graduate credits while completing the BA and apply those credits toward the MA. This pathway can enable students to complete both degrees in as little as five years. Students can also pursue graduate study in communication, public relations, marketing, media, organizational communication, public policy or related fields.
English, mathematics, physical science and social science should be represented throughout high school US universities use a holistic admissions review. Beyond grades and standardized test scores, they weigh the strength of your overall profile to understand who you are as a student and a person.
Profile Assessment: Applicants are generally assessed on writing, communication, creativity and engagement with media or current affairs. Journalism, school publications, podcasting, filmmaking, photography, social-media projects, debate and communication campaigns may strengthen the profile. Some film or media programs may request a creative portfolio, writing sample or supplementary submission.Advanced Placement(AP) Guidance: AP availability depends on the student's school. Relevant APs can strengthen an application and may earn university credit, but are not compulsory unless the university or programme explicitly requires them.Essays & recommendations: Personal essays and teacher/counselor recommendations give context to your achievements and help demonstrate fit with the program.Communication SpecialistPublic Relations SpecialistCorporate Communications ManagerMedia Relations SpecialistContent StrategistSocial Media ManagerDigital Marketing SpecialistBrand Communications SpecialistCopywriterMarketing CoordinatorAdvertising SpecialistCommunity Relations SpecialistEvent Coordinator
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