At a glance: Communication Studies

Did you know? ONU students have won competitive internships with organizations, corporations and agencies nationwide, including Ketchum Public Relations, Waggener Edstrom Public Relations, Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations, SBC Public Relations, Nationwide Insurance, Ashland Chemical, Hickory Farms and many others.

Communications Studies Features:
South of the Border

The communication and theatre arts department emphasizes a liberal arts education combined with a professional program designed to produce graduates who are prepared for a lifetime of learning in a diverse and changing world. The curriculum and instruction encourage critical thinking, the development of aesthetic and ethical standards, and an understanding of human communication in all its aspects. Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions or graduate studies and attain the skills necessary for useful and meaningful lives. Visit the department's web site.

Degrees offered

A Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts with a concentration in Professional and Organizational Communication; a minor is also offered. The concentration may be combined with a second major, a minor, or a Business Option for a focus that is directed toward a student’s specific career interest.

Distinctive features

Hands-on experience in chosen field
Opportunities to double major in most areas of the University and to attain teacher licensure in education
Exciting internship and international study abroad programs
One of only 22 programs in the world to be certified for education in public relations (CEPR) by the Public Relations Society of AmericaDean’s scholarships
Full audio and video studios with recording and editing capabilities
Award-winning faculty who are actively engaged in research and the profession

Facilities

The Smith Educational wing of the Freed Center for the Performing Arts is home to classes in the Professional and Organizational Communication concentration. The facility includes classrooms with a complete array of audio-visual capabilities, computer lab, radio and TV studios.

Student organizations

Lambda Pi Eta – national communication honorary, Communication Club (NCASC), Media Communications Association – International

Program outcomes

Graduates find employment opportunities in such areas as personnel, sales, human services, training and development, management, government, politics, education, student affairs and non-profit management. The program also prepares students for graduate school and may qualify students for Ohio Northern’s pre-law program, which can lead to admission to ONU’s Pettit College of Law.

Professional placement

Organizational communication majors secure employment with a wide variety of organizations. Graduates find job opportunities in corporate public relations and in agency or nonprofit arenas. Students have gone on to find employment with Ketchum Public Relations, Porter Novelli Public Relations, MediaSource, NBC, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, The Ohio State University Hospital, Home Depot, Chase Bank, Walt Disney World, National City Bank, SBC Communications and Hickory Farms.

Graduate schools

Graduates of the communication studies program have the opportunity to pursue law degrees, MBAs and graduate degrees in communication studies. Other universities where graduates have gone on to attend are: Ohio State, Purdue, Ohio University, Bowling Green, Kent State and others.

Career opportunities

Students graduating with a concentration in organizational communication find employment opportunities in such areas as personnel, sales, management, government and politics, education, community affairs, corporate communications, graduate school and other communication-related fields.