COURSE CURRICULUM

Kent State University's Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies prepares students to master effective communication, a skill critical across all sectors of the modern workforce. The program emphasizes both theoretical and practical approaches, covering areas such as public discourse, intercultural communication, gender and communication, digital media, and creative coding. Students gain expertise in crafting messages, influencing audiences, and applying communication strategies across diverse platforms, equipping them for careers in government, business, nonprofits, and other fields.The curriculum includes core courses such as Introduction to Human Communication, Criticism of Public Discourse or alternative specialized courses, Difficult Decisions in Communication or Communication and Influence, and an internship or senior seminar. Students also engage in applied learning through courses like My Story on the Web, upper-division Communication Studies electives, and College of Communication and Information core electives, which include media production, branding, photography, international experiences, and human-computer interaction.Concentrations allow further specialization. The Applied Communication concentration focuses on organizational communication, professional speaking, and visual design for media, complemented by interdisciplinary electives in communication, emerging media, library science, journalism, user experience design, and visual communication. The Communication Studies-General concentration emphasizes broader study within communication through upper-division electives and selected courses.Students also complete general education requirements, including Kent Core courses in composition, humanities and fine arts, social sciences, mathematics, and basic sciences, along with general electives. Experiential learning, critical thinking, and ethical communication are emphasized throughout the program, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to navigate professional and societal contexts with confidence and skill.