Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Department of Communication
School of Media and Communication
College of Arts and Sciences
Communication is pervasive in our daily lives. It produces and expresses our identities and relationships, shapes our interpersonal conversations and professional performances, influences our interpretations of political and social issues, and evolves with innovations in media and technology. Our ability to interpret, evaluate, and improve upon various types of human communication is imperative in an increasingly complex and global culture. Thus, the study of communication at BGSU equips students to cultivate critical thinking, intellectual and professional leadership, critical consumption of information, and ethical communication practices that foster social responsibility.
Coursework emphasizes the role of communication in relational, organizational, intercultural, international, and political contexts. Students develop critical thinking skills to engage communication practices and problems as they intersect with cultures, nations, values, ethics, and politics. Students also develop the practical skills required for success in interpersonal, professional, and public environments.
The department provides opportunities for students to gain experience in public speaking, to develop skills in argumentation, facilitation, negotiation, and conflict resolution, to engage similarities and differences in communication patterns among diverse ethnic, racial, religious, and gendered identities, to enhance leadership skills, to become critical consumers of mediated and political discourses, and to produce social change through local, national, and global outreach.
Extensive employment opportunities are available for communication graduates. Alumni enjoy a wide variety of careers in business, higher education, media industries, social services, and the health professions. Graduates also develop successful careers in government, non-governmental public and private agencies, and social and civic organizations.
Our degree and co-curricular programs prepare graduates for diverse careers in a variety of academic fields, museums, cultural and historical organizations, or similar institutions that require a breadth and depth of understanding of cultures, nations, and emerging media.
A degree in communication also provides excellent preparation for graduate or professional education in communication research, media and film, cultural studies, communication education, or law.
The faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for their expertise in relational communication, global and intercultural communication and rhetoric and public communication.
Innovative, flexible, cutting edge curricula characterize both the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Arts in Communication (BAC).
The BA degree provides a liberal arts foundation to the study of communication. It is distinguished by its academic rigor and attention to the development of exemplary oral and written communication skills.
BA students take communication courses that emphasize communication information, theories, and criticism. They also enhance their education with the study of a foreign language. Foreign language competency complements communication study and provides students with a competitive advantage as they pursue careers in global corporations, government agencies, and international organizations.
The BA acquaints students with the study of the humanities (literature, performing arts, philosophy), social sciences (economics, political science, sociology), and natural sciences (biology, geography, physics). Each student’s individual program benefits from one of the numerous outstanding minor programs across the campus including, but not limited to, Africana Studies, American Cultural Studies, Art, Art History, Asian Studies, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Economics, Entrepreneurial Studies, Environmental Policy and Analysis, Ethnic Studies, Management, Marketing, and Peace Studies.
The BAC degree emphasizes coursework that develops competencies in specific professional areas. BAC students complement their major coursework by identifying a career focus. The career focus requires 24 hours of credit in areas including but not limited to, Communication Research, Organizational Communication, Performance Studies, Promotions and Advertising Sales Communication, and Social Services.
Student Advising: All faculty members advise students and provide expert professional and career guidance. Students are encouraged to enrich their professional and academic development with internships for academic credit. Alumni report these internships have provided the professional experience necessary for success immediately upon graduation.
The faculty work closely with Student Affairs to challenge and engage students by creating supportive, learning-centered environments inside and outside the classroom that encourage intellectual exchange, professional development, cultural literacy, self-assurance, respect for others, and the responsible exercise of individual expression.
Co-curricular Activities: Communication students can get involved with numerous co-curricular activities and organizations. There are several media organizations on campus including BG News, BG-24 TV, WBGU-FM, WFAL, BG Radio Sports Organizations, The Monitor, The Obsidian, and the Key yearbook, all of which create a mutually advantageous relationship between students and professional media and communication practitioners. Other organizations include Students for Global Competitiveness and Collaboration, national honorary society Lambda Pi Eta, the Communication Organization, and the BGSU chapters of the Association for Women in Communications and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). More information about our student organizations can be found at: www.bgsu.edu/departments/comm/page53153.html
Falcon Forensics: Based in the Department of Communication, the Forensics (Speech & Debate) Program is a co-curricular, competitive team open to any BGSU undergraduate student in good academic standing. Students, with the help of an experienced coaching staff, prepare speeches, debates, and interpretive performances, competing with similar students from other academic institutions.
The BGSU Falcon Forensics Team is BGSU’s oldest competitive co-curricular program, and regularly experiences success at local, national, and international tournaments.
Pi Kappa Delta is a National Forensics and Communication Honorary Organization. Established in 1930, it is one of the oldest and most honored student organizations at BGSU. The organization works in conjunction with the Forensics & Debate Program and Office of Campus Involvement to provide a social/service forum, advocating communication involvement.
Local, National, and Global Outreach: Students are encouraged to be involved in their local, regional, and global communities. Through innovative curricular and co-curricular communication programs, students learn and engage in outreach with peers from other nations and cultures, in such cutting-edge topics as Environmental Media and Communication. Study abroad programs include the International Media Seminar in Paris and the Communication and Culture field courses in locations such as Florence, Italy. These programs are lead by the School of Media and Communication faculty who share with students the vast global educational experience they have obtained through Fulbright research, teaching awards, and other prestigious federal grant programs.
The most important areas of preparation are reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Basic grounding in mathematics and foreign languages is useful. Communication students should also have a genuine curiosity about their own and other societies and cultures and motivation to pursue serious study.
Completing the requirements for high school graduation is necessary for admission to BGSU, but only finishing the minimum coursework will leave you unprepared for college. Consider taking four years of mathematics instead of the three that are required. Two, three, or even four years of the same foreign language is excellent preparation for college. You will also benefit from competence in computer use. Courses that provide exposure to or training in the visual and performing arts are excellent choices.
BGSU's website for future students contains University highlights, admissions procedures, financial aid information and many department profiles. It can be accessed at www.bgsu.edu.
Bowling Green State University is a vibrant university that engages, challenges and prepares students for meaningful futures. At BGSU, students enjoy an education that integrates personal growth, academic excellence and an environment that expands their thinking and potential. A mid-size residential university, BGSU has an enrollment of approximately 20,000 and a full-time faculty of more than 900 on its main campus. More than 200 undergraduate majors and programs are offered as well as master's and doctoral level programs.
NOTE: Information in this guide is subject to change without notice. To learn more about the official program of study for Communication, please check the undergraduate catalog online at www.bgsu.edu/catalog/A_S/A_S58.html.
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