Communication Studies Major and Minor

Examine the process of human communication, including creating, delivering, and receiving both verbal and nonverbal messages. Analyze how face-to-face, public, and media-based communication messages influence and shape everyday life and public opinion.

Why Study Communication at Albion?

At Albion, you’ll study the very process that makes us human: communication! Our undergraduate program provides students with opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the complex communication challenges of the 21st century whether in the workplace, in everyday life, or just as a well-rounded thinking citizen. Our program prepares students to move into any number of professions where people are required to engage with one another using effective communication skills. You’ll learn how we use communication in everything we do from professors and instructors with expertise in many fields of communication, including interpersonal communication, health communication, sports communication, political communication, environmental communication, mass communication, and more.

As a student of communication studies, you will learn to critically analyze and evaluate communication practices and be able to apply practical oral, written, and visual communication skills and knowledge. You’ll engage in discussion-based learning, and, through assignments and research, you’ll apply the theories and processes you learn to the world around you. Most importantly, you’ll develop excellent skills in critical thinking that will serve you well in any career.

Internships

Gain hands-on experience outside of the classroom by participating in an internship. Internships cover a diverse range of topics and industries including public relations, media production, leadership training, sports management, publishing, and advertising. Our communication studies students have interned with a range of organizations from the Giorgio Armani Press Office to Strutt Records and Fox 2 Detroit.

Study Away

Broaden your horizons and expand your understanding of communication by gaining experience in a new city or country. Spend a semester at the Philadelphia Center or in the New York Arts Program, or study overseas in Australia, England, Ireland, France, and Germany.

What Will You Learn as a Communication Major?

You'll master the skills and tools necessary to be able to communicate to a myriad of audiences in a clear, concise, and effective manner.

You’ll take courses that dive deep into communication theory, learning how our societies have grown and shifted over time based on the messages we have received and distributed.

You’ll analyze different communication styles and identify the audiences they are designed to reach, from interpersonal and family communications to corporate and mass communications.

You’ll become comfortable speaking publicly, crafting media campaigns, and defending your ideas and messages through writing, presentations, and creative discourse.

The study of communication provides a valuable liberal arts foundation in theory and practice for all Albion students. Pursuing a major in communication studies is especially valuable for students preparing for professions such as public service, public relations, advertising, event planning, business, electronic media, politics, education, and law. Below are examples of some of the professions our students have chosen, as well as graduate programs our students have recently attended.

Job Titles

• Entrepreneur
• Media Planner
• Production Coordinator
• Media Relations Assistant
• Marketing Account Manager
• Events Coordinator
• Media Buyer
• Higher Education Administrator
• Sports Information Director

Graduate Schools

• University of Michigan
• Michigan State University
• The Ohio State University
• University of Texas
• Western Michigan University
• Eastern Michigan University
• Cooley Law School