Professor speaking with a group of students in the UAlbany Lecture Center hallway.

Bachelor of Arts in
Communication
Online or On Campus

Convey Effective Messages to Diverse Audiences

Develop the oral, written and analytical skills needed to improve communication practices central to all industries. You will gain crucial insight into media, organizations, individuals and society as you study to become a communication professional.

Through coursework and internships you will be prepared to pursue a career in areas including public relations, marketing and media with the bachelor’s in communication program at the University at Albany.

Program of Study

programofstudy

You will acquire a foundation in communication topics, trends and concepts through exposure to the critical role of media in public life, politics and industry.

Hone your ability to analyze and improve communication processes as you gain tools to measure how effectively communication practices serve varying populations and audiences.


Required Courses

  • Human Communication: Language and Social Action
  • Introduction to Communication Theory
  • Speech Composition and Presentation OR Argumentation and Debate


Statistics Requirement

Choose one:

  • Elementary Statistics
  • Statistics for Sociologists
  • Introduction to Statistics in Criminal Justice
  • Statistical Methods in Psychology
  • Introduction to Logic


Communication Elective

Choose one:

  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Speech Composition and Presentation
  • Group Communication
  • Argumentation and Debate
  • Introduction to Mass Communication
  • Communication and Organizational Life
  • Media in Everyday Life
  • Research Practicum

Additional Communication Courses

24 additional Communication credits at the 300-400 level OR 18 additional Communication credits at the 300-400 level AND 6 credits of approved 300-400 level courses from outside the department.

Sample Communication Courses:

  • Digital and Social Media in Strategic Communication
  • Marketing Communication and Media Campaigns
  • Risk and Crisis Communication
  • Health Communication
  • Corporate Communication and Rhetorical Advocacy
  • Political Campaign Communication
  • Persuasion in Media
  • Theories of Intercultural Communication

Sample Courses from Outside the Department:

  • Professional Writing
  • Women in the Media
  • Marketing Principles
  • Emerging Trends in Information and Technology
  • Administrative Leadership 

 

Honors Program

Challenge yourself with more advanced work in the Communication Honors Program. You will have the opportunity to work directly with a faculty mentor on the design and implementation of an investigation into a clearly defined problem in rhetoric and communication. Outstanding students should apply for admission to the honors program in the beginning of your third semester at UAlbany.

Internships and Opportunities

Enhance your undergraduate education with the Communication internship program. An advisor will help place you in a communication-related professional setting in areas like television, radio, public relations, the state legislature, hospitals and corporate communication.

Gain additional hands-on experience by getting involved with student-run media organizations including the Albany Student Press, Albany TV and the WCDB radio station.

Outstanding students can join Lambda Pi Eta (LPH), the official communication studies honor society of the National Communication Association (NCA). You will connect with other majors to discuss and exchange ideas, build relationships with faculty and students, and explore graduate study.

Lambda Pi Eta ceremony in 2017
internships

Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Options


You can save time and money by beginning your graduate degree coursework while still enrolled as an undergraduate student. Up to 12 academic credits, billed at the undergraduate rate, will count towards both degrees – so you’ll complete your combined program in only 5 years and spend less than you would if you completed each program separately. Choose to combine your Communication undergraduate degree with the following graduate programs:

combined

MA in Communication
This master’s program equips you with the skills to analyze and design message strategies for organizational, health, political, interpersonal and intercultural communication through a blend of theoretical and applied study.


MS in Information Science 
This ALA-accredited master's program covers a broad range of interdisciplinary topics related to library science, information processing, information management and data analysis.

UAlbany graduate at Commencement
Career Outcomes

With a Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree you will have the strategic and analytical skills for jobs in a diverse range of fields, working in areas like media, health care, government, finance, manufacturing, senior management or energy. 

Potential job titles for a BA in Communication include:

  • Digital marketing strategist
  • Social media manager
  • Public information specialist
  • Campaign specialist
  • Media buyer/planner
  • Adverting executive
  • Digital account manager
Alumni Connections

Benefit from a comprehensive education at UAlbany that has prepared our graduates for stimulating careers with companies including:

  • Barneys New York
  • Macy's Inc.
  • EY
  • CBS Interactive
  • American Express
  • Motorola
  • Jaguar Land Rover
  • New York State Assembly
  • Reuters
  • Capital One
  • IBM
  • NBC Universal
  • The CW Television Network
  • Tumblr
  • Cosmopolitan Magazine
  • PepsiCo Inc.,
  • NYS Thruway Authority, Time Inc.
  • Enterprise Holdings
  • Showtime Networks Inc.
  • Spotify
career

"The communication department encouraged internships in the field which directly prepared me for roles I had in my career. There were also many hands-on projects that required problem solving, analytical thinking and team building. Those are things I encounter at my job every single day."

- Cara Friedman, BA '09, MA, '10; Head of Social Media, ClassPass

 “I've met some wonderful professors who have helped me so much. Anytime I've ever had a question, they've always answered it and more, and they provided me with a lot of opportunities.”

 - Sabrina Pham, Class of 2025

UAlbany Majors: Communication
Student Learning Objectives


Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Arts

Students will be able to:

  • Describe communication as a form of human social conduct with a particular focus placed on interpersonal, public and organizational communication.
  • Describe, apply and evaluate various communication theories and the research that supports them.
  • Analyze communication problems effectively and propose potentially effective responses in interpersonal/intercultural, organizational, political and/or health contexts.
  • Describe principles of effective audience-based strategies for public speaking; critique speeches on the basis of audience, argument and presentation; develop and perform effective persuasive, informative and ceremonial speeches.
slo

What Makes The University at Albany Great

Student move-in day.

Living-Learning Communities

Live and take classes with other incoming freshmen who share your personal interests, passions or intended academic major.

A student abroad visiting a monument.

Study Abroad

Become a global citizen: international experience is crucial to success in business, education, research, and public policy.

A student conducting undergraduate research.

Undergraduate Research

Research, scholarship, and creative activities at the University at Albany is an option for all students, across all academic disciplines. You will be able to learn more about a specific academic field or career path all while building a long-lasting mentoring relationship with a faculty member or principal investigator.

Explore Minors

Build competency in a passion or strengthen your resume.

A minor consists of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level. Most undergraduate degrees require completing a minor and it has to have a different title from your major.

Full List of Minors
  • Acting
  • Africana Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Bioethics
  • Biology
  • Broadcast Meteorology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Studies
  • Cognitive Science
  • Communication (Fully Online Option)
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice Studies (Fully Online Option)
  • Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • Documentary Studies
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics
  • Educational Studies
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Film Studies
  • Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • English
  • Forensic Science
  • French
  • Game Design and Development
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Geography
  • Globalization Studies
  • Hebrew
  • History (Fully Online Option)
  • Informatics (Fully Online Option)
  • Instrumental Performance
  • International Studies
  • Italian
  • Japanese Studies
  • Journalism (Fully Online Option)
  • Judaic Studies
  • Korean Studies
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Law and Philosophy
  • Leadership
  • Legal Studies
  • LGBTQ Studies
  • Library and Information Science
  • Linguistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Music
  • Musical Performance
  • Musical Theatre
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Portuguese
  • Pre-Education
  • Psychology (Fully Online Option)
  • Public Health
  • Public Policy
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Russian and Eastern European Studies
  • Social Welfare Studies
  • Sociology (Fully Online Option)
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Sustainability
  • Theatre
  • Theatrical Design/Technology
  • Urban Studies and Planning
  • U.S. Latino Studies
  • Vocal Performance
  • Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

On-Campus or Online Bachelor’s Degree in Communication FAQs
 

What can you do with a BA in Communication degree?

Studying communication can lead to success in any of a host of professional roles. Earning a bachelor’s degree in communication online or on campus can qualify you for a wide range of career options, including roles in public relations, advertising, journalism, sales, social and other media, human resources, television production, education and marketing. It can also prepare you to pursue graduate education.

Is the bachelor’s degree in communication program accredited?

The University at Albany is chartered by the Board of Regents of New York State, which has registered all of its degrees and programs and approved its professional programs through the State Education Department. UAlbany is also fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

 

How long is the on-campus BA in Communication program? How long is the online BA in Communication program?

Whether you pursue your BA in Communication degree on campus or online, you can complete the program in four years if you attend full time.

 

How do the combined master’s programs work?

Students can apply for a University at Albany combined master’s program at the beginning of their junior year as long as they have completed either a minimum of six credits of coursework in communication or a total of 56 credits. The combined programs require the completion of a minimum of 141 credits, 33 of which must be graduate credits. Students must complete all requirements associated with the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree.

Take the next step!