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Communication Studies
Degree
BA in Communication Studies
School
Department
At a Glance
Gain a deep understanding of the processes and procedures that individuals, groups, and organizations use to develop and disseminate informative, persuasive messages. Our innovative curriculum and engaged learning will teach you to think critically about how messages are created, conveyed, and consumed in a rapidly changing modern society. Choose your specialization and graduate with the knowledge and experience to excel in communications for a range of thriving fields and industries.
Undergraduate Program Options
MAJOR
SPECIALIZATIONS
Digital Filmmaking and Television
Emerging Communication Technologies
Interpersonal and Strategic Communication
Mass Media and Social Media Communication
MINORS
Communication Studies Minor
(available only to students in other majors)
You’ll Benefit From:
- Small, collaborative, highly engaging classes with personalized instruction
- Specialized areas of study with experiential learning and real-world preparation
- Opportunities for internships, mentored research, production, and publishing
- Cutting-edge technology, contemporary curriculum, and study-abroad opportunities
- First-rate instruction and strong mentorship from renowned faculty
- Community-engaged projects and professional development opportunities
Careers
Our students go on to achieve career success in a broad range of industries. You’ll be well-positioned to excel in any area you choose, including administration, public relations, corporate communication, advertising, health communication, media production and editing, public affairs, fundraising, journalism, human resources, or market research. Our alumni also pursue advanced degrees at some of the nation’s leading graduate schools.
Recent Employers
- CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)
- Dow Jones
- NBC Universal
- NJ Office of Legislative Services
- White House
Recent Graduate Programs
- George Mason University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Rutgers University
- Seton Hall University Law School
- Syracuse University
Experiential learning
As a student in TCNJ’s communication studies major, you’ll develop competencies in message design and media production, social scientific and critical analysis of human communication, and research design and data interpretation.
Through internships, research, film/video production, film/video festival participation, and conference presentations, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your creative talents. You’ll also put classroom learning into practice — and gain practical experience in the process — by producing programming for Lions TV; making documentaries on important public issues; and researching health issues, social media, political campaign news, and family dynamics.
Course Selection
All courses provide critical and conceptual frameworks for assessing various messages. Individual specializations require the completion of core courses but can accommodate your individual interests through elective courses. Faculty advisors closely mentor students and help with planning a program of study.
Graduate Study
TCNJ’s communication studies program will prepare you for graduate study in areas including mass communication, interpersonal communication, media production, health communication, public health, strategic/risk communication, law, or public relations. Students interested in graduate school are encouraged to take courses beyond the minimum requirements.
Faculty
Learn the conceptual and technical aspects of conducting research and creating film and video projects from faculty members recognized as national and international leaders in documentary filmmaking, health communication, family communication, and other areas.
Our professors guide students through each step of the scholarly and creative process. Students have even worked with faculty mentors to co-author research papers presented at national and international academic conferences and to collaborate on all phases of film and video production, including writing, directing, and producing.
National Leaders
TCNJ students have a well-earned reputation for communications excellence at the national level. They hold the National Communication Association (NCA) records for the most Best Paper Award winners and the most officers in Lambda Pi Eta, the national honor society for communication studies. At the biannual Kentucky Health Communication Conference (KCHC 2024), the nation’s oldest and most revered such conference, the organizer described TCNJ students as “far and away” the national undergraduate leaders in health-communication conference presentations. And our film students have gained recognition for tackling critical public issues in film and video projects exhibited at leading showcases, including the Cannes Internship program, the Rehoboth International Film Festival, and the Newburyport Documentary Festival, as well as on New Jersey public television and elsewhere.
