Messages matter. Students who pursue a degree in communication at Saint Louis University learn to creatively design, effectively deliver and critically analyze messages to influence, connect and inform.
SLU offers a flexible, engaging communication program, with both undergraduate and graduate degrees, designed to help you meet your personal, academic and professional goals. Our highly regarded faculty lead small classes, giving you the chance to work closely with professors and classmates. In addition, we offer opportunities for you to get involved on campus and participate in internships off campus. Our students have access to production equipment and software, and a growing network of alumni and supporters ensures that the Department of Communication remains competitive in the workforce and keeps up with evolving technology in the communication field.
Our program offers a combination of theory and application that encourages students to think, create and engage. As a student, you will:
Develop your ability to analyze messages, connect ideas, and make ethical decisions in a program that:
- fosters curiosity and creativity.
- encourages you to ask questions and seek answers.
- challenges you to be innovative and reflective.
- teaches you to learn for a lifetime.
Grow in a program that encourages you to think critically and creatively by offering you opportunities to:
- create compelling stories.
- write clear and effective messages.
- produce digital media content.
- craft strategic communication campaigns.
Flourish as a student and leader, using what you learn to:
- bridge cultural differences and understand diverse viewpoints.
- speak out and promote social justice.
- build positive relationships with others.
- apply what you are learning while making a difference in the community.
Degrees in Communication at Saint Louis University
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Students majoring in communication choose one of three concentration areas.
In the communication studies concentration, you study human interaction in interpersonal, organizational, and public contexts. You develop skills for communicating effectively within and across cultures in a diverse society and for functioning effectively in both informal and formal leadership roles in a variety of settings. These skills include working in teams, solving problems, managing conflict, engaging in advocacy and developing relationships.
In the integrated strategic communication concentration, you develop the professional skills used by advertising and public relations practitioners, including the critical thinking and strategic expertise necessary for effective campaign creation and implementation. In addition, you become familiar with the uses of theory that guides various advertising and public relations campaigns. Finally, you learn to critically examine these fields as important indicators of cultural attitudes and ideologies.
In the journalism and media studies concentration, you become prepared to succeed in a constantly evolving media landscape. Courses in this concentration teach you to evaluate and adapt to changes in media and expose you to a wide variety of technologies, theoretical perspectives, ethical decision-making principles, and approaches to writing and storytelling across media platforms. While the range of potential courses is flexible, all classes stress the need to think critically about news and entertainment media.
Minors in Communication
The Department of Communication offers a minor in communication for students majoring in other areas.
A minor in communication allows students to complement another major with the essential knowledge and skills that the study of communication provides. In this way, students increase their versatility, adding several key abilities:
- Analyzing, understanding, and solving problems
- Communicating and connecting in a diverse world
- Utilizing technology in effective and ethical ways
All students, including communication majors, also have the option to pursue a communication-related interdisciplinary minor.
The interdisciplinary minor in creative and professional writing offers you an opportunity to gain experience in many different kinds of writing. The program provides you with extensive practice in both creative and professional writing. You take classes in both English and communication.
The interdisciplinary minor in political journalism promotes skills in the analysis of political phenomena and the effective communication of ideas through a variety of platforms. You take classes in both political science and communication.
The interdisciplinary minor in visual communication provides the theoretical framework and the technical facility for you to understand and manipulate media in a variety of modes. You take classes in both studio art and communication.
Communication majors also pursue minors in other programs like film studies, marketing, Spanish, public health, and women’s and gender studies. SLU offers a wide range of minors for our students to choose from.
Master of Arts in Communication
As a student in our M.A. program, you will become fluent in communication theory that can be used to solve practical problems. You will also learn to ask thoughtful questions and find engaging answers by building the skill set necessary to develop research protocols, evaluate messages, analyze data and share these findings with stakeholders. You will be allowed to develop a personally tailored program of study that fits your individual goals and interests.
As a graduate student in the Department of Communication, you can apply for an assistantship to aid in the cost of graduate education and to gain experience in the field.