B.A. in Communication Studies

Do you like to hold organizational leadership positions? Enjoy speaking in public and debating others? Have talents that include excellent communication skills, both written and verbal? Find that you are able to diagnose communication breakdowns and help repair them?

The answers to these questions might lead you to major in communication studies at Otterbein. From identifying communication problems and fixing them, to speaking confidently and clearly in public, you will learn and practice the elements of organizational and speech communication.

You will be guided by faculty members who have real-world experience and are actively involved in the ever-changing communications profession.

In Communication Studies classes you might:

  • Present information in various formats, including speaking and writing
  • Develop skills to persuade others, argue effectively and mediate conflicts
  • Think critically in order to speak confidently
  • Examine the internal workings of major corporations
  • Develop communication plans
  • Meet with managers and employees to suggest how to communicate more effectively

Degree Course Topics Include:

  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Argumentation and Advocacy
  • Intercultural Communication

Student Learning Outcomes & University Learning Goals (KMERI)

University Learning Goals (KMERI): Knowledgeable

Communication Studies Major Goals

1a. Distinguish the communication discipline from other areas of study.
1b. Explain origins of the communication discipline.
2a. Describe and apply some of the basic principles of communication.
2b. Explain historical and contemporary theories and perspectives.

Goals for Core Communication Courses

1. Describe the communication discipline and its central questions.
1a. Articulate the importance of communication expertise in civic engagement.
1b. Evaluate contemporary topics within the field.
2. Employ communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts.
2a. Explain and synthesize communication theories, perspectives, principles and concepts.
2b. Apply communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts.

University Learning Goals (KMERI): Multi-literate

Communication Studies Major Goals

4a. Identify various audiences and strategies for adapting to those audiences.
4b. Adjust messages while in the process of communicating.

Goals for Core Communication Courses

4. Create messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context.
4a. Research, compose and present a speech to a specific audience.
4b. Critically reflect on one’s own messages.

University Learning Goals (KMERI): Engaged

Communication Studies Major Goals

5a. Evaluate others’ public, Interpersonal and scholarly messages.
5b. Articulate the qualities or oral, written and mediated messages.
7a. Identify, analyze and apply persuasive frames of local, national and/or global issues.
7b. Evaluate the influence of various forms of discourse on the public.

Goals for Core Communication Courses

5. Critically analyze messages.
5a. Describe and apply different theoretical frameworks to a variety of messages.
7. Influence public discourse.

University Learning Goals (KMERI): Responsible

Communication Studies Major Goals

6a. Evaluate ethical and unethical communication practices.
6b. Articulate ethical responsibilities of speakers and audience members.
6c. Describe solutions for unethical communication.

Goals for Core Communication Courses

6. Apply ethical communication principles and practices.
6a. Identify the ethical responsibilities of the audience and the speaker.

University Learning Goals (KMERI): Inquisitive

Communication Studies Major Goals

3a. Articulate communication research questions.
3b. Identify and apply relevant communication research methods.

Goals for Core Communication Courses

3. Engage in communication inquiry.
3a. Identify and describe questions and approaches for communication scholarship.
3b. Evaluate and critique communication scholarship from a variety of perspectives.
3c. Critique communication theories, perspectives, principles and concepts.

*NOTE: KMERI refers to Otterbein's learning goals. It stands for Knowledgeable, Multi-literate, Engaged, Responsible, and Inquisitive. To learn more about KMERI, visit our University Learning Goals page.

Apply
Now!