Pursue your Communications major with Simmons University

Students in our Communications degree at Simmons University are progressive and innovative, whether they're working on a publication, shooting a video, designing a website, or crafting a clever tweet.

Why pursue a degree in Communications?

Communication is key in all aspects of life; it is how we interact, connect, and make impressions on each other and the world around us. The Communications degree at Simmons University focuses on how people use messages to generate meaning within and across contexts, cultures, channels, and media.

Generating and conveying meaning is central to the work we do in our Communications major, as is an emphasis on media convergence—the intersection and interaction of the multiple media disciplines.

The skills attained and fine-tuned in the Communications degree are indispensable for students as they enter the many niches of the communications fields.

Within the Communications Department, students are able to tailor their degree program to match their career goals, by choosing from a mix of courses in Design, Journalism or Integrated Media. Simmons also offers an online Communications degree program for adult learners.

What will a BA in Communications teach you?

The Communications major consists of forty (42) credit hours. Three core courses are required for all Communications majors: Visual Communication, Media Writing and Editing, and Media, Messages, & Society.

With guidance from their faculty advisor, students in the Communications major have the flexibility to creatively design their own distribution of courses, drawing from the areas of Graphic Design, Journalism, and Integrated Media.

For adult learners studying in the CompleteDegree@Simmons online program, the Communications major offers an emphasis in Digital Communications.

In addition to the three core courses, and the six courses drawn from the areas listed above, students in our Communications degree program are required to take an independent learning capstone experience. Please refer to the Program Requirements for Communications majors below for more detailed information or view all the Communications course descriptions.

Graduates of our Communications degree find positions in advertising, news, editing, event planning, social media, video and audio production, design, and writing. The tools of the communications sphere are constantly evolving, but the knowledge and skills students develop in the BA in Communications degree program enable them to stay ahead of the curve in any endeavor.

Bachelor’s degree in Communications admission requirements

Students interested in applying to the undergraduate Communications degree program must submit the following items to be considered for undergraduate admission:

Completed Application
High School Transcript
SAT or ACT Test Scores
TOEFL Scores (required if English is not your first language)
College Essay College Transcript (if applicable)
Two Letters of Recommendation (one teacher, one counselor)

Learn more about Simmons University’s Communications major requirements and our first-year undergraduate application process for Communications majors, including deadlines and what we look for in an applicant.

What can you do with a Communications degree?

In the Communications major, students master the creative as well as the technical skills necessary to negotiate a collaborative working environment. They think critically about media and apply that thinking to hands-on class projects and exciting internships with companies like the Boston Ballet and Harvard Medical School.

Jobs for communications majors range from working in media, the arts, marketing, public relations, journalism, and various other industries. Job titles for careers in communications include:

Public Relations Manager
Content Manager and Strategist
Community Engagement Manager
Marketing/Corporate Communications Specialist
Social Media Manager
Account Manager
Video Journalist
Audio Producer
Reporter
Digital Reporter & Producer
Graphic Designer
Art Director
Web Designer

Find out more about our Communications major!

Simmons’ Bachelor of Arts in Communications explores the nuances of visual, written, and verbal communication to equip students to excel across their chosen professions. We encourage you to reach out to our faculty with any questions—their contact information can be found below. You can also request more information about our Communications major, schedule a campus tour, or find out how to apply today!

The communications department offers a program in Communications with concentrations in Design, Journalism, and Integrated Media, a joint program between Communications and the Business in Public Relations and Marketing Communications, a joint program between Communications and Computer Science in Web Design and Development, an Interdisciplinary major in Arts Administration, and three Complete Degree programs, which are entirely on-line and geared toward adult learners. The course requirements for these programs follow.
BA in Communications

BA in Communications

Communications majors complete 42 credits in Communications, including 3 required core courses, 2 1-credit technology courses, 4 courses in their concentration, 2 courses outside their concentration, and an independent learning Capstone experience.

Step One: Core Requirements

All Communications students take a three-course introductory core:

COMM 121	Visual Communication	4
COMM 122	Media Writing and Editing	4
COMM 124	Media, Messages and Society	4

Step Two: Technology Courses

All students complete at least two-credits of technology skill-based courses:

COMM 110	Introduction to 2D Design Technology 1	1
COMM 112	Introduction to Animation & Motion Graphics Technology 1	1
COMM 114	Introduction to Audio and Video Editing	1

Step Three: Concentration Courses

Courses are broadly organized around the concentrations of Design, Integrated Media, and Journalism.

Students take 4 courses in one of the concentrations below, and 2 courses distributed among the other two concentrations. At least two of these six courses should be at the 300 level.

Design	Integrated Media	Journalism
COMM 210 Introduction to Graphic Design	COMM 120 Communications Media	COMM 181 Public Speaking and Presentation
COMM 241 Design Thinking	COMM 163 Radio Operations and Podcasting	COMM 215 Blogging and Op/Ed Writing
COMM 240 Typography	COMM 186 Introduction to Public Relations and Integrated Marketing Communications	COMM 260 Journalism
COMM 244 Web Design	COMM 224 Storytelling	COMM 263 Social Media Journalism
COMM 246 Digital Imaging for Design	COMM 220 Video Production	COMM 310 In-Depth Storytelling
COMM 248 Type and Image	COMM 222 Animation	COMM 312 Health Communications
COMM 286 Advertising Practice and Branding	COMM 262 Media Convergence	COMM 320 Media and the First Amendment
COMM 333 Responsive Design	COMM 269 Globalization and Intercultural Communications (periodic travel course)	COMM 322 Video Journalism
COMM 340 Advanced Design	COMM 281 Content Creation and Strategies	COMM 327 Culture of the News
	COMM 323 Digital Cultures
	COMM 324 Social Media: Social Listening and Analytics

Step Four: Capstone

Students take at least 4 credits of an independent learning Capstone in the senior year:

COMM 370	Internship	0
COMM 380	Capstone Internship	0
COMM 390	Studio 5: A Communication Workplace	4

Integrated Media Concentration

Students in Integrated Media complete the Communications Core, 2 Technology courses, 4 courses in the Integrated Media concentration, 2 courses in Design and/or Journalism, and a Capstone.

Integrated Media Courses:

COMM 120	Communications Media	4
COMM 163	Radio Operations and Podcasting	4
COMM 186	Introduction to Public Relations and Integrated Marketing Communications	4
COMM 220	Video Production	4
COMM 222	Animation	4
COMM 224	Storytelling	4
COMM 262	Media Convergence	4
COMM 269	Globalization and Intercultural Communication	4
COMM 281	Content Creation and Strategy	4
COMM 323	Digital Cultures	4
COMM 324	Social Media: Social Listening and Analytics	4

Journalism Concentration

Students in the Journalism Concentration complete the Communications Core, 2 Technology courses, 4 courses in the Journalism concentration, 2 courses in Design and/or Integrated Media, and a Capstone.

Journalism Courses:

COMM 181	Public Speaking and Presentation	4
COMM 215	Blogging & Opinion and Editorial Writing	4
COMM 260	Journalism	4
COMM 263	Social Media Journalism	4
COMM 310	In-Depth Storytelling	4
COMM 312	Health Communications	4
COMM 320	Media and the First Amendment	4
COMM 322	Video Journalism	4
COMM 327	Culture of the News	4

Design Concentration

Students in the Design Concentration complete the Communications Core, 2 Technology courses, 4 courses in the Design concentration, 2 courses in Journalism and/or Integrated Media, and a Capstone.

Design Concentration Courses:

COMM 210	Introduction to Graphic Design	4
COMM 240	Typography	4
COMM 241	Design Thinking	4
COMM 244	Web Design	4
COMM 246	Digital Imaging for Design	4
COMM 248	Type and Image	4
COMM 286	Intro to Advertising Practice and Branding	4
COMM 333	Responsive Design	4
COMM 340	Advanced Design	4

We encourage our students to tailor the Communications major to fit their interests. Simmons offers concentrations in Graphic Design, Media Arts, Journalism and dual-major and minor options, including two joint majors in Public Relations/Marketing Communications in collaboration with the School of Business and Web Design and Development in collaboration with Computer Sciences. Your advisor will help you develop the best path to meet your personal and professional goals.

Minors

We also offer a minor in communications for students majoring in other areas. Students who wish to pursue a general minor in communications may do so by completing the three required core courses, along with two electives. Other concentration-specific minors available are:

Online BA in Communications

The communications major is also available to students in our online program. Join us on our digital campus to refine your voice and learn how to share your story with the world—from anywhere.

Independent Learning

Our students take advantage of internships at arts and cultural organizations in Boston and beyond, building their skills and resumes and learning from mentors in their fields.

Our students fulfill their independent learning and internship requirements in a variety of ways, including recent placements at Boston Herald, Harvard Medical School, Lesley College, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and the Boston Ballet, to name a few.

Apply to Simmons’ Bachelor of Arts in Communications

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An overview of the Communications program at Simmons University.

Communications at Simmons University

See what it's like to be part of our Communications program.

Simmons student, Chuck Todd and Abby Vervaeke on the set of Meet the Press

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My experience at Meet the Press was incredibly hands-on... It was my first time working in media and I immediately fell in love with the industry... It isn’t something that I ever expected to pursue, but I’m really excited by the idea of it.

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