Explore the power of effective communication.

Effective communicators speak, write, and persuade with clarity and purpose. With a communication major, you’ll learn to be a creative, ethical, and well-informed communication professional. You’ll study communication through theory and practice as you gain both marketable skills and useful knowledge that helps increase your understanding of how communication operates in our world.

Available concentrations:

Journalism
Explore a variety of journalistic specialties. Deepen your understanding of the role journalism plays as a social force as you acquire the reporting skills and the practices needed to produce meaningful multimedia journalism. You’ll examine the organization and operation of news industries as well as social and professional issues journalists encounter.

Public Relations
Develop the knowledge and skills to maintain mutually beneficial relationships between organizations or individuals and their public. Your communication core foundation will help you understand the concepts and theoretical backgrounds that will enable you to plan, implement, and evaluate communication programs directed toward relationship building.

Media Arts and Analysis
This concentration is designed to give you the flexibility to focus on one medium—video, digital media, audio, or film—or combine two or more areas. You’ll have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills you need to analyze, evaluate, and produce media. Courses in the concentration also encourage you to examine the structures and functions of media organizations.

Communication and Culture
The goal of this concentration is to involve you directly with cultural interaction and experiences in preparation for work in culturally diverse contexts. You’ll get an overview of international, intercultural, and interpersonal communication models and strategies as you examine international issues and conflicts and emphasize intercultural awareness. Explore the ways relationships are structured by communication patterns and identify methods to help resolve and reconcile misunderstanding and estrangement.

Student-Defined Concentration
Design your own concentration within the major. Under unique circumstances and with the approval of your advisor and the department chair, you may design your own concentration—provided it meets specifications established by the department.

With a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to make a difference—from the local to the global level.

Program Highlights

  • On campus, online, or remote synchronous learning
  • Classes focused on developing skills for current industry needs
  • Supportive, collaborative, student centered community
  • Internship opportunities

Establish your professional career and improve your community.

Earn your degree in communication and become a well-informed, responsible citizen, and a creative and ethical communication practitioner.

Transform communication with a degree that makes a difference.

  • A student smiles while seated at a soundboard in a studio setting.

    Skill-building experiences

    Experience hands-on learning beyond the classroom at Westfield State University. Utilize our onsite television studio, radio station, and student newspaper. Get involved on campus or explore internships both locally or in Washington D.C. 

  • A student operates a professional video camera in a student setting.

    A variety of communication concentrations

    The communication major offers four concentrations: journalism, public relations, media arts and analysis, and communication and culture. Within each concentration, classes are designed to allow you to gain additional key skills and knowledge specific to your career interests. Personal one-on-one faculty advisors help make the most of your major. With special permission, you can even design your own concentration.

  • A student talks with two people from iHeartMedia, Inc.

    Strong foundational principles

    As a communication major, you’ll learn from experts who also understand and teach communication theory and show how theory is put into practice. This unique balance of theory and practice manifests through our courses, our widely respected internship program, and an extensive and diverse variety of campus and community organizations. Build on your core communication foundations to pursue further knowledge, establish a professional career, and improve your community.

 I was lucky finding the University, lt’s very affordable and the communication department is amazing. The professors are out of this world. They’re family, they are so kind and respectful, and they’re there to help you.

Samantha Palmer, '24

What can you do with a communication degree?

All jobs rely on good communication in some way or another. When you earn your B.A. in Communication, you’ll have a foundation that prepares you for work as a:

  • Advertising account executive
  • Book publishing editor
  • Broadcast TV network news director
  • Copywriter
  • Marketing coordinator
  • Meteorologist
  • Newspaper reporter
  • News website editor 
  • Podcaster
  • Social and digital media content manager
  • TV newscaster
A student wearing headphones talks into a professional microphone.

Ready to learn more?

Get big school features with small school advantages.  

We offer high-quality academics, unique learning opportunities, and a gorgeous campus—and we have small classes, accessible faculty, and one-on-one support. 

You'll join fellow motivated students ready to make the most of the college experience through active participation. Become part of a caring and committed community that understands and embraces the bridge between academic study and civic responsibility.

  • 15:1

    student-faculty ratio

  • 87%

    of students receive financial aid

  • 700+

    Internship Opportunities

Caring educators with real-world experience.

All of our talented faculty have graduate degrees in the subjects they teach. Additionally, most have relevant industry experience. That means you’ll not only benefit from a robust foundation in communication theory, but you’ll also have the benefit of learning from those who’ve actually done the work you’re preparing to do. This unbeatable combination will give you the edge in the field of communication.

Faculty Page

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to submit SAT/ACT scores or an essay when I apply?

Westfield State University does not require an application essay, SAT and/or ACT scores, or letters of recommendation (except for special program admissions).     

All first-year applicants are reviewed for admission based on their high school record. First-year applicants must meet the minimum eligibility requirements established by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) in order to qualify for admission to a state university.   

Learn more about the application process and admissions here.

How much does Westfield State University cost?

Westfield State University offers a comprehensive university experience at an affordable cost—with many options for financial aid. Visit our Cost and Aid page to learn more. 

Will I receive academic support?

We’re invested in your success. Whether you need a little help adjusting to college, study strategies, tutoring, or disability services, the team at the Academic Achievement Department is ready to help. Our mission is to provide you with the tools to explore academic opportunities as well as to plot strategies for continued growth. 

Learn more about our student support services here.

How can I find the Communication Department on social media?

You can follow us on several social media platforms below:

Request Information

We’re here to answer your questions and deliver the support you need along your academic journey. Please provide your contact information and area of interest, and we’ll be in touch shortly.

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Communication, B.A.