Program Details
Communication Studies: Public Relations BA
Bachelor of ArtsLongwood University
Transfer Guides are designed to maximize transfer credit as students complete their associate degree at the community college before transferring to the bachelor's degree program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college. The following Transfer Guide(s), applicable to this program, are available in the Resource Center. If there is a program-specific Transfer Guide and a general or general studies Transfer Guide, you are advised to follow the program-specific Transfer Guide. Please see your community college advisor for assistance in selecting the best pathway.
The Communication Studies program empowers students to thrive as leaders and innovators in today's evolving communication fields. Our rigorous curriculum combines research, cutting-edge technology and best practices to provide students the essential knowledge, values, and experience needed to excel. To support our mission, we value collaboration, inspiration, contemplation, and innovation. We recognize learning is a joint venture between each instructor and student. We strive to develop permanent relationships within our major, across our campus and with our alumni. We endeavor to create a learning community that empowers our students to discover a passion for leadership and creative engagement in our world. We have high expectations for our students, identifying resilience and adaptability as keys to personal and professional success. We are committed to rigorous inquiry and reflection in our academic and professional pursuits. We encourage thoughtful interaction, promoting a diverse and engaged learning environment. We are intentional in embracing changes in the communication field. We critically evaluate those changes to model best practices in scholarship, pedagogy and professional development.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | Longwood's Communication Studies degree incorporates a significant amount of hands-on skill that allows students to explore career interests in an ever-increasing number of professional fields. This includes a series of classes that teach students how to create professional portfolios and apply for internships and jobs. In the Public Relations concentration, students learn how to create content for internal and external target audiences, analyze persuasive and communication theory, and complete a capstone project working directly with a non-profit client in our community. The major includes classes in skill and theory to ensure graduates can smoothly transition into the postgraduate path of their choice. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
The Communication Studies degree at Longwood is intentionally designed with flexibility to work with a transfer student so that our bachelor's degree can be completed in two academic years. We also offer summer and/or winter intercession classes to ensure students have reasonable in-semester workloads. To best transfer into Longwood's COMM program, students are encouraged to have previously completed the transfer equivalent of COMM 101 - Public Speaking.
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | Students in Longwood's COMM program choose to concentrate in either Digital Media or Public Relations and can actually earn credits toward their degree while exploring both concentrations. In addition, all students complete a credited internship based on their own career interests. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | Longwood's Communication Studies program is a signature academic experience that provides graduates with a skillset to help them compete in any professional environment. Our alumni are flourishing in fields such as social media content & management, corporate communication, digital marketing, journalism, broadcast operations, event planning, and many more. Students interested in postgraduate education have recently successfully completed master's programs at Georgetown, Syracuse University, and the University of Southern California. |
Program Credit Requirements
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between Longwood University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | If you earn a transfer-oriented associate's degree (Associate of Arts and/or Science) from one of the Virginia community colleges or Richard Bland College and you are admitted to Longwood, you are guaranteed completion of all Foundation-level courses as well as the Integrating World Languages Perspectives-level course associated with Civitae (Longwood’s core curriculum program). |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | High school students who have earned an associate's degree concurrent with high school graduation are not eligible for guaranteed admission. Such students are considered freshman applicants with transfer credit. Those students completing transfer associate's degrees, upon receipt of official transcript demonstrating completion of the GAA requirements, will be awarded a waiver for lower-level Longwood University Civitae Core courses, with the exception of enrolling in ENGL 265, The Writing and Rhetoric of Citizenship. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | http://www.longwood.edu/registrar/transfer-of-credits/transfer-equivalency-system/ |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | Longwood is a mid-sized university where students enjoy the highest percentage of classes taught by full-time professors in Virginia and a residential academic community that offers students the full university experience. Class sizes are smaller than average--our Civitae Core Curriculum classes are capped at 25 students--throughout our more than 100 majors, minors, and concentrations. With seven on-campus residence halls and two university-managed apartment complexes, students live, learn, and grow together in a true community. Opportunities for students to be involved are the hallmark of the Longwood experience. From service organizations and Greek life to club sports and a long list of clubs based on interests and activities, there is something for everyone at Longwood. Each semester, an involvement fair helps students find organizations that are the right fit for them to make their time at Longwood even more meaningful. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Transfer students may choose the catalog in effect at the time they enroll or the one that applies to continuous full-time students at their class level. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | New students join the catalog year in effect during their first matriculating semester. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | Students transferring from an institution with a transfer agreement are guaranteed admission to Longwood when they have finished their transfer-oriented associate's degree (Associate of Arts and/or Science) and earned a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Students who are admitted prior to earning the transfer-oriented associate's degree (Associate of Arts and/or Science) and complete the degree before enrolling at Longwood also will receive the articulation benefits upon submission of an official transcript. |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison University | Bachelor of Arts, Major in Media Arts and Design | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| James Madison University | Bachelor of Science, Major in Communication Studies | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| James Madison University | Bachelor of Science, Major in Media Arts and Design | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| James Madison University | Bachelor of Arts, Major in Communication Studies | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Bridgewater College | Strategic Communications - BS | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Regent University | B.A. in Communication Studies | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | Hybrid |
| Averett University | Bachelor of Arts in Communication | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Averett University | Bachelor of Science in Communication | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Media and Communication (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | Communication Studies (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| The University of Virginia's College at Wise | Bachelor of Arts in English, Major in Communication | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Wytheville Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in General Studies with Spec in Communications & Media Studies | Associate | Associate of Arts & Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27-3011.00 | Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media. May play and queue music, announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
| 25-1122.00 | Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 27-3099.00 | Media and Communication Workers, All Other | All media and communication workers not listed separately. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
| 27-3043.05 | Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
| 11-2032.00 | Public Relations Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client. | Management Occupations |
| 27-3031.00 | Public Relations Specialists | Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
| 27-3043.00 | Writers and Authors | Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
Cost To Complete