Are you curious about human behavior and how we are influenced? Do you enjoy being creative with video or writing? Do you enjoy working with others to solve problems? Are you interested in being prepared for a career in the competitive global job market? If so, the Communication major at George Mason University, or one of our six minors, will be a great fit for you!

Our program is designed to fit well with transfer students with an AA or AS. Such students can complete their BA in Communication in two years (with full-time enrollment). Other transfer students will find our program is well suited to their graduation plan, as each transfer class is carefully assessed to ensure maximum fulfillment of requirements. Mason also offers summer courses that fulfill many concentration classes and winter or summer study abroad experiences can also help transfer students maintain their graduation plan goals. A student's interests are at the forefront of our program where they can more fully consider their individual interests or professional goals.

The communication major prepares undergraduate students for their future in several ways. Students will:

1. engage in critical thinking to work through numerous issues from interpersonal to organizational levels;
2. hone their writing skills whether it's through our journalism or media programs or as a persuasive writer in political communication or public relations;
3. consider listening as a fundamental communication skill;
4. sharpen their public speaking skills to address small groups to mass audiences; and
5. also prepare themselves to contribute to various organizations and contexts by demonstrating strong leadership and management skills.

Plus, regardless of major, if you can't explain an idea (a new way of thinking or invention, for example) through communication (oral, written and visual), then it is just a passing thought.

Think about your strengths and interests; talk to Career Services and then explore those career options in COMM and think if this is something you’d like to do. Everyone communicates daily. COMM skills cross a wide variety of jobs/careers, so you can do a lot with this degree or one of our minors!

At Mason, we have a top-notch faculty; our Career Services will help with internship and job opportunities; and a degree in COMM gives you the flexibility in finding jobs in diverse fields in Public Relations, media, journalism, marketing, government and non-profit organizations of all kinds. It is a useful degree that can be adapted to a number of career avenues.

Communication is foundational to every career choice and communication skills are necessary for success in all fields and disciplines. The major is particularly useful for those who want to help people and/or organizations to understand their audience and reach them effectively. Any of our six minor programs are great for accentuating the personal skills developed in other majors.

Think about these questions:

• Do you like connecting and working together with people?
• Are you creative?
• Do you enjoy working with language, text, and video to create messages that can impact people?
• Do you want to learn more about how to work effectively with and to persuade others?

If these kinds of things interest you, please reach out to our Undergraduate Program Director combadir@gmu.edu or our Undergraduate Academic Advising Director at cdadvice@gmu.edu and we will be happy to help you plan your transfer to George Mason University

Students interested in Mason are encouraged to focus on completing courses that meet general education requirements. BA degree programs in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences have additional requirements in: philosophy or religion, social and behavioral science, foreign language through the intermediate level, and non-western culture. Students are encouraged to use the "Contact an Institution" section of the portal and connect with our staff for questions related to specific course equivalencies and requirements.

For the BA in Communication, introductory courses for the major (such as COMM 200) may be completed prior to transfer to Mason.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
• Connect with an advisor at your community college and George Mason University within your first year

A major in Communication prepares you for the world. Pairing your current major with one of our minors strengthens your foundation for success. You can also look at doing a double major with Communication or pairing one or two non-Communication minors with a Communication major to create an unbeatable resume. Often, you can do this either with no extra time or minimal extra time at Mason.

See what a BA in Communication at Mason can do for you!

• Communication is an adaptable degree that is viable for variety of career avenues;
• We offer numerous hands-on experiences in our writing, video, radio/podcasting and public relations classes that allow students to take what they're learning in the classroom and apply these skills to internships and jobs;
• Students will learn to create powerful, relevant, and persuasive content for both internal and external audiences;
• Cutting-edge topics related to communication technology use, communication applications in personal and professional life, and preparation for a wide range of careers;
• Student Media organizations to earn valuable on-campus experience in writing, video and audio (e.g. podcasting);
• There are numerous Study Abroad experiences where Communication faculty lead trips to places like France and Italy. On these trips, you can earn 3-6 credits of coursework;
• We have an Annual Career forum where business experts from organizations like BRG Communications, INVOA Health, Polycom, US Senate, Entertainment Industries Council, Microsoft, Hilton, Northrop Grumman and IBM come to actively mentor students;
• R1 school status which provides strong research foundation for those undergraduate students wishing to enter graduate school and/or improve their critical thinking skills for jobs in journalism, politics, and public relations;
• Learn how to work more effectively in small groups which directly translates into preparation for careers;
• Theory classes enable students to see how their worldview and experiences compare and contrast to others' and enables them to become more effective and critical thinkers;
• Students will learn to engage and work in a business environment ... we have concentrations that work for all areas of interest;
• Proximity to DC and NYC, which are arguably the epicenter of the news and strategic communication industries in America, allows a Mason Comm major access to extraordinary internship and network development opportunities;
• a top-notch faculty has created a well-balanced curriculum which deepens knowledge regarding theory and application;
• Internships that range from working for the White House or Congress to helping small, non-profit organizations reach their audiences;
• In COMM, you have unlimited opportunities to apply what you are learning in class -- such as how people communicate, how communication shapes their worldview, how to craft effective messages in real-world contexts, including student media and journalism, competitive debate and public speaking, student PR organizations, and internships in DC and beyond; and
• Regardless of the concentration, there are opportunities to get hands-on experience in media production, high-visibility internships, and participate in world-class programs such as Forensics, Debate, Public Relations Student Society of American, and the Society for Professional Journalists.
• We also offer a Bachelor to Accelerated Masters program where you can earn your MA in Communication. If you're interested in that, you should contact your academic advisor immediately once accepted to Mason to learn about the timeline for your particular graduation plan.

The Department of Communication at George Mason University is very excited about what we offer our students. We truly believe our location, the diversity of the student body and faculty, and our dedication to our students sets us apart.

• Internships in the greater Washington DC area. Examples: All major sports teams ... major museums ... major theater venues ... chambers of commerce ... major PR agencies ... the Federal Government....and so many more;
• Great faculty, consisting of leading communication scholars and practitioners who are actively engaged in important work.
• Friendly and supportive department where students are encouraged to develop working relationships with their faculty;
• Many extra-curricular activities and student organizations that prepare students for internships and careers;
• Noteworthy former students (Kitty Gambel, Senior Vice President, Unscripted and Alternative Television at MGM); Jorge Andres, Anchor for NBC Sports Miami, announcer for Sunday Night Football on Telemundo;
• Award winning debate and forensics team;
• We have alums who work in all areas of COMM including top PR firms, as government contractors, CNN/Wavy TV 10, DC101, ESPN, professional sports teams, education, and many continue to graduate programs;
• High percentage of job placement upon graduation;
• Wide program variety with concentrations/minors that ensure students will be able to find their niche and gain the skills needed for their future goals;
• Climate Matters was created by Mason faculty to help TV weathercasters report on climate change as a local issue. It has been highly successful;
• We hire very qualified adjuncts in Public Relations and Journalism. These are people who actively work in industry, but who want to share their knowledge, networks, and skills with Mason students;
• Our student writing projects are featured in university publications, such as our student newspaper and magazines;
• Our graduates get jobs in their chosen fields of study or continue on to graduate school in their area of interest;
• There are Communication specific scholarships available to a variety of student demographics;
• Our faculty are recognized nationally for their textbooks and research:
  • 2015 National Textbook of Distinction Award;
  • Basic Courses from the National Communication Association;
  • 2016 Program of Excellence Award presented to George Mason University, one of only eight such awards in the 150-year history of the NCA (Basic Courses).

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: George Mason University

• Our students enroll from all over the Commonwealth, all 50 states, and more than 130 countries.
• Transfer students are encouraged, but not required to join our residential campus community of 6,300 students.
• Mason transfers thrive in any number of the 400+ academic, cultural, or social student organizations.