Program Details
Program Details
Back to top
Bachelor of Arts
Randolph-Macon College
Program Details
Communication Studies (BA)
Bachelor of ArtsCommunication Studies (BA)
Randolph-Macon College
The communication studies discipline is in rhetoric, a time-honored art central since Classical times to a liberal arts education. Historically built on performed oral rhetoric and the rhetorical criticism of public ad dress, the discipline has turned in more of a social science direction in the latter 20th century and developed a considerable body of theory and research in interpersonal, small-group, intercultural, organizational, and political communication. In addition, the discipline has applied both rhetorical and social science perspectives to the growing number of converging media. Thus, communication studies is a field that today is truly interdisciplinary, sitting at the juncture of the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences.
In addition, communication studies serves as a foundation to the pursuit of many careers ranging from work in media and public relations to that within political, healthcare, or business contexts. Through an internship, cognate coursework, and co-curricular activities, a major may further explore these career opportunities. The major has the following goals:
- To introduce students to the theoretical underpinnings and extant research in the three major areas of the communication studies discipline (rhetoric, mass communication, human communication).
- To give students the opportunity - should they desire - to concentrate in one of these three areas.
- To equip students with the appropriate social science and/or rhetorical research methods and to provide them with opportunities to use them in independent research in the contexts of courses and especially the major's capstone course.
- To equip students with the basic public, interpersonal, and group oral communication skills and to give them the opportunity to supplement these with either more specialized oral communication skills or written and/or visual communication skills.
- To equip students with the fundamental background necessary for a wide range of communication careers and provide them with curricular and co-curricular opportunities to build on this background.
These goals are reflected in the following requirements.
Program Overview & Guidance
Delivery Mode
In-Person
Check Course Schedules
Delivery Mode
Online
Check Course Schedules
Delivery Mode
Hybrid
Check Course Schedules
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | Communication Studies is the study of how we create and share meaning. Communication includes many types, such as interpersonal, group, organizational, intercultural, public, and mediated. Those communication types occur within various contexts such as relationships, families, business, politics, and media. Our major teaches basic communication skills, such as public speaking, interpersonal, and group communication, as well as in-depth studies in our advanced courses. Our majors can pursue careers in industries such as human resources, healthcare, corporate communications, politics, government, and media, or pursue graduate school in communication or media, or law school. Stinger Radio Students might also consider getting involved in RMC's student internet radio station, Stinger Radio, which is on the air for 24 hours a day 7 days a week! What they do varies from year to year. Participation can enhance one’s major program significantly. Take a listen at: Stinger Radio Live Contact William L. Roberts (WilliamRoberts@rmc.edu), the faculty advisor, for more information! Honors and Honor Societies The communication studies program maintains the Alpha Beta Mu chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, a national honorary society sponsored by the National Communication Association. Contact Joan Conners (jconners@rmc.edu), the faculty advisor of LPH, for more information! Hugh Scott Oratory Award Students from throughout the college can compete and win the Hugh Scott Oratory Award, a prize for outstanding persuasive speaking, supported by alum members of the Franklin Debating Society. Communication Studies is a strong liberal arts major that opens the door to a wide array of careers. Majors pursue careers in areas such as public relations, marketing, human resources, corporate training, and event management. They also pursue careers in many aspects of media, such as journalism, publication, and broadcasting. The program is also designed to prepare you for graduate work in communication and can help you prepare for other graduate programs, such as law school, public administration, or student services. Combine it with another major and our program provides you with marketable communication skills for just about any career! Please note: Students enrolled at Randolph-Macon College attend classes primarily Monday-Friday between 8 am - 5 pm with very few evening courses. The large majority of RMC coursework is offered in-person and on campus. A very limited selection of online courses is offered in summer sessions. No more than one half of the courses on a major or minor can be transferred; at least one-half of the semester hours of the major or minor must be taken at Randolph-Macon. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Many students double major between Communication Studies and the following: Business, Political Science, Sociology, and English. Common minors include Journalism and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies.
|
| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | Students conduct a variety of research projects through their COMM classes in our theory & methods courses as well as the capstone course they’ll take in their senior year. Students have opportunities to take those projects further and develop them through SURF (Shapiro Undergraduate Research Fellowship) or for academic conferences. COMM students work on projects and develop skills that make them marketable after college. Final projects may be part of a portfolio students present to prospective employers to demonstrate their writing skills for a hypothetical campaign or their ability to translate academic research into language that everyone can understand. Additionally, many of our human communication courses involves students working in teams through which they gain skills in leadership, taking on diverse roles, and effective conflict management, all skills they'll utilize in the workplace. In Fall 2022, students in COMM 210 Public Speaking classes developed and delivered an informative speech on our local community here at R-MC/Ashland. As part of the process, students were invited to engage in a range of informative speaking situations including developing a campus tour, exploring the material history of the college in the R-MC special collections, and visiting the local Ashland Museum. |
| Doing More With Your Degree | While in the program, students have opportunities to conduct research in collaboration with a faculty member. Some examples of previous studies are: SURF 2021 project Ruth J. Beerman with Maria Navolio: Art as social justice: Rora Blue’s photographic art collections of everyday objects bear witness to ableism and invisible illness – paper then presented at 44th annual conference of the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender SURF 2021 project Joan L. Conners with Grace Holderman: Survey says…! Comparing poll accuracy over time and polling methods in the 2016 and 2020 Presidential Elections. Paper then presented at the Southwestern Social Science Association annual convention SURF 2021 project Joan L. Conners with McCray Fidler: National newspaper coverage of professional sports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paper then presented at NURVa 2022, THe Network for Undergraduate Research. SURF 2017 project Ruth J. Beerman with Brianne C. Habit: What does it mean to “Dream Big, Princessâ€: A rhetorical analysis of Disney’s princess identity and ideology –poster presentation at 109th annual conference of Eastern Communication Association –this SURF project began as a final class paper in COMM 314 and was extended significantly through SURF. Capstone (COMM 490) projects include: communication and food; communication and sports; popular culture and communication; power, inequality, and social change; activism and social justice. Students also have the opportunity to travel through courses such as: J-Term 2020 Study/Travel course offering of Intercultural Communication (COMM 332) to Kenya with 3 colleagues from the Communication Studies, Education, and History/Black Studies Departments. Students and faculty visited educational institutions and cultural sites, mixing learning with an authentic experience of the country and her people. Graduates from our program are employed with companies such as: Apex Systems CarMax CoStar Group INDEVCO North America Insight Global Other graduates have continued their studies in programs such as: Boston University, Media Science Rutgers University, Communication & Media Studies American University, School of Communication University of Baltimore, School of Law Campbell University Law School |
| Program Successes & Highlights | Dr. Beerman serves as the Director of the Franklin Debating Society. Although a few student members are Communication Studies majors or minors, the Society serves the entire campus community. The Franklin Debating Society provides opportunities for students to engage in argumentation, debate, advocacy, and a variety of speaking events. These opportunities are important to facilitating critical thinking, developing mind and character, and being well rounded individuals. Rather than advancing a particular party or ideological perspective, the Society engages in critical discussion and debate to deepen understanding of cultural, social, and civic issues. |
Program Credit Requirements
Credit and Course Requirements for the Program are expected in a future release. Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this 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.
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between Randolph-Macon College 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 | Students admitted under our guaranteed admissions agreement are guaranteed completion of most general education requirements. Students may need to complete additional foreign language coursework to complete the Effective Communication requirements and must complete the college's Cross-Area Requirements, most of which can be fulfilled through major programs and should not significantly increase the time to completion of degree.
|
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School |
| Credit for Prior Learning | We accept AP (4 or 5 on the exam) and IB (5, 6, or 7 on higher level exams). |
| Did You Know That... |
|
College Level Information
Transfer Center
Transfer Admissions : Randolph-Macon College (rmc.edu)
Visit our transfer site for more information
Number of Transfer Students
120
Percent of Accepted Transfer Students
71
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | At Randolph-Macon, we recognize the breadth of knowledge and experience you bring as a transfer student. Our personalized, hands-on approach to learning lets you build on that foundation, honing the skills you'll need to excel. No matter what your future goals, we'll set you on a path to success that’s uniquely yours. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance at RMC. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | GAA students must complete the RMC transfer application and submit all required materials by June 1 (for fall term) or December 1 (for spring term). GAA students will submit an Intent to Transfer form through their current community college contact to RMC. |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
This section displays degrees most closely related to this program
and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the
next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to
visit that program page.
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater College | Communication, Technology & Culture Major - BS | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Marymount University | Communication (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Art | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Liberal Arts: Communication Studies Specialization, A.A. | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Roanoke College | Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Science - General Studies (Professional Communication) | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Wytheville Community College | Associate of Science in Social Science Degree Communications Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Social Sciences: Communication Major | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, 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 |
| The University of Virginia's College at Wise | Bachelor of Arts in English, Major in Communication | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Media and Communication (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Regent University | B.A. in Communication Studies | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | Hybrid |
| Norfolk State University | Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications - General Broadcast Concentration | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Bridgewater College | Professional Writing Major - BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Mass Communications with concentration in Advertising/Creative, Bachelor of Science | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Mass Communications with concentration in Advertising/Creative (online), Bachelor of Science | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | Online |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Mass Communications with concentration in Advertising/Strategic, Bachelor of Science | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Mass Communications with concentration in Journalism/Broadcast, Bachelor of Science | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Mass Communications with concentration in Journalism/Digital, Bachelor of Science | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Mass Communications with concentration in Media Production, Bachelor of Science | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Mass Communications with concentration in Public Relations, Bachelor of Science | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Mass Communications with concentration in Public Relations (online), Bachelor of Science | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | Online |
| Wytheville Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in Education | Associate | Associate of Arts & Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Eastern Shore Community College | Early Childhood Education, AAS | Associate | Associate in Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Germanna Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in Education | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Germanna Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in K-8 Education | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Germanna Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Develop | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Teacher Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Teacher Education - Secondary Mathematics Specialization | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Arts Degree in Secondary Teacher Education (English/History) | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Early Childhood Development, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Education, A.S. | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Paul D. Camp Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Paul D. Camp Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences in Education | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Rappahannock Community College | AA&S Degree in Arts and Sciences - Pre-Teacher Preparation Elementary (PreK-6) Specialization | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Science in Science/Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Science in Science/Math Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Science in Social Science/Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Science - Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Social Sciences - Education Specialization | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Wytheville Community College | Associate of Science in Education | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| James Madison University | Bachelor of Science, Major in Secondary Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| George Mason University | Secondary Education, BSEd | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Education | 4-Year | Hybrid |
| Shenandoah University | Bachelor of Education Secondary Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Education | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Shenandoah University | Bachelor of Education Secondary Education Special Ed 6-12 | Bachelor | Bachelor of Education | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Ferrum College | B.S. in Secondary Education: Agricultural Education Emphasis | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Ferrum College | B.S. in Secondary Education: English Emphasis | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Ferrum College | B.S. in Secondary Education: History and Social Sciences Emphasis | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 27-3043.05 | 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 |
| 27-3043.00 | Writers and Authors | Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
| 27-3041.00 | Editors | Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
| 27-3023.00 | News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | Narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 25-1081.00 | Education Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses pertaining to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, instruction, teacher education, and teaching English as a second language. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-2031.00 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level. | 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 |
| 13-1131.00 | Fundraisers | Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs. | Business and Financial Operations Occupations |
| 11-2033.00 | Fundraising Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations. | Management Occupations |
Cost To Complete