Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies Program Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies program at New England College can help you develop written and oral communication skills and interpersonal abilities.
By studying communication, students learn to express themselves clearly and effectively, listen actively, interpret messages accurately, and respond appropriately. Communication studies also provide a comprehensive understanding of different communication channels and how to use them for success.
Communication studies focus on improving your writing, speaking, and interpersonal skills—some of the most sought-after skills by employers—as well as self-knowledge, or intrapersonal communication. You’ll have a good understanding of who you are and what you want to do post graduation.
Program courses focus on:
- Media Criticism: Who produces media, what messages they’re sending, and how we should interpret them
- Media Professions: Journalism, public relations and advertising, video production, and radio programming and production
- Media Practices: Social media, writing for journalism and public relations, website design, video production, radio broadcasting, and audio production and podcasting
To ensure that you receive a well-rounded education, NEC offers a range of core and elective courses, such as Freedom of Speech, Speaking with Purpose, and Media Literacy. This is consistent with NEC’s liberal arts foundation.
Gain Relevant Experience at NEC
Contribute to the student-run, award-winning college newspaper and website, The NewEnglander. Students practice and hone their design, editing, photo, public relations, social media, and writing skills. The newspaper is in digital format and has special print editions. The website is continually updated with articles shared via social media. Students can specialize as writers, photographers, and social media managers. The NewEnglander is a member of the Granite State News Collaborative, a collective of media, education, and community partners that shares news content and provides students with networking opportunities. As members of the New Hampshire Press Association, students are granted access to workshops and journalism competitions.
Earn credit and practice various on-air and behind-the-scenes audio production and broadcasting skills at WNEC-FM, the college’s radio station. WNEC is run by students with internships and supported by faculty, staff, and passionate WNEC alumni. Students create studio-based shows and may broadcast remote events, including play-by-play announcing for NEC sports. WNEC broadcasters serve as DJs at campus events and bring music acts to campus. WNEC podcasts are distributed over the air and on major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Google, and Amazon.
All students in the Communication Studies BA get internships in their areas of interest, often in nearby Concord or Manchester, in coordination with our Career and Life Planning office.
If you’re interested in public relations and advertising, project opportunities include promotional work for campus organizations, such as NEC Athletics, as well as gathering spaces, such as the campus pub. Students also promote events and do public relations work for their own (hypothetical or real) small businesses or nonprofits. Many get internships for various nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
