Overview

The Communication Studies major at EIU equips students with the knowledge and skills to connect with others, lead in professional environments, and navigate a complex world. Built around the fundamentals of interpersonal and organizational communication, this program prepares you to build meaningful relationships, manage conflict, lead teams, and thrive in diverse workplace settings, skills that employers consistently identify as among the most valuable in new hires. In the School of Communication, Journalism & Theatre, small classes, dedicated faculty mentors, and an active, collaborative learning environment mean you'll graduate not just with knowledge, but with the confidence and practical skills to put it to work from day one.

The strengths of our Communication Studies major are a combination of:

• A focused curriculum integrating interpersonal and organizational communication that prepares graduates to lead and collaborate across every industry and sector
• Skills-based courses in conflict management, communicating across difference, organizational communication, promotional communication, and strategic communication
• Real-world application built into every course: students apply communication theory to today's organizations, teams, and interpersonal relationships rather than studying it in the abstract
• Small class sizes and an engaging, collaborative classroom environment where students learn alongside peers guided by their faculty
• A capstone professional development course that prepares students specifically for the transition from college to career
• A program that prepares graduates not only for their first job but for a lifetime of jobs, because the ability to build relationships, navigate conflict, and lead people through complexity can't be automated

At 45 credits, the sports media major provides students the flexibility to minor in multiple areas or easily double-major, especially within the School of Communication, Journalism & Theatre, where a second major can take as little as 27 additional credits. We encourage students to strategically pair majors and minors they are passionate about, creating educational experiences and career pathways that are uniquely their own.

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Completion time: 45 semester hours required for the major

Resources

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- Program Sheet
- 4-year Course Sequence
- Curriculum Sheet

Computer Requirements:

Communication Studies majors can check out any video or photo equipment they need directly from the School of Communication, Journalism & Theatre. Majors also have access to our computer labs during open lab hours throughout the week. 

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