This Fall

Incoming students will pay on average $6,600-$9,000 in tuition due to new scholarship opportunities. If you have questions contact your enrollment counselor today!
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BA IN COMMUNICATION

Deerfield, IL

WHY STUDY COMMUNICATION AT TIU?

Communication theories and vocabulary are useless without applied practice in your chosen area of concentration. As a communication major, you will have the opportunity to participate in professional internships that will give you hands-on experience to practice your skills. Leave Trinity prepared to excel in any number of demanding careers!

WHERE YOU STUDY MATTERS

Trinity is located in a peaceful wooded setting, just 25 miles north of downtown Chicago. This prime location offers some of the nation’s best school districts, a variety of ministry organizations, and 12 Fortune 500 companies within 12 miles of campus to apply practically what you are learning in the classroom. In addition, Trinity is close to many coffee shops, restaurants, cultural experiences, and recreational activities when you need a break from the books!

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO EARN MY DEGREE?

Most communication majors finish their degree in 3-4 years. Requirements for this degree total 48 hours. This includes 33 hours of required courses and 15 hours in your chosen concentration. Up to 12 of the hours required in the major may be used to meet general education requirements.

DID YOU KNOW?

During your time here, you will have the chance to work with Trinity’s communication & marketing department on key initiatives for the university.

WHAT WILL I STUDY?

As a communication major, you will study a variety of time-tested theories about how humans communicate and what factors can foster or prevent successful communication. You will apply your communication skills in relevant situations, such as business interactions, communication across cultures, and family relationships.

You will learn how to develop your own theories about contemporary communication and then put them to the test by designing and conducting surveys, interviews, focus groups, and experiments. Communication majors will also focus on developing their written, oral, and visual communication skills. You will receive training in effective strategies for both online and in-person communication.

PERSONAL. PRACTICAL. BIBLICAL.

At Trinity, you’ll be equipped to think critically and biblically in every area of life as you are challenged to apply your faith to your coursework and classroom conversations. And instead of approaching general education as a checklist of courses to be completed, Trinity’s distinctive educational approach gives you the freedom to choose courses that are most interesting and relevant to you. Working closely with your faculty advisor, you can select from electives to enhance your major, apply toward a minor, create a double major, or simply experience something new. The choices are yours! All along the way, you’ll be cared for and supported, ensuring that you make the most of your college experience.

COURSEWORK

Requirements for this degree total 48 hours. This includes 33 hours of required courses and 15 hours in your chosen concentration. Up to 12 of the hours required in the major may be used to meet general education requirements. You’ll take interesting courses like:

Interpersonal Communication
Intercultural Communication
Mass Communication
Writing for Publication
Social and Interactive Media Strategies

Emphases

Business Communication
Contemporary Media Studies
Relational Communication

SEE REQUIRED COURSES

Communication

CORE
Course	Title	Credits
Overview of Communication
Select three of the following:		9 hours
COM 120	Survey of Communication Theory	3 hours
COM 204	Mass Communication	3 hours
COM 330	Intercultural Communication	3 hours
COM 332	Interpersonal Communication	3 hours
Communication in Practice
COM 112	Speech	3 hours
COM 255	Writing for Publication	3 hours
COM 260	Student Publication I	3 hours
COM 281 or GHP 205	Social and Interactive Media Strategies or Intermediate Design Software	3 hours
COM 360	Student Publication II	3 hours
COM 445	Internship	3 hours
COM 490	Communication Capstone	3 hours
GPH 105	Foundational Design Software	3 hours
Emphases
Select on of the following emphases:		15 hours
Total		48 hours

EMPHASES

Select one of the following 3 emphases:

Business Communication Emphasis

Course	Title	Credits
BUS 101 or BUS 113 or BUS 115	Introduction to Business or Principles of Marketing or Human Resource Management	3 hours
BUS 334	Advertising	3 hours
COM 140	Introduction to Public Relations	3 hours
COM 210X	Business Communication	3 hours
COM 334	Group and Organizational Communication	3 hours
Total Hours		15 hours

Contemporary Media Emphasis

Course	Title	Credits
BUS 388 or GPH 305	Digital Analytics or Advanced Design Software	3 hours
COM 140	Introduction to Public Relations	3 hours
GPH 110	Design Foundations	3 hours
GPH 210	Tangible Design	3 hours
GPH 230 or GPH 260 or GPH 385	Introduction to Photography Typography Digital Storytelling	3 hours
Total Hours		15 hours

Relational Communication Emphasis

Course	Title	Credits
COM 334	Group and Organizational Communication	3 hours
COM 338	Gender and Family Communication	3 hours
PSY 220	Interpersonal Skills Training	3 hours
PSY 300 or PSY 350X	Personality Theories or Social Psychology	3 hours
Select one of the following:
PSY 170X	Leadership Dynamics	3 hours
PSY 230	Crisis Intervention	3 hours
PSY 255	Psychology of Addiction	3 hours
Total Hours		15 hours

CAREER OUTCOMES
Media Writer	Customer Care
Public Relations Specialist	Editor
Communication Director	Market Researcher
Creative Director	Events Planner
Sales Manager	Copywriter