Communication

Bachelor of Science (BS)

The Communication major prepares students to be communication professionals. The program emphasizes communication theory and practice in the creation, presentation, and evaluation of coherent messages. With three areas of emphasis including writing, organizational communication/public relations, or communication studies, the career possibilities are endless.

This program is also offered as...

On-campus Minor

Online Major

Online Minor

Key Features

Choose from three different areas of emphasis to fit your career path. To craft your major to fit your career goals, choose the Communication Studies emphasis, or follow a specified track in Organizational Communication/Public Relations or Writing.
Strengthen and develop the writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills you will use every day to communicate effectively with co-workers, clients, and the public
Create portfolio-building materials in the classroom to use in the real world
The focus of the major on applied communication skills and successful strategies, immersed in UMC's distinctive technology culture, prepares graduates to effectively communicate within the corporate and public forum and to meet the marketplace realities of contemporary society.
The Bachelor of Science degree in Communication is offered both on-campus and online
A Communication Minor is also available on-campus and online, and can be added to complement another degree program.

Program Requirements & Curriculum

To view current Communication, BS curriculum, visit our catalog site:
View Communication, BS curriculum

The Communication major offers three areas of emphasis:

Communication Studies
Organizational Communication/Public Relations
Writing

We also offer a minor in Communication:
View Communication minor curriculum

Careers

Employers seek to hire graduates with strong communication skills. Those who receive a degree in communication from the University of Minnesota Crookston will know how to adapt to changing circumstances and marketplace realities.

With this degree, graduates will be eligible for jobs in almost any field. Enter the keyword "communication" at Internet job search sites, such as www.monster.com, www.careerbuilder.com, www.jobbankinfo.org and www.usajobs.gov, to find job titles and descriptions.

The average salary range for positions within this major was between $51,470 - $108,260 yearly, depending on experience. For a list of detailed salary trends within this field, visit www.bls.gov

Graduates often find or create jobs in all sectors of the economy and in multiple levels of organizations including a wide variety within each communication emphasis area:

Communication Studies (depending on concentration area)

Management
Politics
Health management
Marketing
Publications work
Sports information
Web site design

Organizational Communication/Public Relations

Corporate communication
Public relations
Public affairs and information
Media relations

Writing

Business writing
Editing
Freelance writing
Technical writing
Speech writing

Student Stories

Communications student, Austin Sommerfeld (mentored by faculty members Rachel McCoppin and Megan Bell) created this video through the Crookston Student Research and Creative Works fund. The “Driven.” project was developed by recording video interviews with nine individuals including students, faculty members, and the Chancellor at the University of Minnesota Crookston. They were asked open-ended questions relating to the University’s core values. The video incorporates music, visual effects, audio, and animations. The final project followed the requirements established by The University of Minnesota Foundation to represent the campaign theme Driven. The goal of the video is to share what the University of Minnesota Crookston is all about, showing viewers it is a great place for education, diversity, and community. The four-minute video represents the core values of the U of M Crookston: student success, diversity, leadership, community, innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

This Crookston Student Research/Creative Works project was inspired by Tasty videos that are popular on Facebook and YouTube. Conceptualized as “snack-sized videos and recipes you’ll want to try," Senior Cassandra Morthera, with support of her faculty mentor, Megan Bell, crafted the recipe for this video using the required ingredients for a Bachelor of Science degree from the U of M Crookston. Requirements for the project included representing ingredients from specific catagories: all four academic departments: Business; Agriculture and Natural Resources; Liberal Arts and Education; and Math, Science, and Technology; athletics, the U of M Crookston student experience -- such as study abroad, classes, activities, and cultures. The project also required Morthera to gather the ingredients, plan the video recording, capture the video, edit the video, add meaningful and concise captions, and select music -- all while maintaining the feel of the Tasty video inspiration. We hope you’ll want to try the U of M Crookston after you watch this video.

ethan johnson

Last fall Ethan Johnson started thinking about law school. This fall, he took the entrance exam and is applying for gap year employment. Johnson, a senior double major in Business Management and Communication, always thinks ahead. If academics, playing varsity golf for the Golden Eagles, and managing officials for intramurals on campus wasn’t enough for the conscientious senior, Johnson serves as the representative to the U of M Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC). He meets monthly with representatives from the system campuses to go over resolutions and determine which of them need to go to the Student Senate. Learn more.

daija williams

Daija Williams, a senior majoring in Communication from Minneapolis, Minn., never imagined herself going out of the country, but a study abroad trip last summer changed all that and she’s glad it did. Her 18-day adventure would take her to both China and Japan. Learn more.

Kevin Williams

Every year, the National Football League (NFL) hosts the NFL Experience, and one year a young Kevin Williams had an opportunity to attend with his dad. Since that day, Williams, who is from Houston, Texas, has had a passion for both sports and people. He found the right route in the study of Communication with a minor in Coaching. This combination is the perfect combination because his dream job is to become an athletic director of a university. Learn more.

The campus tagline “Small Campus. Big Degree.” is not the only thing the University of Minnesota Crookston offers Maggie Mills, an animal science and communication double major from Lake City, Minn. “You gain a solid education, and a caring supportive system that is there to help you grow and thrive,” she says. Learn more.

Henry Soung

Music might be his minor, but it has played a major role in the life of Henry Soung. The Communication major from St. Paul, Minn., grew up playing piano, and while he left it as a teenager, it is once again an important part of his life. Learn more.

Emily Gruber

Communication major Emily Gruber from Big Lake, Minnesota, reflects on her decision to attend the University of Minnesota Crookston. Learn more.

Steffanie Berg, an Communication major at the University of Minnesota Crookston talks about her experience in "Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone" Austin Czichotzki '12, a University of Minnesota Crookston communication graduate talks about his many experiences at the University of Minnesota Crookston.

"I began my student career at the University of Minnesota, Crookston as an animal science pre-veterinary medicine major. By the end of my freshman year I had realized this wasn't the path for me and began looking at the other majors offered at UMC. When I came to the communication major I was intrigued. I was able to combine a very broad major with courses from other majors offered on campus to customize my very own course of study, which I found to be pretty cool!

My degree in communication has given me skills that are viable in many different fields, so it can truly take you anywhere. After graduation in May 2012 I moved to Chicago for an internship with an entertainment agency, Bass/Schuler Entertainment. It was through my involvement in Student Programming and Activities for Campus Entertainment (S.P.A.C.E.) that I was first connected with Bass/Schuler. With the knowledge that I had gained through my classes as well as all I had learned through student activities I was in the unique position to not only benefit myself with the career networking that the internship provided, but also bring my knowledge of campus activities and skill-set to my position.

Coming from a rural area, UMC was the ideal size for me. The small campus allowed me to branch out in many areas of the university and get involved in things such as student activities, managing the Information Desk in the Student Center, and working with University Relations, all helping me gain crucial skills and experience to be carried over into the workplace, while also serving as a second classroom where I was able to put the lessons I had learned in my classes to use and see firsthand how what was being taught truly matched what was being practiced. The small campus gave me the confidence to make the move to Chicago, from living on my own in the apartments on campus to making friends in a new environment I had already done it.

In the future I would like to pursue a job working at a university either in University Relations or Student Affairs. I know I will be well equipped for whatever position I find myself in because in the communication program you actually learn the skills that are needed for the current workplace. The teachers are constantly revising and changing the curriculum to ensure that students are marketable and ready for wherever their career takes them."

The UMC Advantage

Small Campus. Big Degree.

Did you know a degree from the University of Minnesota is recognized all over the world? True story. As a system campus of the University of Minnesota system, the U of M Crookston offers access to world-class teaching, learning, and research resources—all in a smaller, more personal campus setting that’s very much like a private school. The University of Minnesota is internationally recognized and respected by not only intellectuals and academic movers and shakers, but major employers who want to hire the best and brightest—namely, you.

Learning and Doing

At the U of M Crookston, you won’t spend all your time behind a desk. Our curriculum is designed around experiential learning, which means we want you to have as much hands-on learning as possible. Depending on your major, you’ll find opportunities to be in the field, the lab, the classroom, or engaging in simulated scenarios that give you a competitive edge when you enter the workforce or head to grad school. You’ll learn the concepts and then actively apply them through projects, field trips, site visits, internships, and interactions with professionals in the field.

Caring Faculty and Staff

Our faculty and staff members are respected not only for their knowledge and skills, but also because they care about you as an individual. They serve as true mentors, offering personalized attention through small class sizes, a student-faculty ratio of 18:1, and by working closely with you as advisors. They take the time to welcome you to the UMC community, watch you grow as a leader and scholar, and help you connect with alumni and other experts.

A Technology-Rich Environment

At the U of M Crookston, we offer every student a laptop computer from day one. Everyone is tech-savvy, wi-fi is everywhere and learning happens in many ways, including simulations, applications and video presentations. It’s a virtual tech-topia! So, when you graduate, you’ll have all the latest technology skills, giving you a competitive edge. Employers consistently report the UMC graduates they hire are their “go to” people for technology and are well prepared for the demands of today’s technological workplace.

Internships, Job Placement and Grad School

More than 87% of U of M Crookston graduates gain full-time employment in their field or enroll in graduate or professional school within one year of graduation. That’s a fact. We’ll sure miss you when you graduate, but we know as a proud Golden Eagle alum, you’ll want to come back to cheer us on at homecoming or catch up with your favorite professors.

Internships. They’re a great way to earn college credit, add to your resume and help answer the question, “is this really what I want to do?” You can find internship opportunities with everyone from the business down the street to Fortune 500 companies. Or maybe grad school is in your future. U of M Crookston students get the educational requirements and resources they need to apply to an array of graduate programs from veterinary science to med school to an MBA program. Many go on for more education in a variety of other fields.

Opportunities for undergraduate research also add real value to your educational experience by allowing you to design and conduct research while working alongside faculty mentors. Research experience is especially helpful if you plan to attend graduate school.

One-Rate Tuition and Scholarship Options

Whether you live in Minnesota, just across the border, across the country, or on the other side of the ocean, you pay the same tuition rate, and the U of M Crookston’s tuition rate is a real value because it’s the lowest of the five campuses that make up the U of M system. Additionally, with merit-based scholarships guaranteed based on GPA and ACT scores and more than 300 specialty scholarships, we really do help make college affordable.

Leadership, Clubs and Athletics

Sure, college is about classes, studying, and research, but another important part of the experience involves professional development, creativity, leadership, and service. And let’s not forget about fun! With more than 40 student clubs and organizations, there’s something for every interest. Best of all, if you can’t find something from the existing list, grab a few friends and start a new club. It’s really just that easy…

In athletics, Golden Eagles shake things up on the court, the field, and on the sidelines. The U of M Crookston competes at the NCAA Division II level in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) as well as the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and offers a full range of men’s and women’s athletic programs.

A Diverse, Global Experience

The world really is a small place, and at U of M Crookston we value diversity. Our students bring rich experiences spanning six continents, and more than 20 countries and 40 states! We value diversity because it not only helps you better understand the world, it helps you understand yourself and how your piece fits into the puzzle of global society. Get involved in the many multicultural and international programs on campus, and you’ll see how easy it is to make friends from across the world.

Or choose one of our international programs. Study, intern, volunteer, play, explore – here or anywhere. Take your pick from more than 300 options in 67 countries. Don’t just learn it, live it.