As a major in Communication Studies, you’ll learn the theories of human communication and how to apply those theories in a variety of contexts, including interpersonal relationships, small group interaction, organizations, cultural interaction, and media.
You’ll graduate with talents and knowledge that will serve you well in any personal, community, and professional setting. In Communication Studies, you can pursue diverse topics and explore your curiosity about communication’s effects on daily life and ways in which it affects the world around us.
The Communication Studies curriculum provides a foundation for pursuing careers that apply communication principles, such as content creation, public relations, sales, marketing, video or film production, corporate media production, radio and podcasting, training and development, human resources, public affairs, consulting, and events planning. In addition, it prepares you for graduate work in many areas, including communication, informatics, humanities, or social sciences, or in professional programs such as law, business, health, and social work.
An accelerated degree track that saves you time and money
The accelerated Communication Studies B.A./Applied Communication M.A. is a five-year degree option that allows you the opportunity to obtain an advanced degree with only one additional year of study. You’ll have three years of undergraduate coursework, a fourth year of combined undergraduate and graduate coursework, and a fifth year of exclusively graduate coursework.
This option allows you to complete both degrees in less time and at a lower cost. The dual B.A./M.A. is available to Communication Studies majors and is by invitation of Communication Studies faculty only.
For more information, contact Jen Bute, graduate director.
Amplify Your Voice, No Matter Your Major
Our Communication Studies minor is designed to complement any major and elevate your career potential. You'll build a strong foundation in how people connect—whether one-on-one, within organizations, or in front of an audience.
Communication is at the heart of every profession. This minor equips you with versatile skills that employers value across industries that range from business and healthcare to public service and the arts.
Skills You’ll Gain
- Confident, effective face-to-face communication
- Presentation skills that engage and inform
- Persuasive techniques to influence and inspire
Whether you're preparing for graduate school, launching a career, or simply want to become a more impactful communicator, this minor helps you stand out.
Choose from a variety of specialized minors including:
- Communication Studies
- Corporate and Organizational Communication
- Health Communication
- Media Arts and Studies
- Public Communication and Persuasion
- Theatre
Earning an undergraduate certificate is a great way to sharpen your skills without the time commitment of a full degree. If you already have some professional experience, you can build on what you know and become an even stronger communicator in your workplace or community.
- IU Online Certificate in Human Communication in a Mediated World
In a world of constant face-to-face and digital interactions, this certificate helps you become a confident, adaptable communicator across settings. You'll learn to connect with others, present ideas clearly, and navigate both traditional and tech-driven communication styles that employers value.
This certificate is not available to Communication Studies majors.
- Certificate in Intercultural Health
This certificate is a four-semester course of study designed for Nursing and Public Health majors at IU Indianapolis. You’ll combine language study in Chinese, French, or Spanish with hands-on clinical training in bilingual settings. This program builds your cultural and linguistic skills so you can better serve communities where you work and live and address global health challenges.
Explore the art of performance in a vibrant urban setting with a particular focus on small group and solo performance. Along the way, you’ll explore different cultural and theoretical angles that help you think critically about what performance means today.
