About
The Communication Studies program offers a dynamic, flexible minor designed to produce graduates who are experts in achieving individual, group, and societal goals through communication. Our courses are practical and engaging, offering students hands-on opportunities to explore the functions, processes, and channels of communication. Our degree program focuses on equipping students with in-demand job skills sought after by leading employers such as problem-solving, leadership and collaboration, and communicating with diverse audiences, and how to employ those skills in a variety of careers. Because of the need for communication skills in a variety of careers, a minor in communication complements many programs on campus such as degrees in the Lee Business School, College of Education, School of Public Health, Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, College of Sciences, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, College of Liberal Arts, and other programs in the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs. Students interested in pursuing careers in business and human resources, education, journalism, health communication, political communication, social media and emerging technology, advocacy and non-profits, science communication, and relationship coaching and mediation, among other careers, would gain benefits from pairing their degree with a Communication Studies minor.
Accreditation
For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Minor, students should be able to:
- Define communication in digital, interpersonal, professional, and rhetorical contexts.
- Analyze and evaluate messages and interactions.
- Recognize and explain multiple perspectives in rhetorical and interpersonal communication theory.
- Identify and assess features of ethical and unethical communication.
Career Possibilities
Students with Communication Studies degrees are prepared to follow a wide range of career paths. Careers include, but are not limited to:
Advertising
Positions include advertising or marketing specialist, copy writer, account executive, sales manager, media planner, media buyer, creative director, media sales representative, and public opinion researcher.
Communication Education
Specific employment opportunities include language arts coordinator, forensic/debate coach, high school speech teacher, college or university instructor.
Health Communication
Undergraduate degree recipients nationally are employed as health educators, school health care administrators, medical grants writers, hospital directors of communication, clinic public relations directors, health communication and research analysts, communication managers for federal health care agencies, health personnel educators, medical center publications editors, hospice managers, health care counselors, marketing directors, and health facilities fundraisers.
Marketing
Positions include business and marketing specialist, public relations and advertising manager, sales and marketing manager, media manager, and public opinion researcher.
Organizational Communication
Graduates may work in human resources, training and development, internal communication, meeting management, organizational development, corporate consulting, labor-management negotiation, technical writing, community affairs, or government and public affairs.
Political Communication
Positions include press secretary, speech writer, campaign, consultant, elected official, political reporter, diplomat, lobbyist, lawyer, legislative assistant, or communication director.
Public Relations
Graduates have worked in public relations offices of nonprofit organizations, corporations and businesses, and communication agencies. They have served in media planning and analysis, corporate communication, publicity offices, marketing departments, fundraising, membership departments, sales, community relations, internal communication, and public opinion research.
Risk and Crisis Communication
Positions include corporate trainer, corporate spokesperson, public relations officer, communication consultant, or spokesperson for federal government agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or Food and Drug Administration.
*The careers identified here derive from the experience of the department’s graduates and from the national publication, “Pathways to Communication Careers in the Twenty-First Century,” Washington, DC: National Communication Association, 2011.
Requirements
Contacts
Department of Communication Studies
The Department of Communication Studies offers programs focused on relational and public communication. We teach and deploy communication skills in interpersonal, small group, organizational, and political settings, which in turn helps others to develop critical thinking, writing, and speaking skills. Our goal is to best serve communication needs by training citizens to engage, motivate, and impact communities.
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Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs is committed to creating contemporary solutions for resilient communities. Our academic programs focus on making effective public policy, creating support structures to meet behavioral and mental health challenges, ensuring cities are safe and prepared to meet emergency situations, effective and ethical journalism, and interpersonal and public communication strategies.