Bachelor’s in communications programs in Georgia are nearly as numerous as peach trees in the “Empire State of the South.”
Regionally accredited communications schools meet high industry standards to ensure employer recognition in Georgia’s $496 billion economy. Ranked 10th for growth prospects on Forbes, Georgia currently employs 50,920 in media-related careers to inform and entertain its 10.31 residents. Communications graduates often find jobs in Atlanta, America’s ninth-largest media market, with CNN, The Weather Channel, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WABE FM 90.1, and more. Digital media corporations like Cartoon Network, Turner Studios, and Adult Swim also have headquarters in Georgia. In fact, Georgia ranked #1 for feature film productions with several 2016 blockbusters, including Captain America: Civil War.
Let’s review the first section (A-F) of undergraduate communications degrees in Georgia that can position your career for media advancement.
Albany State University
Department of English, Modern Languages, & Mass Communication
Enrolling 7,218 Golden Rams with an average SAT score of 896, Albany State University is a public, historically Black USG constituent that’s grown from its founding in 1874 by Joseph Winthrop Holley to carry a $22.5 million endowment and occupy a 231-acre, 32-building campus in Dougherty County. Included in the MAE&T Guide to Colleges & Universities, ASU is ranked America’s 27th best HBCU by the U.S. News and 55th best Greek life college on Niche. The Department of English, Modern Languages & Mass Communication offers six majors that presently bill $6,460 in-state and $19,280 out-of-state annually.
B.A. in Mass Communication
Chaired by Dr. James Hill with an 18:1 student-faculty ratio, Albany’s B.A. in Mass Communication is two bachelor’s in communications programs in Georgia rolled into one with undergrad concentrations for Media Arts or Public Relations & Strategic Communication. The 123-125 credits develop on core courses like English composition and world literature to sharpen students’ ability to convey information via various means. Majors might also join Sigma Tau Delta, write for The Pierian, attend the Annual Poetry Festival, and study abroad in Trinidad and Tobago.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Holley Hall 101
504 College Dr.
Albany, GA 31705
(229) 430-4833
james.hill@asurams.edu
Armstrong State University
College of Liberal Arts
Given the 2010 ASPA First Place/Special Merit Award, Armstrong State University is a public, four-year coeducational institution founded in 1935 that’s now led by President Jennifer L. Frum with an $11.4 million endowment to teach 7,094 Pirates from its 268-acre USG campus in Savannah. Armstrong is ranked America’s 380th safest college on Niche, 479th best master’s college in Washington Monthly, and 412th top value by The Economist. The College of Liberal Arts features one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Georgia with an annual net price of $18,633 and 88 percent placement rate.
English/Professional Communications B.A.
Selectively admitting 74 percent of freshmen applicants, Armstrong’s English/Professional Communications B.A. has PhD-level faculty trained at Notre Dame, Emory, UNC, Georgia, and Miami under Chair Dr. Elizabeth Howells to nurture students’ grammar for effective speech. The 36-credit major injects literary skill labs into four concentrations: Creative Writing, Journalism, Film Studies, or Technical Communication. Students might also contribute to The Inkwell, pledge Sigma Tau Delta, study abroad in Chile, attend the Student Scholars Symposium, and participate in the Treasure Savannah Day of Service.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Gamble Hall 103
11935 Abercorn St.
Savannah, GA 31419
(912) 344-2594
beth.howells@armstrong.edu
Augusta University
Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Partnered with East Georgia State College, Augusta University is a public, coeducational research institute and 478-bed teaching hospital that’s endowed for $121.3 million under President Brooks Keel to instruct 9,186 Jaguars on its 670 total acres in Forbes’ 130th best city for job growth. Augusta is ranked America’s 209th top high school counselor pick by the USNWR and 250th college with the best professors on Niche. The Katherine Reese Pamplin houses one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Georgia with an net yearly price of $12,157 and 73 percent retention.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
At the Summerville Campus, Augusta’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication is directed by Rick Kenney, PhD, to let undergrads project their voices with clear, effective messages across public, digital, and print mediums. Offered with an optional Theatre Minor, the 124-credit degree spans courses like narrative reporting and camera performance before the major capstone. Students could also intern with The Augusta Chronicle, join Lambda Pi Eta, win the Connie Vance Scholarship, study journalism in Ireland, attend the Patti Pace Performance Festival, and participate in CommFest.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Allgood Hall E122
2500 Walton Way
Augusta, GA 30904
(706) 729-2416
rkenney@augusta.edu
Berry College
Evans School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Used as a filming location for Disney’s Perfect Harmony, Berry College stands atop a 27,000-acre rural campus in the Rome Metro near the Oostanaula River as a private, coeducational Christian institution that’s endowed for $945 million and led by President Stephen Briggs with 2,223 Vikings enrolled. Berry is ranked America’s 264th best private college by Forbes and the South’s eighth top university on the USNWR survey. Graded “A-” for academics, the Evans School also landed as the 235th best communications college on Niche with a 92 percent job placement rate.
Communication Major
Since 1984, Berry’s Communication Major has conferred a B.A. as one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Georgia where undergrads pick from four concentrations: Visual Communication, Public Relations, Multimedia Journalism, or Sports Communication. Chaired by Dr. Brian Carroll, the 120-credit degree currently charges $35,176 for annual tuition to study 21st century media courses from digital imaging to technical writing. Other opportunities include writing for Viking Fusion, taking Honors at Glasgow, interning at New South Publishing, and debating with the Forensics Union.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Delzer Laughlin 100
2277 Martha Berry Hwy NW
Mount Berry, GA 30149
(706) 232-5374
bc@berry.edu
Brenau University
College of Business & Mass Communication
Headquartered on a 57-acre Hall County campus in Gainesville with the renowned Pearce Auditorium, Brenau University is a private, nonprofit multi-campus liberal arts school that’s endowed for $38.3 million under President Ed Schrader, PhD, to educate 3,500 Golden Tigers and employ 133 academic staff. Brenau is ranked America’s 277th most value-added college by The Economist and 187th most conservative university on Niche. Backed by ACBSP accreditation, the College of Business & Mass Communication has two bachelor’s in communications programs in Georgia with 36 percent admission.
Communication and Media Studies (B.A.)
Mandating a 2.5 GPA or better, Brenau’s Communication and Media Studies (B.A.) is available in Augusta, Gainesville, North Atlanta, South Atlanta, and online for undergrads to learn about today’s media landscape from doctoral-level experts. Coordinated by Julia Clay, DBA, the 120-credit degree offers courses like persuasion, newswriting, crisis communication, and project management for current yearly tuition of $24,780. Students can also broadcast on 89.1 WBCX-FM Gainesville, join Rotaract Club, pursue the Oxford@Brenau Program, run for Student Government, and find internships on MonsterTRAK.
Mass Communication (B.A.)
Generating a 20-year net ROI of $160,000 on PayScale, the Mass Communication (B.A.) suits Brenau undergrads who are seeking technical media jobs in five concentrations: Broadcasting, Digital Media, Journalism, Entertainment, or Public Relations. Injecting eight practicum credits, the 120-credit curriculum develops liberal education before major courses like video production in Gainesville. Majors might also edit The Alchemist, broadcast on Brenau Channel 95, pledge Delta Mu Delta, plan Owens Student Center events, study abroad at Ewha Woman’s University, and present at the Annual Research Symposium.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
500 Washington St. SE
Gainesville, GA 30501
(770) 534-6100
jclay1@brenau.edu
Brewton-Parker College
Department of Business & Communication
Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention since 1904, Brewton-Parker College is a private, coeducational NAIA nonprofit that’s endowed for $13.3 million under President Steve Echols to enlighten 1,119 undergrad Barons on its 280-acre, 46-building campus in Mount Vernon just 100 miles inland from Savannah. BPC is ranked the 261st best Southern value and 326th best U.S. baccalaureate institution in Washington Monthly. Selectively admitting 51 percent of applicants, the Department of Business & Communication has one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Georgia grounded with Christian ethics.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Presently priced at $15,660 for annual tuition, BPC’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication is chaired by Dr. James T. West to coordinate full-time, face-to-face liberal education in Mount Vernon that’s focused on interpersonal skill development for fast-growing media careers. The 120-credit degree integrates courses like mass media, public speaking, and advertising with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. Undergrads can also minor in Christian Studies, attend the Summer Bridge, join Glimpses of Truth, pledge Sigma Tau Delta, and write for the Oracle Literary Magazine.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
201 David-Eliza Fountain Circle
P.O. Box 197
Mount Vernon, GA 30445
(912) 583-2241
admissions@bpc.edu
Clark Atlanta University
School of Arts & Sciences
Affiliated with media alums like Kenya Barris, Hamilton Bohannon, and Kenny Leon, Clark Atlanta University is a private, historically Black Methodist institution endowed for $66.7 million in the Atlanta University Center Consortium to educate 3,485 Panthers on 126 acres adjacent to Ashview Heights. CAU is ranked America’s 207th best college location on Niche, 175th best university in Washington Monthly, and 16th top HBCU by the U.S. News. The School of Arts & Sciences splits into 19 close-knit departments from psychology to chemistry to retain 65 percent of freshmen on average.
Major in Speech Communication
Leading to a Bachelor of Arts, Clark’s Major in Speech Communication is one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Georgia where verbal language skills are emphasized to prepare proficient orators for public address. Estimated to cost $36,217 total per year, the 120-credit degree requires a minimum 2.0 GPA in courses like diction, professional speech, and mass communication research. Undergrads may also minor in Theatre Arts, compete with the Debate Team, publish the CAU Panther, broadcast live on 91.9 WCLK-FM, and pursue University Honors.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Woodruff Library, Lower Level
223 James P. Brawley Dr. SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
(404) 880-8903
chouse@cau.edu
Clayton State University
College of Arts & Sciences
Governed by the Georgia Board of Regents since 1969, Clayton State University is a selective public, coeducational USG constituent led by President Thomas Hynes Jr. with 208 full-time faculty to instruct 7,145 Lakers from its 192-acre wooded campus in Morrow just 13 miles south of Downtown Atlanta. Clayton is ranked America’s 295th hardest college to get into by Niche and the Southeast’s 184th best bang for the buck in Washington Monthly. Publishing The Bent Tree bimonthly, the College of Arts & Sciences houses another of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Georgia for an annual net price of $10,862.
B.A. Program in Communication and Media Studies
Chaired by Dr. Brian Amsden since 2014, Clayton’s B.A. Program in Communication and Media Studies nurtures undergrads’ critical thinking skills for analyzing messages in differing modes of social interaction. The 120-credit curriculum allows students to pick from three 21-credit concentrations: Media Production, Media and Cultural Studies, or Communication and Human Relations. Majors might also co-publish research for the Quarterly Journal of Speech, secure 150-hour internships with WSB-TV, travel to Jamaica, join Creative Writing Club, and finish the eCore online via Desire2Learn.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Arts & Sciences 210N
2000 Clayton State Blvd.
Morrow, GA 30260
(678) 466-4764
bamsden@clayton.edu
Columbus State University
College of the Arts
Offering 140+ student clubs like Lambda Pi Eta, Columbus State University is a public, four-year higher learning institute of the Peach Belt Conference that’s endowed for $28 million under President Chris Markwood to serve 7,682 Cougars at its 132-acre Muscogee County campus, Fort Benning extension, and online. With the 205th best online bachelor’s, Columbus is ranked America’s 348th best college athletics on Niche and the South’s 45th top public university by the U.S. News. The College of Arts grants one of the most flexible bachelor’s in communication programs in Georgia for $177 in-state and $627 out-of-state per credit.
Communication Studies Major (B.A.)
Delivered on-campus and online with eight- or 16-week courses, Columbus’ Communication Studies Major (B.A.) is chaired by Dr. Danna Gibson to give undergrads theoretical and practical knowledge on human interaction to enter public-facing careers. After studying topics from film production to inter-ethnic cultural communication, the 48-credit major places juniors and seniors in semester-long internships. Students could also broadcast on WCUG Radio, add the Social Media Certificate, practice with the GA Film Academy, and join the Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Carpenter Building 208
4225 University Ave.
Columbus, GA 31907
(706) 507-8603
gibson_danna@columbusstate.edu
Emmanuel College
Communication Department
Reopened by Thomas Aaron in 1933, Emmanuel College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts school affiliated with the International Pentecostal Holiness Church that’s offering 30 areas of study to 920 Lions engaging on its 80-acre campus in Franklin Springs just east of Royston. Emmanuel is ranked America’s 95th best baccalaureate college by Washington Monthly and 70th safest college campus on Niche. Belonging to the South’s 41st best institution according to the USNWR, the Communication Department has one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Georgia for a current cost of $38,584 yearly.
Communication Studies B.A./B.S.
Taught by experienced media practitioners from CNN, DreamWorks, ABC Studios, and others, Emmanuel’s Communication Studies B.A./B.S. integrates faith into practical exploration of communicative methods to positively change the world through media for Christ. The 16-course major allows students to specialize with three concentrations: Sports Communication, Digital Media Production, or Organizational Communication. Undergrads may also intern with Georgia Public Broadcasting, present at the GCA Film Festival, join Players Drama Ministry, add the Virtuosi Honors Experience, and venture to Washington, DC.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
181 Spring Street
P.O. Box 129
Franklin Springs, GA 30639
(706) 245-7226 ext. 2642
jlesterbenson@ec.edu
Fort Valley State University
College of Arts and Sciences
Running WFVS-LP 104.3 FM, Fort Valley State University is a public, historically Black land-grant institution belonging to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund that’s enrolling 2,227 Wildcats with a $5.12 million endowment under President Paul Jones and a sprawling 1,365-acre Macon Metro campus. FVSU is ranked America’s 34th best HBCU by the U.S. News, 44th best Greek life college on Niche, and 46th top baccalaureate school in Washington Monthly. The College of Arts and Sciences also placed #1 for the most African-American mathematics graduates in Diverse Issues in Higher Education for 2014.
Mass Communications Major
Chaired by Dr. Bobby Dickey, FVSU’s Mass Communications Major is another of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Georgia awarding a B.A./B.S. for undergrads who progress academically through humanities courses centered on digital and print media. The 120-credit degree currently charges $6,566 in-state and $19,386 out-of-state annually before funding like the Carlos Mookie Gardner Garcia Scholarship for courses from drama to graphic design. Other opportunities include writing for The Peachite, joining the J.C. Hill Forensic Debate Team, and performing with the Joseph Adkins Players.
Accreditation
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1005 State University Dr.
Fort Valley, GA 31030
(478) 825-6387
dickeyb@fvsu.edu
According to Zippia, communications degrees unlock several of the 100 highest-paying jobs in Georgia, including marketing manager, PR director, promotions manager, author, and arts director. The BLS reports that Georgia’s media occupations have average yearly salaries ranging from $43,520 to $97,760. Discover your big break into the cutthroat media profession with training at these accredited bachelor’s in communications programs in Georgia.
Continue here: Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in Georgia (G-Z)