Are you a people person who enjoys learning through conversation? Can you picture yourself applying your skills at just about any company or industry? If so, you should consider a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies.

PLNU communication majors examine the rapidly changing communication landscape, and learn how to use communication competently in a variety of complex environmental and social contexts. You will also learn how to put your discipline into practice in the collective community around you, allowing you to constantly refine your ability to build and maintain your personal and professional relationships.

As a multi-faceted major with a wide variety of career opportunities, communication studies is one of the most popular majors at PLNU. You can look forward to a versatile curriculum that includes courses on interpersonal and small group communication, gender and nonverbal communication, and speech and debate.

For information about the courses required for the Communication Studies, B.A. program, view the PLNU Catalog. 

Course Information

Major Map

PLNU communication studies graduates are exceptionally skilled in the intangible aspects of their discipline that can form, sustain, and strengthen any company or community. These soft skills are highly sought after by employers, and according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Job Outlook 2019 report, employers rated written communication skills as the most important candidate quality.

A Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies can lead to a wide variety of careers and industries, including:

• Media
• Management
• Advertising
• Marketing
• Public relations
• Human resources
• International relations
• Government
• Ministry
• Education
• Law
• Business and entrepreneurship

What can you do with a communication studies degree?

Point Loma communication studies alumni have gone into a broad array of employment. The following companies are just some examples of employers that said alumni work for: Advantage Sales & Marketing LLC, APA California, 4 Creeks, IncAffinity, and Advanced Rp, Inc.

Along with a wide array of companies, there’s a versatile set of titles that PLNU communication studies alumni hold, the most prominent being: public relations and fundraising managers, recruiters, general and operations managers, marketing managers, secretaries, and administrative assistants, along with many others.

The following are more examples of positions that PLNU communication studies alumni currently hold:

Personal Service Managers

2020 Median annual salary $116,350
Personal service manager's main responsibility is to oversee employees and monitor the progress of the organization's current projects and develop reports that will help improve efficiency. Personal service managers must have great customer service skills and knowledge of their organization so they can adequately and thoroughly answer questions and concerns. They’re also responsible for communicating with manufacturing representatives and dealers their organizations work with. Personal service managers must also be able to stay up to date on industry standards and news they could integrate into their organization to benefit their company. 

What it takes to be a personal service manager: 

• Leadership abilities 
• Customer service skills
• Technology skills 
• Organizational skills
• Creative thinking 
• Problem-solving skills
• Ability to work under pressure

First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 

2020 Median annual salary $58,45
Responsibilities of this position are to oversee employees and make sure they follow outlined procedures and that their work meets the organization's standards. Administrative support workers must be able to give employees guidance and help with handling problems and manage escalated customer situations. First-line supervisors of the office must be able to actively supervise office workers, administrative teams, and customer service employees to correct errors and problems as they occur.

Human Resources Specialists

2020 Median annual salary $63,490
Human resources specialists are primarily tasked with reviewing resumes, performing background checks, interviewing applicants and informing them of their acceptance or rejection, and placing potential workers where they’ll best meet the organization's needs. HR specialists also oversee and help regulate employee relationships, organize benefits and compensation for workers, and also oversee incoming employee training. 

What it takes to be a human resource specialist:

• Communication skills
• Strong ethics
• Conflict management skills
• Organizational skills

Alumni listed the following skills as the top strengths they acquired as a communication studies student at PLNU: 

• Event planning
• Networking
• Public relations
• Event management
• Fundraising
• Social media marketing

Communication studies as a lifelong skill: 

Being able to communicate and collaborate efficiently and effectively with others is an invaluable skill that can carry you through life and one any employer would value. As the talented English composer John Powell once said, “Communication works for those who work at it.” By being a communication studies major at PLNU, you’ll be working on learning to communicate in an abundance of ways through your entire academic journey, meaning communication will always be a strong and important aspect of your relationships for any path you choose to follow. 

Apply to PLNU today or get connected with one of our counselors for additional support and answers to any questions you may have.