Online Bachelor of Science in Communication

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Program at a Glance

Prepare for entry-level employment in a variety of fields including public relations, advertising, marketing, organizational communications, or management.
Choose electives aligned with your career interests such as technical communication, leadership, sales, entrepreneurship, public relations, and human resources.
Shorten your path to a master's degree with the accelerated bachelor's to master's option.
Deepen your expertise with a concentration in public relations and learn how to build beneficial relationships and manage an organization’s public image.

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Course Effort

15–18 Hours per Week

Course Length

10-Week Terms

Average Completion

4 years

Of Full-Time Study

Credits Required

180

(120 Semester Credits)

Cost per Credit

$371

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Bachelor of Science in Communication Overview

Strong written and verbal communication skills are among the top qualities that employers look for in recent college graduates.*

The bachelor's degree in communication curriculum covers the fundamentals as well as relevant topics for today's world, including conflict management, persuasion, diversity, and digital media. This degree plan also offers an optional concentration in public relations.

Learn from faculty with real-world experience. Our curriculum is vetted by leading and experienced professionals, so you learn the latest skills and practices. Coursework emphasizes:

Writing and speaking skills, group dynamics, team building, and resolving complex issues that arise in the workplace
Planning and developing dynamic, interactive multimedia presentations
Understanding the effects of technology, government and industry regulation, and legal and ethical issues in communication
Using new media and software applications most frequently used in business, institutional, and home environments

See the University Catalog for policy and degree plan information specific to this program.

Gain real-world experience with an internship while you earn your online communication degree.

Servicemembers and veterans can earn a degree faster with our PME2Degree^® program. Use our Military Transfer Credit Estimator to see how much of your training counts as credit.

How Many Credits Have You Earned

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Accelerated Master’s Degree Options

You can work toward a Purdue Global master’s degree in public administration, educational psychology, human services, legal studies, or psychology while you earn your Bachelor of Science in Communication. Complete both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in less time and at a lower cost than completing both programs separately. For details and eligibility requirements, speak to an Advisor.

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Ways To Save

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions, including community colleges.

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Prior Work Experience

You could earn undergraduate credit for your life and professional career experiences.

Your Experience Counts
Financial Aid

Title IV federal financial aid is available for many of our degree programs.

Financial Aid FAQ
Grants

Learn about federal financial grants and loan programs that may be available.

Federal and State Grants
Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Employee Savings and Benefits
Military Tuition Reduction

55% reduction per credit for current servicemembers, 38% per credit for veterans for undergraduate programs.

Tuition Savings for Military
Prior Military Experience

We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.

Credit for Military Training
International Tuition Reduction

International students living outside of the United States are eligible for a 25% tuition reduction.

International Tuition and Benefits

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Courses combine both theory and application, enabling you to gain a critical understanding of social issues, new media, and effective writing and speaking skills.

In your first course, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your degree plan with a faculty member to align your degree path with your career outcomes.

See All Communication Courses

Sample Courses

Mass Media and Broadcasting
Public Speaking for the Professional
Tools for the Digital Age
Organizational Communication
Technical Communication

Personalize your communications degree with an optional concentration in public relations that will teach you to build beneficial relationships, influence others, and manage an organization’s public image. You’ll learn effective public relations strategies and skills such as the power of persuasion, how to communicate in the digital age, and how to best work with the media.

Program Requirements

Core Credits
45
Major Credits
78
Elective Credits
57
Total Credits
180

Optional Concentration

Core Credits
45
Major Credits
78
Elective Credits
33
Concentration Credits
24
Total Credits
180

What Can I Do With a Communication Degree?

This program is designed to prepare you to enter fields such as advertising, marketing, organizational communication, public relations, publishing, human resources, law, criminal justice, politics and public administration, ministry, social services, opinion and market research, fundraising, civil service, international business, and management.

Top 5 Skills Employers Are Looking for:

Active Listening
Social Perceptiveness
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Writing

Labor market, salary, and projected growth information are supplied by Emsi. Average salary range is based on national data. Projected growth represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2018–2030) at the state level and is based on your geographic location. Actual outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, and opportunities for employment. Purdue Global cannot guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

98% Faculty members who have advanced degrees

50% Faculty members who hold a doctorate

237 Faculty publications in 2020–2021

More Than 36,000 Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2020–2021

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, September 2021. 2020–2021 academic year.

Program Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Communication and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.

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NOTES AND CONDITIONS

^*Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers, "Key Attributes Employers Want to See on Students' Resumes," April 2021, www.naceweb.org/talent-acquisition/candidate-selection/key-attributes-employers-want-to-see-on-students-resumes/.