ASU offers new online BA degree in communication

The Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University is offering a new online degree program, a Bachelor of Arts in communication. This popular degree has been available to campus students and is now available through ASU Online.

Communication is a highly sought-after career skill. The ability to communicate verbally and in writing with people inside and outside an organization is prized in all job markets. Princeton Review ranks a communication degree as the second-best college major, based on job prospects, alumni salaries and popularity.

“Students completing this degree will be better speakers and more organized writers,” said Sarah Tracy, professor and interim director at the Hugh Downs School. “They will also learn how to be leaders, be more valued in group communication situations, and will obtain critical thinking skills that help them analyze messages and make contributions to diverse workplace environments. This degree also emphasizes interpersonal communication skills. Given the importance of relationships to our emotional and physical well-being, it’s necessary to learn how to develop and maintain them.” 

Jennifer Linde, director of online learning at the Hugh Downs School says one of the best features of a communication degree is its flexibility. 

“Communication graduates are sought-after in almost any industry you can think of, and our graduates land jobs in an array of different fields.” 

The program is ideal for students interested in, or currently working, in a wide variety of industries, including (but not limited to) business management, sales, event planning, advertising, public relations, education, government, law, international relations, social services, human resources and nonprofit management.

The bachelor's degree is ideal for students who want to focus more on the humanities side of communication and learn qualitative research methods such as interviewing and focus groups, both highly valued business and research skills. This capstone course in qualitative methods will allow students to apply the cutting-edge communication skills they have learned in courses like “Relational Communication,” “Persuasion and Social Influence,” “Crisis Communication” and “Civil Communication.”

The online Bachelor of Arts degree is the latest online offering from the Hugh Downs School. 

Faculty launched one of ASU’s first online degrees, the Bachelor of Science in communication in 2011, currently ranked No. 6 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school has also developed an online minor in communication, an online Master of Arts in communication, and the communication concentration for the Bachelor of Arts in business offered by the W. P. Carey School of Business. 

The online bachelor's degree in communication can be completed in eight semesters or three years.