Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies Online

Enhance your career and become a thought leader through the study of communication. This quality online program is designed to help you earn your bachelor’s degree while continuing your work and personal responsibilities.

Apply by 1/3/25
Start class 1/13/25 Apply Now

Now lower tuition to make your undergraduate journey even more affordable! $320 per credit hour with Path to Success Scholarship*

Program Overview

Gain insights into our online bachelor’s degree in communication studies

Enhance your personal life and career by gaining new communication skills and studying human interaction in its many forms with the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies online program from Northern Kentucky University. This 100% online communication studies degree program will help you become a respected thought leader in any industry where you want to provide clear communication that improves understanding and inspires action.

You will gain proficiency in communication theory; interpersonal, family, small group, and organizational communication; and persuasion and public speaking. The program enables graduates to enrich people’s lives by practicing the art of sharing information.

In the communication studies program, you will learn to:

  • Apply effective communication skills
  • Manage group projects
  • Develop content
  • Use critical thinking
  • Negotiate and persuade
  • Execute business-to-business communication
In the communication studies program, you will learn to:+
  • Apply effective communication skills
  • Manage group projects
  • Develop content
  • Use critical thinking
  • Negotiate and persuade
  • Execute business-to-business communication

As a graduate of the bachelor’s in communication studies program, you will be prepared for professional communications roles, such as:

  • Corporate Communication Specialist/Manager
  • Advertising Specialist/Manager
  • Marketer
  • Corporate Trainer
  • Content Writer/Technical Writer
  • Social Media Coordinator/Manager
  • Public Relation Specialist/Manager
  • Fundraising Manager
  • Sales Professional
As a graduate of the bachelor’s in communication studies program, you will be prepared for professional communications roles, such as:+
  • Corporate Communication Specialist/Manager
  • Advertising Specialist/Manager
  • Marketer
  • Corporate Trainer
  • Content Writer/Technical Writer
  • Social Media Coordinator/Manager
  • Public Relation Specialist/Manager
  • Fundraising Manager
  • Sales Professional
+

Also available:

Northern Kentucky University offers value in a broad range of online undergraduate programs.

Tuition $320 per credit hour*
Transfer Credits Up to 90
Credit Hours 120
Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 800-985-7215

Call 800-985-7215

Tuition

Learn more about the affordable tuition at NKU

The B.A. in Communication Studies online program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition to in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included in the total cost. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. For additional information, visit the Financial Aid section on our FAQ page.

View additional tuition information+

Program Per Credit Hour University Fee Per Credit Hour
B.A. in Communication Studies $485 $16
With Path to Success Tuition* $320 $16

*The Path to Success Scholarship is available to first-time NKU OnlineA students only; existing students may not participate. The Scholarship cannot be combined with any other offer and is not available for the RN to BSN online program. Students who step out of the program for more than a year (thus requiring a new application) will no longer receive the offer; instead, they must pay the tuition or scholarship rate available at the time of new enrollment. Excludes some program-specific fees that will be divided and assessed by credit hour based on the number of hours taken. Tuition and fees subject to change at any time.

Tuition Breakdown:

$320 Per Credit Hour*
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Ranked among the “Top Public Colleges” by Forbes, 2022

Calendar

Know when to apply, when classes start, and when tuition is due

The B.A. in Communication Studies is delivered in a convenient online format with 7-week courses that start six times a year. View the full calendar to see all upcoming dates. When you're ready to get started, be sure to submit your application, registration, documents, and tuition by the corresponding deadlines.

View full calendar  + 

SessionProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment Due
Spring 11/13/251/3/251/7/251/10/251/13/25
Spring 23/17/253/5/253/10/253/14/253/17/25
Summer 15/12/254/30/255/5/255/9/255/12/25
Summer 26/30/256/18/256/23/256/27/256/30/25

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 1/3/25
Class Starts 1/13/25
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Apply Now

Admissions

Gather these admission materials before applying

The admission process is the first step toward earning your B.A. in Communication Studies degree online. Please reach out to one of our enrollment specialists for any questions you might have.

Admission Requirements:

  • Official transcripts from each college attended
  • 2.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale
  • Online application fee waived for active/veteran military
View all admission requirements +

B.A. in Communication Studies Online Admission Requirements

Applicants for the B.A. in Communication Studies online program are evaluated on a holistic basis and must meet the following requirements:

Transfer Admission

Transfer applicants are students who have graduated from high school and have previously attempted coursework for credit (other than college credits taken while in high school) at another accredited college or university.

Students with a minimum 2.0 GPA from an accredited institution and 24 or more transferable credit hours must submit the following:

  • Complete online application and pay $40 non-refundable application fee
    • If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived. Simply submit the online application without payment of the application fee. The fee will be waived when your credentials are verified. No further action is required.
  • Official transcripts from each college attended

Students with a minimum 2.0 GPA and fewer than 24 transferable credit hours are evaluated based on the freshman admission standards and must supply the following:

  • Complete online application and pay $40 non-refundable application fee
    • If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived. Simply submit the online application without payment of the application fee. The fee will be waived when your credentials are verified. No further action is required.
  • Official transcripts from each college attended
  • Final and official high school transcript or GED scores
  • New transfer students who apply to the University with fewer than 24 college credit hours earned and a 2.75 and greater unweighted high school GPA will be offered admissions regardless of ACT/SAT scores. Please note: Nursing and respiratory care programs require ACT/SAT scores.
  • New transfer students with a 2.7499 unweighted high school GPA and less will be required to submit ACT or SAT test scores:
    • Required ACT scores:
      18 (English, math, reading)
    • Required SAT scores:
      Prior to March 2016: 430 (math, writing); 450 (critical reading)
      March 2016 to present: 480 (evidence-based reading and writing); 470 (math)

Freshman Applicants

A freshman applicant is a prospective student who has not attempted coursework at an accredited college or university (other than college credit earned while in high school or during the summer immediately following high school graduation).

Students who are 21 years or older and have never attended college (other than college credits taken while in high school) must supply:

  • Complete online application and pay $40 non-refundable application fee
    • If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived. Simply submit the online application without payment of the application fee. The fee will be waived when your credentials are verified. No further action is required.
  • Official high school transcripts or GED scores

Students who are under 21 years old and have never attended college (other than college credits taken while in high school) must supply:

  • You might qualify to apply Direct Admit to NKU, view the direct admit requirements.
  • An online application form
  • A $40 nonrefundable application fee
  • Official high school transcripts or GED scores
  • Freshmen applicants must have at least a 2.0 unweighted high school GPA to be considered for admissions.
    • Freshman applicants with a 2.75 and greater unweighted high school GPA will be offered admissions regardless of ACT/SAT scores. Please note: Nursing and respiratory care programs require ACT/SAT scores.
    • Freshman applicants with a 2.7499 unweighted high school GPA and less will be required to submit ACT or SAT exam scores:
      • Required ACT scores:
        18 (English, math, reading)
      • Required SAT scores:
        Prior to March 2016: 430 (math, writing); 450 (critical reading)
        March 2016 to present: 480 (evidence-based reading and writing); 470 (math)

NKUWrite (English and reading) and ALEKS (math) scores are encouraged for placement. Some courses may require placement testing depending on transfer credit or ACT scores. Our Testing Services office can help you schedule these tests.

Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:

Northern Kentucky University
Office of Admissions
Lucas Administrative Center
400 Nunn Drive
Highland Heights, KY 41099

[email protected]

Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.

Direct Admit for Freshmen Applicants

High school seniors with a current, unweighted GPA of 2.75 or higher can be directly admitted to NKU. No application, essays, or fees are required.

How Direct Admit works:

  1. Are you a high school senior with an unweighted GPA of 2.75 or higher?
  2. Will you be a new, first-time freshman?
  3. Are you a resident of the United States?

If you answered "yes" to all of the above, you are eligible to receive a direct admissions offer from NKU. Once you receive the email from NKU offering you direct admissions, click the embedded link to accept Direct Admit. Your personal NKU enrollment specialist will reach out promptly to begin solidifying your spot at NKU.

Direct Admit is a conditional admission offer for qualified students as determined by your current high school GPA.* Submit your unofficial transcripts to verify your current GPA. Final admission to NKU will be determined by official final transcripts submitted upon your high school graduation. You will work with NKU and your high school counselor to submit all unofficial and/or official final transcripts. Learn more about Direct Admit.


Click the button to begin!

DIRECT ADMIT

*Conditional based on submission of high school transcript.

If you answered "no" to any of the above questions, we still offer a streamlined path to admissions! Please follow the instructions under "Freshman Applicants" above.

Courses

Preview the classes in the online bachelor’s in communication studies

For the online degree in communication studies, students must complete a total of 120 credit hours. The curriculum is comprised of 11 core courses (33 credit hours), one foundation course (3 credit hours), two professional skills courses (6 credit hours), with the remaining 78 hours consisting of general education courses and free electives.

Expand All

Students must take 33 credit hours comprised of:

• The first seven courses listed

• One of these three courses - CMST 310 or CMST 340 or CMST 410

• Two additional CMST courses at the 200, 300 or 400 level

• One additional CMST, DFX, EMB, HCOM, JOU, POP, PRE, or 400/500 level COM course

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theories and skills of dyadic interaction in professional and personal contexts; perception, self-concept, nonverbal communication, listening, assertiveness, relationships, conflict management and problem solving.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theories and activities that increase understanding and skills of communication in groups: decision-making, problem-solving, leadership, listening, cohesiveness, climate-setting, conflict management, groupthink, and systems theory.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Course provides an overview of the concepts, methods, and tools by which research in Communication Studies is designed, conducted, interpreted, and critically evaluated. The course will specifically examine quantitative and qualitative research procedures, research question and hypothesis generation and testing, measurement, sampling, research design, and data analysis techniques.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Organizational communication theories, models, and processes with practical application of these principles in organizational communication speaking exercises; management and leadership communication skills.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theory, criticism, and practice of culture and communication, individual experience in communicating interculturally, and strategies in cross-cultural communication situations.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Organization, style, and delivery of speeches for social occasions, non-classroom settings, and complex setting; speech writing.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theories of interpersonal, group, public, and mass communication; historical developments, paradigms, and research that shape communication theory construction.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theories of argument; practical applications of argument, in numerous contexts, including academic policy debate.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Persuasion theory practice, and ethics in preparing and presenting persuasive messages and campaigns.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Adaptation of classic and contemporary theories of rhetoric to modern practice of rhetorical criticism.

Students must take one of the following courses:

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Development of understanding of the oral communication process; aid in improving oral communication skills; idea and message development; effective delivery of ideas. Offered every semester. A prerequisite to all other CMST courses.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to various theoretical perspectives for understanding human communication. CMST110 has been designed to introduce students to the study of human communication from a wide range of viewpoints. The course introduces foundational principles of communication theory: general principles and the elements of speech communication, perception, language and verbal symbols, nonverbal activities, and listening. Next, the course applies these principles to the various levels of communicating, i.e. interpersonal, small group, organizational, and intercultural. The course also covers communication and persuasion in public forums such as public speaking and mediated contexts.

Students must take two of the following courses:

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Understanding the basic concepts of informatics in a context including computer technology; examination of hardware and software; impact computers have on society including employment, privacy, ethics, and security; working with information as a resource. The course includes computer laboratory exercise in Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) and internet technology applications.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Selected placement of qualified students in off-campus communication studies related professions; experience in corporate training, speech writing, interviewing, sales, and groups, communication.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Practical experience in business writing proposals, resumes, letters, reports, and memoranda. For students majoring in business as well as other students who anticipate professional careers involving on-the-job writing tasks.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Principles and techniques of technical writing, with particular attention paid to conveying technical content to lay audiences and nonspecialists. Students learn the value of visuals, style, and design in communicating complex content and are introduced to the types of documents central to the technical professions. WRITING STUDIES. Prerequisite(s): ENG 102, HNR 102 or equivalent.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theoretical and practical grounding in analyzing, planning, and implementing web-based publications, including integration of textual/visual materials and use of industry standard internet publishing tools. Students will learn to assess client needs and test site usability by creating several web pages, including a multi-layer website for a real-world client.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to web design and development for majors in the informatics fields. Web page creation with use of HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Website development best practices. Website development process. Prerequisite(s): C- or better in MAT 103 (or higher). Prerequisite OR Co-requisite: C- or better in INF 110 or INF 120 or CSC 260.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Write news stories that engage various audiences. Practice interviewing and reporting. Develop a sense of news values.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces the fundamental concepts and foundational theories of leadership to facilitate the development of a personal understanding of the nature of leadership. The evolution of leadership theory and research is explored and its implications for understanding leadership as a phenomenon and the practice of leadership. Course encourages the application of learning to analysis of practical leadership problems and examples of leaders from diverse sectors such as business, nonprofit, government, social change, military, science, popular culture, and athletics.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is an introduction to business firms, their organization, functions, and management in the context of global, legal, and ethical environments; business as a setting in which people work, make decisions, and contribute productively to society; management of people, information, and processes to achieve organizational goals. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course covers the flow of goods from producer to consumer; demand-stimulated and demand-fulfilling activities of business enterprises; marketing concepts and systems analysis. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.

You must take 37 credit hours of general education courses, selected from the following categories.

Note: Some general education courses may be part of the major/minor/focus requirements. If so, those courses may potentially be used to count for both general education and the major/minor/focus. Consult with your academic advisor.

  • General Education Courses:
    • Communication; Written I (3 credits)
    • Communication; Written II (3 credits)
    • Communication; Oral (3 credits)
    • Scientific and Quantitative Inquiry
  • Mathematics and Statistics (3 credits)
    • Scientific and Quantitative Inquiry
  • Natural Sciences with lab (4 credits)
    • Scientific and Quantitative Inquiry
  • Natural Sciences without lab (3 credits)
    • Self and Society
  • Cultural Pluralism (3 credits)
    • LDR 180
  • Individual and Society (3 credits)
    • Self and Society
  • Individual and Society (3 credits)
  • Culture and Creativity (3 credits)
  • Culture and Creativity (3 credits)
  • Global Viewpoints (3 credits)
    • LDR 160

 

You must take up to 41 credit hours of electives in order to reach the bachelor’s degree minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation.

 

Credit for prior learning acknowledges your experiences and can save you time and money on your degree.

You might be closer to graduation than you think!

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