Communication Studies, B.A.

Communication Studies, B.A.

Program Overview

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.

Communicate to Elevate

Krystel Stacey Turns Passions Into Purposeful Entrepreneurship
Jeff Birdsell: From Mascot to Educator

Leading the Conversation

Videos (2)
Articles (7)
Krystel Stacey Turns Passions Into Purposeful Entrepreneurship Krystel Stacey is a PLNU alum taking entrepreneurship to the next level and inspiring women in their careers along the way. Discover
Jeff Birdsell: From Mascot to Educator How Birdsell managed to transform a love for communication, storytelling, and sports into a thriving career. Discover
Christina Hastings Leads By Example In Corporate Communications Christina Hastings speaks on representation and community in the workplace and how her background shaped her profession. Discover
Should I Major in Marketing or Communications? Explore PLNU’s marketing and communication studies degree programs to learn more about their similarities and differences. Discover
What are the Most In-Demand Jobs of the Future? Discover the most in-demand careers shaping tomorrow’s workplace. Learn what industries and jobs will experience the most growth in the future. Discover
The Healing Power of Food: Alumni Using Food to Better the Health of Others PLNU alumni Taylor Johnson-Gordon, Jennifer Nemeth, and Alison Patt have all built careers aimed at improving people’s lives and health through food. Discover
The Logical Approach: Learning to Disagree Agreeably Imagine a group of friends gathered around a table — eating, talking, and enjoying one another’s company. As these friends discuss life, their conversation turns to politics and they quickly discover they hold different views on particular policy issues. But instead of descending into a heated exchange or changing the subject, the friends begin to Discover

Course List

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

Course Information

Major Map

Start Application

Are you ready to take the next step to begin your PLNU journey? Whether you’re a high school senior, college transfer student, or international student, find out what we’re looking for in our applicants and how you can apply.

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Student Support

For most students, the transition into college life is one full of adjustments. There is the excitement of newfound freedoms, but also some uncertainty as you begin to make choices and take responsibility for your own future. 

At PLNU, we’re committed to supporting you — academically, professionally, spiritually, personally — so that you may be successful both in your time as a student and beyond. That’s why we offer a holistic support system that focuses on your unique experiences, particular needs, and personal and professional goals — resulting from our deep concern for you, our student.

With a focus on authentic relationships and personalized attention, our goal is to help transform you so you can follow your calling in your own career and life.

Student Support

Career Opportunities

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.

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:

Human Resources Specialist

Human Resources Specialists recruit, screen, interview, and place workers. They often handle employee relations, compensation and benefits, and training. HR specialists may work in corporate offices, government agencies, staffing firms, or nonprofit organizations.

  • Median Pay: $72,910/year
  • Number of Jobs: 944,300
  • Job Outlook (2024–34): +6% (About as fast as average)
  • Employment Change: +58,400 jobs
View Full BLS Profile

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers plan, direct, and coordinate marketing efforts for organizations. They identify market trends, develop pricing strategies, and oversee promotional campaigns to attract customers and increase revenue. They often collaborate with product, sales, and creative teams across a variety of industries.

  • Median Pay: $159,660/year
  • Number of Jobs: 434,000
  • Job Outlook (2024–34): +6% (Faster than average)
  • Employment Change: +26,100 jobs
View Full BLS Profile

Personal Services Manager

Personal Services Managers plan, direct, or coordinate supportive services such as facilities management, mail distribution, and recordkeeping. They are often responsible for day-to-day operations in private firms, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations.

  • Median Pay: $106,880 /year
  • Number of Jobs: 422,600
  • Job Outlook (2024–34): +4% (About as fast as average)
  • Employment Change: + 18,300 jobs
View Full BLS Profile

When Words Make An Impact

"Braver With Words"
"Finding My Place"

Mastering the Message

Quotes (5)
Pictures (5)
Braver With Words
"One of my greatest challenges was public speaking. For me, it was as scary as surfing big waves because I'm not naturally outspoken and extroverted. But choosing this major was based off of what I wanted to improve on and not what I excelled at. Now I have way more confidence in myself after being faced with countless opportunities to get better at public speaking in my communications classes."
Jeremy Carter Managerial and Organizational Communication B.A.
Finding My Place
"PLNU opened my mind to possibilities, not just professionally, but with relationships and with life in general and finding my place in the world. "
Destin Daniel Cretton Communications B.A.
Equipped to Connect
"I knew that I wanted to do something with people, and eventually be in leadership in some capacity. I would say that PLNU's organizational communication degree prepared me well on a very practical level of understanding concepts, communication, getting comfortable with public speaking, and understanding how to work with certain personalities."
Harrison Wise Managerial and Organizational Communication B.A.
Spark of Belonging
"There was a little bit of a different spark at PLNU for me. I felt like a student, not an ID number. There was a balance between getting the job done and the authenticity that really landed with me."
Christina Hastings Management and Organizational Communication B.A.
Purposeful Pursuit
"Really know that God made you with purpose. Figure out what that is and then go after it hard. Dream big and then reverse engineer your plan to how you’re going to get there."
Krystel Stacey Communications and Public Relations B.A.

Department Faculty

Get Involved

The city of San Diego skyline as seen from the Point Loma peninsula

Communication Studies Internships

Students in the Department of Communication Studies develop real-world experience and networks in the business and professional community through internships.

Andie Adams Broadcasting on Point Radio

PLNU Mass-Media Communications Outlets

Gain hands-on communication experience in front of the camera, on the microphone, and at the helm of PLNU's fully equipped television studio and media outlets.

A student stands ready for a speech and debate tournament.

Speech and Debate

PLNU’s Speech and Debate team has been ranked #1 in the nation for the last 20 years, according the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA).