online bachelor's degree of communication studies
Spring term classes start March.
100% online learning.
Earn your degree on your schedule
$459 per credit hour.
$250 military preferred cost per credit
127 total credit hours.
learn to inform, influence, and inspire.
The online Communication degree program at Bellevue University is designed to help students strengthen their ability to connect, influence, and lead through effective communication. Throughout the program, you’ll complete projects you can showcase to employers—including writing samples, research papers, annotated bibliographies, audience analyses, and public relations plans. These hands-on experiences allow you to build a professional portfolio that demonstrates your skills across multiple communication styles and media.
Apply what you know and earn credit for experience.
At Bellevue University, your previous academic work and real-world experience matter. Students can apply transfer credits, work experience, or military training toward their Communication degree—helping reduce the number of credits needed for completion.* The program values the knowledge you bring and integrates it into your studies, allowing you to connect classroom learning with professional and life experience in meaningful ways.
Develop skills for a wide range of careers.
This program emphasizes both the art and strategy of effective communication. You’ll gain experience crafting speeches, developing digital and traditional messaging, and applying principles of diversity and inclusion to communication planning. The program provides a strong foundation for careers in business, corporate communications, media, or law, and can also prepare you for graduate study in Business and Professional Communication or Pre-Law pathways.
what you'll learn.
In this program, you’ll learn to communicate with purpose and impact—applying communication theory and strategy to professional, academic, and real-world settings.
upon graduation, students will be able to:
- Apply communication theories, perspectives, and concepts to a variety of communication contexts.
- Create messages appropriate to audience, purpose, and context.
- Explain the academic discipline of Communication and characterize the role communication plays in career development and civic engagement.
Awards
Bellevue Stories
Communication Studies degree courses
Current students please login to BRUIN and select “Academic Progress” for your curriculum requirements.
Requirements (36 credit hours)
This course provides training in the fundamentals of public speaking in the 21st-century, mediated environment. By learning the principles of presentation development, organization, and delivery, students will be empowered to share their messages in a variety of forums.
This course introduces argumentation as a model of critical thinking. Students will learn the foundation of critical thinking and how critical thinking positively impacts communication.
This course provides a wide range of communication theories with a special emphasis on direct application through the introduction of models/concepts designed to improve communication skills in a variety of contexts and communication environments. Competencies in the areas of relationship development, listening, socialization, cognitive processing, reducing uncertainty and dealing with conflict are addressed.
Students will learn how to apply to their everyday lives the foundational information learned in CA 208. Arguments are analyzed and critiqued to develop skills in reasoning, using evidence, finding fallacious reasoning, and developing counterarguments and rebuttals. Prerequisite: CA 208
This course requires students to reflect on and synthesize the knowledge and skills they have developed in Communication Studies courses. Emphasis is given to the nature and significance of Communication Studies as an academic discipline, the role of communication in civic life, and preparation for careers in communication. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of Communication Studies core (CA 107, CA 208, CA 309, CA 412) and senior standing.
In addition to the courses in the 15 Credit Core, select seven Communication Arts courses (21 credit hours) to complete the major requirements; 12 of these hours must be upper-level courses.
Additional CA courses may include the Corporate Communication and Effectively Communicating Yourself Course Clusters listed below.
This course introduces foundational communication skills for business and professional situations. Emphasis is placed on the skills of developing effective workplace relationships, collaborating with others in groups and teams, and presenting information to meet audience needs.
Students will learn how to apply the foundational information learned in CA 105. This course provides theory and practice of written skills needed in business through models, concepts, and case studies relevant to the workplace, while addressing business ethics and diversity issues. Competencies in the areas of writing, organization of thought, creativity, and decision-making are addressed. Prerequisite: CA 105
Communication is critical to the success of modern organizations. This course overviews key organizational communication approaches, theories, and concepts. Particular attention is given to ethically and effectively responding to organizational communication challenges and assessing one's own perspective as a communicator in the organizational context.
Complete Corporate Communication Cluster
Corporate communication professionals must have knowledge of and be able to manage an array of communication situations and media. In this course, students will learn the basics of how to create messages and manage various corporate communication situations.
This course is designed to provide a foundation for understanding professional communication and for developing basic corporate communication skills. This course orients the student to essential features of communication and develops competencies in conceptualizing oral and written communication and problem solving.
This course introduces the practices and principles of communicating with internal stakeholders—specifically employees. The course emphasizes interactive employee communication programs, strategies and the manager's role in establishing an environment that encourages dialogue and the flow of information.
This course focuses on training the competent communicator to train others in the organization. The course also emphasizes developing the skills necessary to design and develop interventions. Competencies include problem solving, coordinating and visioning.
Complete Effectively Communicating Yourself Cluster
These courses combine to create opportunities for students to directly apply course material on how to communicate effectively with individuals and in group situations. Emphasis is placed on sensitivity to non-verbal message exchange in formal and informal professional situations. A number of communication events that require direct questioning will be reviewed to help students increase their interviewing skills. Presentation requirements will be addressed to assist students to formally present themselves and their message to both small and large audiences. Throughout the cluster, students will be guided to improve their performance in any communication event by focusing on intrapersonal, interpersonal, and audience-involving situations
This course addresses the application of nonverbal communication theories directed toward improved understanding of self and others in a variety of communication contexts. The course presents terminology, concepts, and models of nonverbal communication. Competencies in the areas of effective social interaction, intercultural awareness, conversational adaptability, self-awareness, and relational communication are addressed.
Kirkpatrick Signature Series Requirements (9 credit hours)
In addition to the Major Requirements, all Bellevue University students must complete the Kirkpatrick Signature Series.
This course focuses on the political and philosophical traditions of the American republic, especially as embedded in the ideals, values, traditions, founding documents, and institutions of the United States , and considers how these traditions relate to individual citizenship and global society. Prerequisite: 60 Credit Hours
This course focuses on the creative tensions that exist between the forces of tradition and change as the country undergoes social, cultural, and political change. It considers the manner in which change can renew the vitality of a republic. Prerequisite: 60 Credit Hours
This course examines civic engagement in relation to individual freedoms and responsibilities. It fosters engaged citizens, empowered to effect positive change. Prerequisite: 60 Credit Hours
Integrative General Education Credits
Major Requirements Credits
Elective Credits
= 127 total credits*
General Education Courses
Take general education courses that do more than fill a requirement. At Bellevue University, these courses build foundational skills that apply to any career—critical thinking, qualitative reasoning, and ethical leadership. And, you can take courses individually or in course clusters, which connect three courses around one theme, building skills as you go.
About general education requirements >Elective Courses
Our broad selection of electives allows you to select courses related to your major or expand your perspective in other areas of interest.
University Accreditation
Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission ( hlcommission.org ), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Whether a college, university, or program is accredited is important to students receiving financial aid, employers who provide tuition assistance, donors, and the federal government.
This program is considered a non-licensure degree/certificate program and is not intended for those seeking licensure or the practice of licensed profession. This program may be relevant to multiple occupations that do not require licensure and was not designed to meet educational requirements for any specific professional license or certification.
*Consult with an admissions counselor to determine your eligible credits, as well as to verify minimum graduation requirements for this degree. Transfer credits must be from a regionally accredited college or university. Bellevue University makes no promises to prospective students regarding the acceptance of credit awarded by examination, credit for prior learning, or credit for transfer until an evaluation has been conducted.
learn on your own time, from anywhere.
Flexible schedule.
Study on your own time with courses designed to fit your busy life—whether you're working, raising a family, or serving in the military.
Reliable technical support.
Access 24/7 tech support to keep you connected and focused on learning, no matter where you are.
Dedicated online student support.
From coursework access and connectivity issues to tutoring and resume assistance, we've got you covered.
Engaging online learning.
Enjoy interactive courses designed for real-world application, with multimedia content, discussions, and hands-on projects.
grow with faculty who’ve been where you are.