Communication StudiesBS
Program starts in the fall. Review deadlines.
Human connection, communication, and creativity have never been more important in a world shaped by evolving technology and rapid change. Through Emerson College’s Communication Studies undergraduate program, you’ll become a communicator and leader who can motivate and influence others, introduce new ideas, and challenge the way others think. You’ll learn to communicate effectively, bridge cultural and policy divides with civil discourse and dialogue, and meet the challenge of finding the right words, visuals, and symbols to persuade people and create positive change.
At a Glance
- Learn how to be an effective communicator and leader who can motivate and influence.
- Study with faculty who are experts in organizational, global, and crisis communication as well as negotiation and persuasion.
- Participate in hands-on learning opportunities, combining coursework and internships that focus on storytelling, change leadership, and civic engagement.
Lead the Conversations that Change the World
The ability to bring people together, lead productive dialogue, and inspire action matters more than ever. The Communication Studies undergraduate program explores how communication skills shape relationships, organizations, communities, and cultures. Combining theory with practice, this program gives you the flexibility to tailor your courses to your interests and career goals. Guided by a faculty of leading communications scholars and practitioners, you’ll learn how communication influences the way people make decisions, how to use communication to solve interpersonal and organizational challenges, and how to lead through uncertainty.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Through the Communication Studies undergraduate program, you’ll have the opportunity to apply negotiation and dialogue skills in campus, community, national, and international settings, and explore how culture and performance can promote understanding in programs like the Southwick Recital in Boston and Oscar Talk in Los Angeles. You’ll learn how to shape conversations through opportunities with Emerson College Polling, and have the chance to connect real organizations with the audiences they serve through strategic communications campaigns. Then you’ll be able to apply these skills through internships in local, national, and international arenas.
Communication Studies students take their skills out of the classroom and into the real world. You’ll have opportunities to engage in and advocate for issues in the Boston area with several student-run organizations on campus, including the Emerson Forensics and Debate Team and the Communications, Politics, and Law Association (CPLA). You can create campaigns for change with the student communication consultancy Common Collective that provides communications services to clients including Boston City Hall, Boston Public Schools, and the Red Cross.
The Communication Studies undergraduate program gives you the chance to study abroad in Barcelona, Australia, Argentina, Washington, D.C., or Los Angeles. These immersive experiences put you in the middle of the action, surrounded by policymakers, advocates, and civic leaders. Throughout your study, you’ll build professional experience and industry connections, and a portfolio of applied work.
Spend a semester in Washington, D.C., where your classroom extends into government agencies, nonprofits, media organizations, advocacy groups, and cultural institutions. You’ll gain hands-on experience and build professional connections in the city where ideas become action. The program also allows you to tap into Emerson’s expansive network of young and veteran alumni serving in the nation’s capital.
Barcelona: Emerson-Blanquerna Center for Global Communication
Study global communication and public relations in Barcelona through Emerson College’s exchange program with The University of Ramon Llull. You’ll visit with the founders of global communication and PR firms and leaders in international relations and politics. Every year, Emerson students help plan and produce the Emerson-Blanquerna Global Communication Summit alternating between Barcelona and Washington, DC.
Sydney: Global Communication and Leadership
Spend two weeks in Sydney, Australia, learning from international communication leaders. You’ll earn four credits during this intensive, faculty-led program, coming back to Emerson with brand-new perspectives on the ways effective communication and leadership work on an international scale. You’ll gain practical and technical understanding of international public and media relations, social media, branding, crisis communication, and more.
Buenos Aires: Global Communication, Culture, and Activism
This four-week cultural immersion program will put you in the heart of Argentina, where you’ll learn how to use communication as a tool for social justice. You’ll meet with community organizations, create campaigns to further their goals, and work at the intersection of communication and activism. Mexico: Rosarito Public Diplomacy Workshop
Study public diplomacy and civic engagement in this three-week program in Rosarito, Mexico. You’ll meet with community leaders and organizations that have created grassroots programs to bridge cultural differences between Mexico and the United States. You’ll study the context behind border and immigration issues, and plan a student film festival.
Learn from Communicators Leading the Field and Making a Difference
Our faculty are leading scholars and proven professionals with decades of experience using their communication skills to shape the world around them. Learn from corporate communicators, nonprofit leaders, human resources professionals, attorneys, pollsters, civic change catalysts, and community advocates.
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Apply to Emerson
On any given day, you’re creating something. You’re writing, performing, filming, designing, or building an idea from the ground up. Whatever it is, you care deeply about the work, and you want to see where it can take you.
Our Undergraduate Admission team is here to find the path that fits your goals, answer your questions, and prepare you for a life in the creative world. Learn more about applying to Emerson on our Application Process page.