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Communication & Media

Bachelor of Arts

Overview

Writing clearly, speaking effectively, and making a cogent argument are useful in virtually every field and in all aspects of life. Mastery of communication gives students a competitive edge in gaining employment in careers such as business, law, and media—anywhere writing and critical thinking skills are required. The ability to communicate effectively is a lifelong skill that gives students the power to inform, persuade, inspire, and foster change.

Nazareth University prepares students to become effective communicators in spoken, written, and visual forms. Because communication practices change rapidly in our digital environment, professors review and revise the curriculum every three years. The comprehensiveness of the major results in a versatile skill set and diverse career opportunities.

Highlights

  • Communication majors have the flexibility to pick their area of interest from digital media, writing and editing, visual design, or marketing. You also can choose a double major such as design or marketing, or a minor such as digital media and design or analytics.
  • A lively mixture of lecture, discussion, small group work, case studies, and hands-on work build both a strong liberal arts background and practical experience. Example: Humans of Naz
  • All students receive direct pre-professional training in the form of internships and seminar projects conducted in consultation with local businesses.
  • The major's comprehensive writing training has yielded numerous student conference presentations and awards.
  • Students have a high success rate for employment and graduate school placement.
  • Publishing semester: You could choose to spend a semester at Belmont University in Nashville (which boasts a robust book publishing industry second only to New York City), taking courses and gaining hands-on experience through an internship with a book or magazine publisher. Students produce a national literary magazine. Course offerings include fiction editing, nonfiction and technical editing, copyediting, publishing process, business of publishing, media relations and branding, publishing workshop, copyright and publishing law, and social media in public relations. This is part of Nazareth's New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U) partnership.

Fully immersed

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Choose your area of interest: digital media, writing and editing, visual design, or marketing

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Work directly with local businesses through internships and seminar projects

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Study away for a semester in the growing publishing hub of Nashville, Tennessee

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Leverage a mastery of communication into a variety of career options

Internships

  • Archer Communications
  • Associated Reporters Abroad, Berlin, Germany
  • Causewave Community Partners
  • Dixon Schwabl
  • Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western New York
  • National Public Radio
  • Paychex, Inc.
  • Rochester City Newspaper

More internships »

$4,000

UP TO $4,000 TO INVEST IN YOU
Unique to Nazareth, our SPARK Grant provides $1,500 for you to pursue internships, research, and study abroad, plus up to $2,500 in a tuition scholarship for summer SPARK-eligible experiences that earn credit. SPARK stories »

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Your life's work

Careers

  • Account executive
  • Digital marketing specialist
  • Editor
  • Marketing coordinator
  • Project manager
  • Public relations specialist
  • Publishing associate
  • Social media analyst
  • Technical writer

Employers

  • Alzheimer's Association
  • Butler/Till
  • Gatehouse Media
  • March of Dimes
  • Partners and Napier
  • SNY-TV, Home of The New York Mets
  • Tipping Point Media
  • University of Rochester Medical Center

Graduate Schools

Our students have pursued graduate degrees in communication, library science, law, public relations, and public policy at these institutions:

  • Columbia University
  • Emerson College
  • Indiana University
  • Syracuse University
  • University at Buffalo

Partnership with American University

Students who graduate from Nazareth with a 3.5 GPA or better and are accepted into the graduate School of Communication of American University in Washington, D.C. can receive a 30% reduction in graduate tuition (saving $13,338) and pay no application fee. Learn more »

Molly Stark, communication degree program, media studies major at Nazareth College

Alumni Spotlight

Molly Stark '17, assistant account executive at PAN Communications, an integrated marketing & public relations agency in downtown Boston

"The communication and media program at Nazareth is strong not only because of its rigorous curriculum, but because of the supportive faculty within the program. I wouldn't be the person I am today without the guidance of Professors Leah Stacy, Carolyn Lagoe, and Dr. Ginny Skinner-Linnenberg — and I wouldn't be as interested in social media if it weren't for the classes taught by Professor Stacy. The communications & media program gave me all the tools I needed for the job I have now, and I find myself constantly thinking back to the things that I learned in class. This program helped me build awareness of how to communicate information to diverse audiences effectively, with specific goals in mind."