Bachelor’s in communications programs in Alabama cover more than just the ways in which people speak and communicate with each other. These programs can also teach you how to communicate with others in your professional career as well as how to use communications in marketing and other fields. As there are a number of these programs in Alabama, it’s important that you look at things like the opportunities that each program offers and the type of classes that you will need to take. Some of the best programs will help you learn both in and out of your required classes.
Below is the second half our list of bachelor’s in communications degrees in Alabama. For the first half of the list, see: Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in Alabama (A-S)
Troy University
Troy University is one of several colleges in Alabama that started life as a normal school. Established in 1887 as the Troy State Normal School, it functioned as a teaching school and offered classes designed to train the teachers working in Alabama and other parts of the south. It also operated as the Troy State Teachers College and Troy State College before becoming Troy University. Though Forbes ranked Troy as one of the best colleges on a national level, U.S. News & World Report ranked it within the top 70 of all colleges in the southern region of the country.
Communication Arts – Communication Studies Track
When you enroll in the Communication Arts – Communication Studies Track at Troy University, you develop the skills necessary to work in fields ranging from law and social sciences to business and ministry. Many students opt to enroll in journalism classes at the same time, and some of those students will work for the campus newspapers or radio station. This program includes courses like conflict resolution, communication research and interpersonal communications. You can also take courses that teach you how to write news stories for those going in front of the camera and courses that will help you work on camera.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
600 University Ave.
Troy, AL 36082
(800) 414-5756
ask@troy.edu
Program Website
The University of Alabama
While there are a number of colleges all across the state, The University of Alabama is both the flagship university of the school system of the same name and the flagship institution of the state. Founded in 1820, it opened 13 years later with a small number of students and just a few programs. With an enrollment of more than 37,000 students, it now ranks as one of the country’s largest colleges. Also called UA or Alabama, the university now ranks as one of the country’s top public colleges. Alabama usually accepts a little over half all students who apply.
Bachelor’s in Communications
The Department of Communication Studies at UA offers one of the best bachelor’s in communication programs in Alabama. You have the chance to choose an emphasis in communication and culture, organizational and interpersonal communications or rhetoric and political discourse. There are also internship opportunities available, and some students choose to sped a semester abroad. Students must take a minimum of 120 credits of classes, but the university designed a sample curriculum that shows you what classes you will take each semester to graduate within four years. Those classes include introduction to communications, critical decision making, advanced public speaking and human communication research.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
(205) 348-6010
Program Website
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is one of several colleges in the UA school system. Founded in 1969 as an extension center, it originally served as a satellite campus that allowed students to take classes and transfer to UA or graduate with a lower level degree. As the need for a full university in the Birmingham area grew, UA eventually built this campus up and brought in new programs that would appeal to the larger number of students enrolling each year. It is now home to one of the state’s top medical centers and one of its best medical programs.
Communication Studies
UAB offers a Communication Studies major that is perfect for those who want to learn more about how to communicate with others via the written word or orally. There is a communication management and a mass communication minor available within this program too. The mass communication minor covers subjects like broadcasting, journalism and public relations. Its communication management minor focuses more on communications within the business industry. Depending on which minor you choose, you may take courses like business communications, interpersonal relations, mass communications and society, communication research methods, introduction to human communications and mass communications law.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
Heritage Hall 302
1401 University Blvd.
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205) 934-3877
Program Website
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is state university that usually goes by the name of UAH. Founded in 1950 as an extension school, it opened under the name the University of Alabama Huntsville Center and held classes at a local high school while construction happened on its own campus. The direction of the center later changed to focus more on engineering and technical programs, though it now offers degree programs in many common and popular fields like business and nursing. Both Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report consider UAH one of the nation’s best colleges.
Communication Arts Major
When you choose the communication arts major at UAH, you must meet with the head of the department to go over your reasons for choosing that major and to talk about what it will mean for your future. You will also need to pick a minor and fill out a plan of study that shows you what classes you need to take each year. Rhetorical communications, foundations of human communications and communication research methods are some of the courses within this program’s core. UAH can also help you find an internship that you can do for course credit during your later years.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
301 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, AL 35899
(256) 824-1000
contactus@uah.edu
Program Website
University of Mobile
Established in 1961, the University of Mobile is a private university that has an affiliation with the Alabama Baptist Convention. The Mobile Baptist Association launched a program in the early 1950s to determine whether the city could benefit from a religious institution and decided that Mobile was the perfect spot for a college that would focus on religious teachings. Though its School of Christian Studies is still popular, the university now has several other colleges on-site that offer degree programs in fields like business, performing arts and nursing as well as a College of Arts and Sciences.
Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts in Communication
The communications program at the University of Mobile lets you earn either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts. There is a core series of seven classes that are worth 21 credits that you must take before continuing with the program. These classes include interpersonal communications, persuasion, communications ethics, basic public speaking and mass communications. The public speaking class will require that you give speeches in front of the class. When designing its program, the University of Mobile wanted to help students achieve their career goals, which is why it offers three emphasis tracks: journalism, advertising and public relations and broadcast media.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
5735 College Parkway
Mobile, AL 36613
(800) 946-7267
Program Website
University of Montevallo
Some students looking for bachelor’s in communications programs in Alabama will want to attend a liberal arts college, and the University of Montevallo is the only institution of higher learning called a liberal arts college in the entire state. Founded as a technical school, it opened in 1896 and only offered high school classes for women. Changes to its curriculum led to the small school becoming a college for women, but in the 1950s, it allowed male students to enroll. More than 3,000 students attend Montevallo, which U.S. News & World Report ranks as one of the best southern colleges.
BA/BS Communication Studies
Whether you want to earn a BA or a BS degree in communications, you can enroll in the University of Montevallo. This program has an independent research option that allows you to study a topic that you didn’t study in class or one you want to study more in depth on your own for course credit, but many of its students also do at least one internship. You can pick a concentration in either broadcast production or multimedia journalism. There is also a public relations minor available that you can sign up for to learn more about working in PR and advertising.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
Station 6625
Montevallo, AL 35115
(205) 665-6625
oard@montevallo.edu
Program Website
University of North Alabama
Though many know the University of Alabama, the University of North Alabama is actually the oldest college in the state. Founded in 1830, it opened several decades before the start of the Civil War. The school served as a college and then a small university before becoming the large university that it is today. Also called UNA, it has a 130-acre campus in Florence, Alabama and an enrollment of more than 7,000 students. U.S. News & World Report considers UNA a top tier university and included it multiple times on its annual list of the America’s Best Colleges.
Communication Arts Major
UNA offers a Communication Arts Major that includes a core of six classes like media writing, communications in a global age, communication theory and public interests and communication law and ethics. You’ll also need to either do an independent research project or take a communications management class. UNA offers a portfolio class that helps you prepare your portfolio before you graduate, which can make finding a job and going on interviews a little easier. You can pick an emphasis in film and digital media production or public communication. The university offers a degree program in mass communications with different minors like journalism too.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
1 Harrison Plaza
Florence, AL 35632
(256) 765-4247
Program Website
University of South Alabama
Mobile was home to several extension centers and programs affiliated with the University of Alabama when the state decided to establish a larger university in the city. That led to the foundations of the University of South Alabama, which opened in the 1960s. Commonly called South by students and alumni, the university appeared on lists of the top American colleges released by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and Washington Monthly. Notable alumni include writers, politicians and even a few professional athletes. South is one of the largest employers in the state and has an enrollment of more than 16,000 students.
Communication Major
When you enter the communication program at the University of Southern Alabama, you have the option of choosing an emphasis in one of several areas. The university has degree programs available in communication studies, digital cinema and television, journalism or strategic communication. You will develop the skills required to work in many different fields, but you’ll also gain the knowledge necessary to enroll in a graduate program at South or another university. Though the courses you take will vary across programs, you may take a public speaking lab and classes on public speaking, interpersonal communications, communications in organizations and radio broadcasting.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL 36688
(251) 460-6101
Program Website
The University of West Alabama
Established in the 1830s as the Livingston Female Academy, the University of West Alabama was one of several schools in the state that catered to women. Affiliated with a local church, it emphasized the importance of religious studies and required that students take religion classes. To meet the needs of local schools and the growing number of schools in the south, it then became a normal school and then a teaching college. Though it also served as Livingston University, the college officially became the University of West Alabama in 1996. UWA now has a student population of more than 5,000.
Integrated Marketing Communications Major Program
One of the more unique bachelor’s in communications in Alabama that you might find is the integrated marketing communications major program that the University of West Alabama offers. Specifically designed for those who want to work in business, marketing and advertising, this program requires that you take 18 credits of marketing classes like e-marketing and social media, advertising and promotion, market research and marketing management. You must also take 32 credits of communications courses, including mass media design, writing for mass media and television production. UWA will waive one of the required marketing courses for those willing to do a marketing internship.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
The University of West Alabama
Livingston, AL 35470
(800) 621-8044
Program Website
Picking the right college or university ensures that you get a degree from a school that you like and that you take classes that will benefit your future career. The best bachelor’s in communications programs in Alabama are available from some of the state’s top colleges like the University of Alabama.