Let’s continue the second half of bachelor’s in communications programs in Connecticut that capitalize on their New York Tri-State location to produce media gurus.
Ranked 28th for a GDP of $262 million, Connecticut’s economy has a growing communications sector with companies like Blue Sky Studios in Greenwich, NBC Sports Group in Stamford, and ESPN in Bristol. There are 19 Fortune 500 companies, including General Electric, Xerox, Cigna, Charter Communications, and Priceline Group, needing media campaigns. The “Provisions State” also has prominent media outlets, such as The Hartford Courant, WNHH 103.5 FM New Haven, WFSB 3 Connecticut, and Milford Living. According to the BLS, Connecticut has 24,760 media-related jobs that provide an annual mean wage of $59,300.
Determine which of the undergraduate communications schools in Connecticut speak best to you below.
For the first half of our list, see: Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in Connecticut (A-P)
Quinnipiac University
School of Communications
Founded by Yale College alum Phillip Troup in 1929, Quinnipiac University has admitted 6,500 undergrad Bobcats with an average GPA of 3.3 as a private, nonsectarian institution endowed for $388 million with 600 acres at Mount Carmel and York Hill. Included in the “A+ Schools for B Students,” Quinnipiac is named the North’s 11th best university and 42nd top value by the USNWR. Ranked seventh among the best media schools on LinkedIn, the School of Communications has a first- to second-year retention rate of 90 percent as America’s 187th best college for communications according to Niche.
BA in Communications/Media Studies
Led by Dean Mark G. Contreras with 29 full-time faculty, the BA in Communications/Media Studies at Quinnipiac uses cutting-edge resources in the Ed McMahon Center to develop the creative thinking, speaking, and writing skills to impact media industries. Placing grads at HBO, NBCUniversal, Forbes, and more, the 120-credit degree spans courses from political communication to sports media with three-credit internships. Majors may also attend the QU in LA Program, join the Bateman PR Student Competition, edit The Quinnipiac Chronicle, and pursue the 4+1 BA/MS option.
BA in Advertising and Integrated Communications
Featuring a 12:1 student-professor ratio, the BA in Advertising and Integrated Communications differs from some bachelor’s in communications programs in Connecticut by emphasizing the branding skills to create powerful social and mobile media campaigns for consumers. Requiring a minor, the 120-credit degree integrates real-world internships with companies like W.R. Berkley and courses like visual design. Other opportunities include studying abroad in Ireland, broadcasting on WQAQ FM, joining the College Media Association Pinnacle, make statements in Montage, and pledging Lambda Pi Eta.
Accreditation
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
275 Mount Carmel Ave.
Hamden, CT 06518
(203) 582-3141
admissions@qu.edu
Sacred Heart University
College of Arts & Sciences
Known for prominent alumni like Kevin Nealon and John Ratzenberger, Sacred Heart University is a private, faith-based member of the Diocese of Bridgeport that’s “Inspiring Minds” with enrollment at 8,532 on its 300-acre campus in Fairfield. Named America’s 118th best Catholic university on Niche, SHU is ranked the 470th best U.S. college overall by Times Higher Education. Ideally located in Connecticut’s Creative Media Corridor, the College of Arts & Sciences landed in the top 10 percent nationally for highest-paid communications graduates on College Factual for a median 20-year net ROI of $315,000.
Communication Studies Major
Selectively admitting 59 percent of applicants, the Communication Studies Major is the first of Sacred Heart’s bachelor’s in communications programs in Connecticut for undergrads to gain historical and practical understanding of media as socially aware communicators. The 48-credit major offers two specializations for Advertising Media/Public Relations and Sports Media with experiences like the Superbowl Internship. Students could also minor in Journalism, pursue the Accelerated BA-MA, join Sports Media Club, record in the Studio C News Nook, and attend the SHU Media Exchange.
Digital Communication Major
Presently priced at $19,785 per full-time semester, SHU’s Digital Communication Major lets undergrads develop in-depth knowledge of communicative technologies in the fully-equipped Martire Business & Communications Center for sharing information on the Web. Within the 42-credit major, students must complete at least one 12-week internship with placements like MSG Varsity, MTV, ESPN, or Huffington Post. Pioneers may also study European filmmaking in Luxembourg, join Film Club, publish in The Spectrum, produce radio shows for WHRT 91.5, and attend the four-week Media Production Summer Institute.
Accreditation
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Martire Center W211
5151 Park Ave.
Fairfield, CT 06825
(203) 371-7710
communication@sacredheart.edu
Southern Connecticut State University
School of Arts & Sciences
Governed by the Board of Regents, Southern Connecticut State University is a public, four-year college endowed for $13.3 million under President Joe Bertolino to serve 8,496 undergrad Owls from its 168-acre New Haven campus. Placed 16th statewide by Greenwich Patch, SCSU is named the 268th best Northeastern value in Washington Monthly and ranked 126th for America’s “Cool Schools” in Sierra Magazine. Charging an average net price of $13,517 yearly, the School of Arts & Sciences was recognized for the 120th best speech-language pathology preparation nationally by the U.S. News too.
Communication, B.S.
Chaired by Dr. Linda Sampson, the Communication B.S. trains SCSU undergrads to question, investigate, speak, collaborate, and adapt to changing media with an engaging 14:1 student-faculty ratio. Hands-on coursework in the 45-credit major can be concentrated in Advertising and Promotions, Personal and Professional Communication, or Film, Television, and Digital Production. The Department manages a state-of-the-art Studio with four edit suites, three Sony DSR-370 cameras, and Yamaha audio mixers for practice. Majors can also contribute to Southern News, broadcast on WSIN 1590 AM, and intern with MSNBC.
Communication Disorders, B.S.
Future speech-language pathologists will find SCSU’s Communication Disorders B.S. as one of the most unique bachelor’s in communications programs in Connecticut for learning the basics about disabilities that affect people’s ability to speak and process information. The 35-credit major adheres to ASHA standards for courses like speech science, phonetics, language development, anatomy, and neurology. Majors complete 25+ observation hours with licensed SLPs and audiologists for clinical insights. Students may also join the NSSLHA Chapter, earn the Geraldine Garrison Scholarship, and job shadow in The Access Network.
Accreditation
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Engleman Hall B019
501 Crescent St.
New Haven, CT 06515
(203) 392-5377
sampsonl1@southernct.edu
University of Bridgeport
College of Public and International Affairs
Occupying an 86-acre South End campus on the Long Island Sound with Victorian homes once owned by P.T. Barnum, the University of Bridgeport is a private, diverse nonprofit opened in 1927 that’s now enrolling 5,433 Purple Knights and employing 128 full-time staff. Bestowing financial packages worth $24,000 on average for the fourth lowest student debt, Bridgeport is ranked America’s 323rd best master’s university by Washington Monthly. The College of Public and International Affairs collaborates with the UN News Service to deliver another of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Connecticut.
Mass Communication (B.A.) Degree
Taught by PhD-level professors from Syracuse, Quinnipiac, La Salle, Notre Dame, and others, the Mass Communication (B.A.) Degree uses an interdisciplinary approach to instill the basic theories and skills Bridgeport undergrads need to become media practitioners. The flexible, 36-credit major offers concentrations for Advertising, Communication Studies, International Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, or Sports Communication with a foreign language requirement. Students could also work on PR for The Connecticut Zoo, intern at ESPN, join the Student Leadership Institute, travel to Scotland, or write for The Scribe.
Accreditation
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Carlson Hall 232
126 Park Ave.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203) 576-4157
yanmin@bridgeport.edu
University of Connecticut
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Noted for media alums like Randall Pinkston, Leigh Montville, and Pulitzer Prize winner Tim Page, the University of Connecticut is a flagship, public land-grant RU/VH powerhouse budgeting $2.3 billion annually to serve 32,027 Huskies in Universitas 21 from its main 4,400 Storrs campus. Ranked America’s 27th best public value by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, UConn is named the 283th top global university on the U.S. News report. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences also placed 135th nationally on Niche for one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Connecticut.
Communication Major
UConn’s Communication Major unlocks a median early-career salary of $53,900 by instilling the advanced information literacy skills for undergrads to inform society in media industry positions. Chaired by Dr. Kenneth Lachlan, the 24-credit major offers courses in Storrs or Stamford with concentrations for Advertising, Mass Media Practice, Organizational Communication, Public Relations, Health Communication, or Government and Political Communication. In addition to the required semester-long internship, Huskies could also research in the Interpersonal Interaction Lab, write for The Daily Campus, broadcast on WHUS 91.7 FM, or venture to Dubai.
Accreditation
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Arjona Building 2nd Floor
337 Mansfield Rd., Unit 1259
Storrs, CT 06269
(860) 486-6734
communication@uconn.edu
University of Hartford
College of Arts and Sciences
Occupying 320 acres on the West End of Forbes’ 28th best city for education, the University of Hartford is a private, nonsectarian institution with a $144 million endowment and 71 percent admission to serve 7,025 Hawks under President Walter Harrison. UHart is ranked the Northeast’s 353rd best value in Washington Monthly and 355th top U.S. college overall by Times Higher Education. The College of Arts and Sciences currently bills $49,776 before aid to deliver 20 bachelor’s majors with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, including America’s 383rd best communications program on Niche.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Starting the first semester with 74 percent retention, Hartford’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication is another of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Connecticut that lets undergrads choose emphases for Advertising and Public Relations, Communication Studies, or Media and Journalism. Directed by Dr. Jack Banks, the 36-credit major uses liberal arts to prepare creative, culturally appreciative media practitioners with practice in the Multimedia Lab. Other opportunities include interning with Universal Records, joining the AAF Student Competition, taking the Washington Semester, and pursuing the Accelerated Master’s.
Accreditation
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Abrahms Building 110
100 Bloomfield Ave.
West Hartford, CT 06117
(860) 768-5277
jbanks@hartford.edu
University of New Haven
College of Arts & Sciences
Belonging to the Northeast-10, the University of New Haven is a private, nonsectarian “Leader in Experiential Education” that’s grown since its 1920 founding to educate 6,450 Chargers and employ 522 full-time staff on a 35-building campus on the Connecticut shore in West Haven’s Allingtown neighborhood. Graded A as America’s 149th most diverse college on Niche, UNH is ranked the 95th best Northern university by the U.S. News. Housing 21 majors that cost $18,385 per semester, the College of Arts & Sciences received several top 10 percent badges from College Factual.
Communication, Film & Media Studies B.A./B.S.
New Haven confers one of the broadest bachelor’s in communications programs in Connecticut where undergrads can receive B.A. concentrations for Digital Media, Journalism, Public Relations, and Interpersonal Communication or B.S. concentrations for Film Production and TV/Video Production. Directed by Paul Falcone, the 120-credit degree uses resources in the cutting-edge Laurel Vlock Center for Convergent Media to open students’ communications prospects. Majors could study abroad in Prato, Italy, broadcast on WNHU 88.7 FM, join the American Film Institute, edit The Charger Bulletin, and attend CommClub events.
Accreditation
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Maxcy Hall 011
300 Boston Post Rd.
West Haven, CT 06516
(203) 932-7186
PFalcone@newhaven.edu
Western Connecticut State University
Macricostas School of Arts & Sciences
Endowed for $12.8 million, Western Connecticut State University is the fourth public, co-educational CSU constituent that’s educating 5,952 Colonials within the Little East Conference from 398 urban acres in Danbury along the Still River. Declared America’s 252nd hardest college to get into on Niche, WCSU is ranked the 114th best Northern school and 37th top public university by the U.S. News. The Macricostas School of Arts & Sciences offers one of the bachelor’s in communications programs in Connecticut just 64 miles north of Manhattan with 75 percent retention.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Arts
Presently billing $5,229 for Connecticuters and $11,573 for non-residents per term, WCSU’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Arts teaches undergrads face-to-face at the Midtown Campus to apply public speaking skills in diverse media environments. Requiring a senior thesis, the 37-credit major includes emphases for Communication Studies, Relational Communication, Media Studies, or Media Production. There’s even a B.S. in Elementary Education and Communication. Students could also minor in Broadcast Journalism, write for The Echo, stream live on WXCI 91.7 FM, and semester abroad in 50+ countries.
Accreditation
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
Warner Hall 300A
181 White St.
Danbury, CT 06810
(203) 837-9400
hamerj@wcsu.edu
Communications majors are ideal for shaping the speaking, writing, and teamwork skills that NACE outlined as the most important to employers for 2016. Communications graduates can qualify for several of CNN Money’s 50 best jobs, including marketing director, community relations manager, brand manager, and social media specialist. Turn your gift of gab into an eloquent media career with these bachelor’s in communications programs in Connecticut.