Bachelor’s in communications programs in the District of Columbia go beyond simply teaching you how to speak with others. These programs also teach you how to present yourself in the right way to get a job or lead a group of people and how to use your communication skills when writing and drafting projects. Many students move to DC for college because they want to work in politics too. You’ll develop the skills that you need to work as a communications director for a major political organization and to work as a policy advocate. Look at all the top DC programs for students like yourself.
American University
School of Communication
Founded in 1893, American University is one of the main colleges in Washington DC. Though George Washington himself wanted to open a new school in the district, it didn’t happen until a number of years after his death. This is a private university that offers a range of opportunities for students who want to do research projects and independent study projects. It also ranks as one of the most politically active colleges in the country. Some of its most notable alumni include men and women working on Capital Hill and in other political jobs.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
American University offers three of the top bachelor’s in communications programs in the District of Columbia, including this communication studies program, which is its most basic program. When you enroll, you will need to select a concentration in global media, the history of media, media and government or media and society. This concentration determines some of the courses that you will take later. If you decide to stay at American University and enroll in a related graduate program, up to six of the credits that you took in the past will transfer into the program. Those credits will help you earn an MA faster.
Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language & Communication Media
Any student who has a passion for a foreign language will appreciate this American University program, which lets them combine their love of a foreign language with media and communication studies. You will major in communication studies and minor in a language like French, Spanish, German or Russian. The commission media major, also called a strategic communication major, focuses on the basics of communicating with others. As part of your studies, the university encourages you to participate in its study abroad program. The time that you spend studying overseas will help you develop more fluency and make you sound like a native speaker.
Bachelor of Arts in PR & Strategic Communication
You also have the option of majoring in PR and strategic communication, which is best for those who want to work in the business industry. The public relations courses that you take prepare you for promoting the products and services that your clients offer both online and off. Strategic communication courses show you how to come up with a strategy and how to present the information that you need to share with others based on the needs of your clients. The university offers minors to go along with your major like political communication and corporate communication.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 885-1000
Catholic University of America
Undergraduate Programs
The Catholic University of America is religious university that has an affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church. Founded in 1887, it ranks as the only instutition of higher learning in the entire nation that Catholic bishops actually established. More than 80% of all undergraduate students are Catholic, but you can come from any faith and still apply. Those who live on the university’s campus can attend various events each week that help them make new friends and meet other students. All events hosted by the university are free of alcohol and show students that they can have fun without drinking.
Media and Communication Studies (B.A.)
One of the only bachelor’s in communications programs in the District of Columbia that looks at the impact media and communications has on the general public. This program can help you become a speechwriter on the campaign trail, a journalist for a major newspaper or a director. You will need to take classes on media and history, introduction to media studies and media and rhetoric. During your junior year, you’ll take a seminar course, but you need to take a seminar course during your senior year too. The Catholic University of America lets you start classes without declaring a major.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
620 Michigan Ave., N.E.
Washington, DC 20064
(202) 319-5000
Gallaudet University
Department of Art, Communication and Theatre
Gallaudet University has a strong reputation as the best university in the country for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Started in the 1860s as a primary school for students with disabilities, it slowly shifted its focus to the education of students with hearing problems and later added programs designed for college students. All the courses offered by the university today have interpreters on hand who use American Sign Language, and professors teach all classes in English. Gallaudet inspired a number of similar programs across the country and appeared on the hit television show “Switched at Birth.”
Bachelor of Arts Communication Studies
One of the only bachelor’s in communications programs in the District of Columbia designed specifically for deaf and hard of hearing students is the one that Gallaudet University offers. The university requires that you take a minimum of 21 courses that include group communication, public presentations, theories of human communication and introduction to mass communication. You need to take a seminar on the types of internships open to you, how to apply for one and what you will do during your internship. Gallaudet requires that all communications students do an internship. You can get up to three credits based on your work.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
800 Florida Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 651-5000
George Washington University
Officially called The George Washington University and unofficially known as GWU and George Washington, this university opened in the 1820s. Though the university offers a number of degree programs, must students enroll in one of its journalism, political science or communications programs. It has a strong alumni network that includes students working for some of the top publications in the world as well as those who work in politics. U.S. News & World Report ranked GWU as the 56th best college in the country. The Princeton Review put the university on lists like the top college newspapers and most politically active campuses.
Communication
GWR offers four bachelor’s in communications programs in the District of Columbia that include this more basic or standard communication program. You’ll learn how to communicate with others in verbal and nonverbal ways such as writing and how to communicate via television shows and other productions. Many of the students in this program join clubs like the honors society or participate in Greek activities. If you prefer working in television or film communications, you can work for the campus radio or television station to gain some more experience. The university offers courses on speech and language pathology too.
Journalism and Mass Communication
Whether you want to work in front of the camera or behind it, the journalism and mass communication major at George Washington University can help you gain all the experience that you need to land your first job in the journalism field. The university has its own production studios on its campus and allows students to work in those facilities. Its alumni network can help students find internship opportunities as well. Though some of the courses focus on actually producing shows, other courses look at the theories behind mass communications and the best ways of presenting information to others.
Political Communication
The way you look at politics will change after taking some of the courses in the university’s political communication degree program. This program shows you how to analyze data based on what you see in front of you and any research that you do. The basic program includes 10 required classes and 21 credits of electives. Electives that you can choose from include media law, campaign reporting, Washington reporting, social media and campaigns and elections. You can also do an independent study project or an internship. Required courses include introduction to international politics, data analysis for journalism and political communication and digital media.
Organizational Sciences and Communication
Another program that might interest you is the communication program available through the university’s organizational sciences and communication department. Available on the Soggy Bottom campus, this program encourages students to gain experience through writing and research work they do for the publications on its campus. You will take a senior seminar and six required courses that include introduction to communication studies, interpersonal communications, research methods in communications and persuasion. GWU also requires that you take 15 credits of courses from other departments at the 200 level or higher. Completing a minor or a second bachelor’s degree will count towards those credits.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
2121 Eye St.
Washington, DC 20052
(202) 994-1000
Howard University
Cathy Hughes School of Communications
Howard University is one of the only historically all black colleges located in the DC area. Founded in 1867, the campus opened its doors to African American students just a few years after the Civil War ended. Students initially flocked to the university because few schools in the south accepted them, but as its reputation grew, the number of students enrolling grew too. Sean Combs, once known as Puff Daddy, is just one of the celebrities who attended the university. Howard University alumni include politicians, writers, lawyers and some athletes still playing on professional teams today.
Strategic, Legal and Management Communication
If you have an interest in strategic communications, you’ll find that this Howard University program is one of the only bachelor’s in communications programs in the District of Columbia with that focus. This is a BA program that requires you complete different sequences or fields of study as you work on your degree. One of those sequences, PR, ranks as one of the top in the country. This sequence focuses on the promotions that professional PR directors and agents use. You’ll also need to take classes like introduction to mass communications, ethical issues in communications and digital media literacy.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
2400 Sixth St. NW
Washington, DC 20059
(202) 806-6100
Trinity Washington University
Media & PR
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur decided to open a college for women in Washington DC in 1897, which they named Trinity College. This college developed a strong reputation for being one of the top schools for women in the country. It later gained an even better reputation after it implemented programs designed to increase the number of minority students in college. Trinity became Trinity Washington University in 2004, but it still maintains an arts and science program under its older name. This program is open only to women, but most of the other programs are now open to males.
Strategic Communication and Public Relations (M.A.)
Trinity Washington University wants to help students gain experience working in front of and behind the camera, which is why it offers this program, called one of the top communications degree programs in the District of Columbia. The university offers some unique courses that you won’t find anywhere else like Olivia Pope in the Real World. This course looks at the events that happen on the hit show “Scandal” and what real fixers like Pope do in the real world. You can also take courses that cover some of the political campaigns taking place in the United States and other parts of the world.
Accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Contact
125 Michigan Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20017
(202) 884-9000
Communications degree programs teach you how to work with others and how to lead others too. You can take other courses that compliment your degree and help you with your career goals. The top bachelor’s in communications programs in the District of Columbia can help you find work in politics and other fields.
See also: Top 20 Best Online Communications Degree Programs