Heading toward the lights of Hollywood will lead you to many bachelor’s in communications programs in California for studying the art of speech. Generating a GDP of $2.6 trillion, California is the United States’ biggest economy for communications majors to dream big. Graduates can find jobs with well-respected companies like Oracle, Walt Disney, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, and Shutterfly. Studying communications could also prep you to write for San Francisco Chronicle, direct productions for Paramount, broadcast on KIIS-FM Los Angeles, run PR for Wells Fargo, and more. The BLS shows that communications jobs in California are abundant with 316,760 professionals making $74,610 on average.
Find your voice to power up strong career connections at these communications schools in California (Q-S). For the preceding articles in this series, see:
- Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in California (A-C)
- Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in California (California State University System)
- Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in California (D-L)
- Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in California (M-P)
St. Mary’s College of California
School of Liberal Arts
Founded by San Francisco’s first archbishop, Most Rev. Joseph Alemany, in 1863, St. Mary’s College is a private, master’s-level Catholic school endowed for $165 million that’s serving 4,109 Gaels with WSCUC education on its 420-acre Moraga campus. Applauded in America’s top 10 for studying abroad by the IIE Open Doors Report, St. Mary’s is ranked the 170th best private college and 234th top value nationally on Forbes. Graded B+ as the best communications college countrywide on Niche, the School of Liberal Arts is chaired by Dean Sheila Hassell Hughes, PhD, to provide 18 undergrad majors with 76 percent admission.
Communication Major
Accepting applications until March 1st and November 1st, the Communication Major is among the bachelor’s in communications programs in California that bestows a B.A./B.S. to sharpen speaking and writing skills for $42,780 annually full-time. Including one 12-week internship with organizations like the Golden State Warriors, the 11-course major has elective tracks for Media Studies, Rhetoric and Culture, and Public Communication. Undergrads could also broadcast on Gaels-TV, get published in The Collegian, join the Macken Debate & Speech Team, and attend the Media Ecology Association Convention in June.
Accreditation
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Contact
Dante Hall 109
1928 Saint Mary’s Rd.
Moraga, CA 94575
(925) 631-4145
soladean@stmarys-ca.edu
San Diego Christian College
Department of Communication
Enrolling 909 undergrads with yearly tuition at $28,740, San Diego Christian College is a private, evangelical liberal arts CCCU school devoted to “Truth, Purpose, Impact” since 1970 for Scriptural education on its 50-acre campus conveniently off Route 52 in Santee. Ranked the West’s 44th best Christian institution by Faith On View, SDCC is placed in the top 5 percent nationally for diversity by College Factual. The Department of Communication employs PhD-level faculty trained at Fielding, Regent, Toledo, Liberty, and others for a 16:1 teaching ratio.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Organized by Chair Dr. Lisa Dunne, the Bachelor of Arts in Communication at SDC studies the nature of human speech to maximize the effectiveness of information sharing in students’ future organizations. The 126-credit degree builds on core courses like ethnography with emphases for Broadcast Journalism, Interpersonal Communication, or Rhetorical Communication. On-campus undergrads can join the Lambda Pi Eta Chapter, study in London, take missions to Ghana, attend the IMPACT Conference, and declare the Honors Program.
Online Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Launched in 2014, SDCC’s Online Bachelor of Arts in Communication is one of the Web-based bachelor’s in communications programs in California that’s accelerated with five-week courses for flexible, part-time completion in four years. The 124-credit offering builds on the social sciences and humanities to explore the effects that different communicative methods bear on culture. Online curricula have unique emphases for Biblical Studies, Business, Early Childhood, Creative Writing, and more with a discounted rate of $439 per unit.
Accreditation
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Contact
200 Riverview Pkwy.
Santee, CA 92071
(619) 213-1611
onlineinfo@SDCC.edu
San Diego State University
College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
With two Imperial Valley campuses in Calexico and Brawley, San Diego State University is headquartered on 263 acres in Forbes’ 33th best city for careers as a public, doctoral space-grant RU/VH powerhouse with a $721 million budget to serve 34,688 Aztecs. SDSU is ranked seventh for ethnic diversity by the U.S. News and was given three Insight into Diversity’s HEED Awards. Producing 85 Fulbright Scholars since 2005, the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts is also placed 59th nationally with 10 core departments that have reached a retention rate of 89 percent.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Charging an average net price of $10,085 per year, the Bachelor of Arts in Communication is directed by Dr. William Snavely to promote students’ ability to address social issues by enhancing relationships with effective communication. Rooted in liberal arts and sciences, the 12-course major is tailored to students’ curricular goals with courses from rhetoric to performance studies. Undergrads may also debate with the Aztec Forensics team, earn the Paul J. Gaske Memorial Scholarship, broadcast on KCR Radio, and join the PRSSA Society.
Bachelor of Science in Health Communication
Looking for bachelor’s in communications programs in California that focus on spreading vital medical information to patients, healthcare facilities, legislators, and others? SDSU’s Bachelor of Science in Health Communication is the only such degree with 122 credits like public health, health science, gerontology, disease prevention, and clinical information systems. Students can also join the HCSO, pledge Lambda Pi Eta, intern with Kaiser Permanente, write for The Daily Aztec, undertake client projects with Arrow Media Group, and study abroad in Costa Rica.
Accreditation
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Contact
COMM Building 237
5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, CA 92182
(619) 594-8512
socdesk@mail.sdsu.edu
San Francisco State University
College of Liberal & Creative Arts
Noted for prominent alumni like Jose Antonio Vargas, Ernest J. Gaines, and Annette Bening, San Francisco State University enrolls 24,704 freshmen with a mean GPA of 3.22 annually as a public, land-grant research institution that’s sitting atop a 141-acre campus overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. SFSU is ranked America’s 108th most liberal college on Niche and 601st top university overall by Times Higher Education. The College of Liberal & Creative Arts has state-of-the-art facilities, including the Queer Cinema Institute, to deliver 14 bachelor’s majors with funding from 280+ scholarships.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
Offering an optional Certificate in Conflict Resolution, the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies unlocks a median starting salary of $46,900 by letting SFSU undergrads build on writing intensives with a breadth of rhetorical skills. The 40-unit major integrates courses from social interaction to communication inquiry with four-unit internships at sites like Fenchel Family Law, Ragen Jewels, and ABM Industries. Students also join a top-ranked Speech & Debate Team, make productions in the Documentary Film Institute, and study abroad from Chengdu to Copenhagen.
Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts
Another of the premier bachelor’s in communications programs in California is SFSU’s Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts, which supports Bay Area media by preparing undergrads for content delivery on television, radio, film, and online news. With resources from the J. Paul Leonard Library, the 120-credit curriculum has nine concentrations like Interactive Media and Electronic Media Journalism. Majors may also intern at KPIX Channel 5, broadcast on KSFS Radio, join the Audio Engineering Society, and film on-campus in Studio 1.
Accreditation
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Contact
Humanities Building 289
1600 Holloway Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 338-1597
comm@sfsu.edu
San Jose State University
College of Applied Sciences and Arts
Originally opened as Minns Evening Normal School in 1857, San Jose State University is a public, master’s-level CSU constituent led by President Mary Papazian to educate 32,154 Spartans in the Mountain West Conference with a 19-block downtown campus in Silicon Valley’s capital. SJSU is ranked America’s 147th best university in Washington Monthly and 174th top value by MONEY magazine. Known for its Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, the College of Applied Sciences and Arts is declared the 335th best communications school nationally according to Niche.
BA in Communication Studies
Chaired by Dr. Deanna L. Fassett, the BA in Communication Studies immerses SJSU students in studying the power of the spoken and written word to better shape their communicative strategies. Offering an optional Legal Studies minor, the 42-unit major includes courses like persuasion, nonverbal communication, and linguistics with at least one applied activity. Majors could also practice in the COMM Center, join the Social Media Team, intern with Adobe, travel from Oslo to Beijing, and contribute to the Califia Performance Collective.
BA in Communication Studies, Preparation for Teaching
For a median net price of $21,820 annually, the BA in Communication Studies with Preparation for Teaching is ideal for undergrads seeking CCTC credentialing within bachelor’s in communications programs in California to perfect their speech for 7-12 classrooms. The 51-unit combined major trains future secondary teachers with courses from comparative literature to internet communication. Students also spend one semester teaching in nearby schools like Abraham Lincoln High, Bret Harte Middle, and Leland High before Praxis testing.
Accreditation
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Contact
Hugh Gillis Hall 108
1 Washington Sq.
San Jose, CA 95192
(408) 924-5360
deanna.fassett@sjsu.edu
Santa Clara University
College of Arts and Sciences
Surrounding the Mission Santa Clara de Asis on its 106-acre campus just 45 miles southeast of San Francisco near Intel headquarters, Santa Clara University is a private, doctoral-granting Jesuit ACJU member led by Rev. Michael Engh to enlighten 8,770 Broncos. Noted for PayScale’s 12th highest mid-career salary potential at $120,000, Santa Clara is ranked the second best Western college and second most vet-friendly school by the USNWR. The College of Arts and Sciences has produced alumni like Leon Panetta, Dee Dee Myers, and Khaled Hosseini with around 760 degrees awarded yearly.
Major in Communication
Another of the Christ-centered bachelor’s in communications programs in California is SCU’s Major in Communication, which offers a B.A./B.S. to train undergrads for sharing, analyzing, and interpreting messages in diverse mediums. Featuring 53 courses to select from digital filmmaking to public relations, the 42-credit major is customized with at least one practicum. Undergrads could also pledge Lambda Pi Eta, explore Perugia, compete with Debate Team, edit The Redwood yearbook using Avid, and earn the Quinn Martin Scholarship.
Accreditation
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Contact
Vari Hall 229
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053
(408) 554-4455
slee@scu.edu
Simpson University
Undergraduate Studies Division
Named after Albert Benjamin Simpson, the Christian & Mission Alliance founder, in 1921, Simpson University serves as a private, nonprofit “Gateway to World Service” with a $5.87 million endowment to run its 92-acre campus in Redding near Shasta Lake. Crowned the 20th best Christian college value, Simpson is ranked the West’s 82nd best regional university by the USNWR. The Undergraduate Studies Division has 23 traditional bachelor’s majors from English to nursing plus the ASPIRE program for adults to support 1,300 Red Hawks with “B” academics toward an 88 percent job placement rate.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Priced at $13,625 per full-time semester, the Bachelor of Arts in Communication at Simpson is chaired by Debora Rager, MATL, to equip undergrads for using ethically appropriate means to convey information. Like some bachelor’s in communications programs in California, the 124-credit degree offers tracks for Mass Communication, Public Communication, Organizational Communication, or Spanish. Other opportunities include spending a semester in Oxford, interning at Channel 7 News, minoring in Journalism, and continuing for the M.A. Organizational Leadership online.
Accreditation
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Contact
Grubbs Learning Center 206
2211 College View Dr.
Redding, CA 96003
(530) 226-4973
gcopeland@simpsonu.edu
Sonoma State University
School of Arts and Humanities
Opened in Stevenson Hall in 1961, Sonoma State University is a fast-growing public, co-educational CSU constituent led by President Judy Sakaki with 542 academic staff to teach 9,323 Seawolves from its 269-acre campus in Rohnert Park off Route 101 near Fairfield Osborn Preserve. As a COPLAC member, Sonoma is ranked the West’s 41st best university and 10th top public college by the USNWR. With average freshman retention at 81 percent, the School of Arts and Humanities was placed 54th for bachelor’s in communications programs in California on Niche.
Communication & Media Studies Program
Sonoma’s Communication & Media Studies Program offers a 44-unit B.A. major for undergrads to build advanced competency for the oral and written expression of ideas to enter media-related jobs. During the four-year experience, students can manage PR with Primitivo Public Relations, broadcast news on SSUTV, write for The Star, and record sessions for KSUN Radio while studying cultures from Tuscany to Taipei. Alumni have reached success with Google, Warner Brothers, the Oakland Raiders, Yamaha, CBS, and more.
Accreditation
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Contact
Nichols Hall 330
1801 East Cotati Ave.
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
(707) 667-2149
bartletb@sonoma.edu
Stanford University
School of Humanities & Sciences
Led by President Marc Tessier-Lavigne, Stanford is an elite private, nonprofit AAU member of the Pac-12 that’s endowed for $22.39 billion to selectively admit 16,336 Cardinals on 8,160 acres in the Bay Area’s Silicon Valley. Stanford is named the fifth best national university, fourth best value, second most innovative school, and top high school counselor pick by the USNWR. Boasting a median early-career alumni salary of $80,900, the School of Humanities & Sciences is ranked America’s #3 best college for communications with a 10:1 student-professor ratio on Niche.
Major in Communication (B.A.)
Starting after 60 units, the Major in Communication (B.A.) at Stanford is one of the upper-division bachelor’s in communications programs in California that informs undergrads about the ever-increasing power of media. The 60-unit major includes at least one eight-week Rebele Internship at publications like East Palo Today, Los Angeles Daily Journal, and others. Students can also broadcast on KZSU Radio, join the Honors Program, research in the Virtual Human Interaction Lab, and attend Stanford in Washington, D.C.
Accreditation
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Contact
Building 120, Room 110
450 Serra Mall
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 723-1941
info@commu.stanford.edu
California unsurprisingly ranks #1 for the highest employment level of producers, video editors, authors, technical writers, translators, and other communications jobs. The expected 10-year job growth rate of 4 percent will expand openings for baccalaureate grads to apply their rhetoric expertise. Join the nearly 6,500 media-related graduates in the Golden State each year by searching for your match among bachelor’s in communications programs in California.
Continue here: Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in California (T-Z)