This first part of our list of bachelor’s in communications degrees in Kansas is a great tool to use if you are searching for a communications program. Why study communications in Kansas? First, Kansas is the home to a huge aerospace presence. Spirit AeroSystems and Learjet Enterprises, as well as others, make their corporate homes in the state. Kansas industries that are booming are agriculture and energy. Additionally, Kansas is the 8th biggest natural gas producing state. That means there is a market for business communications experts. Second, Kansas is not the densely populated industrial Mecca some eastern states are, but that fact can be favorable for communications majors. There are some major cities in Kansas that offer great possibilities for internships, and there are wonderful opportunities in smaller communities as well. In addition, communications studies include print and digital media that doesn’t have to be produced in a population hub. That means students can learn with hands-on experiences in schools that have less pressure, smaller classes and more chances for student-faculty interaction.
Baker University
College of Arts and Sciences
This private Christian school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It was founded in 1858. The school ranks #46 in Regional Universities, Northwest, in the US News and World Report listings. The student-to-faculty ratio is 13:1. Baker has a respectable 41 percent four-year graduation rate. The total student enrollment is less than 3,000. There are four schools in the university: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, the School of Professional and Graduate Studies and the School of Nursing. The communications program features a speech choir and a theater group, both of which are performing organizations.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
This degree program is intended for students who want a career in communications or for those who wish to go on to graduate school. The degree begins with 10 requisites in universal common core classes. There are also 27 credits of electives through which the program is tailored. Some of the classes included are Communication Workshop, Newspaper/Online Workshop, Radio, Stage Performance or Advanced Stage Performance and Conflict Management. All communications majors must also complete a minor. There are 124 credit-hours in the degree program.
Bachelor of Business Administration, Major in Strategic Business Communication
This degree program, housed in the School of Professional and Graduate Studies, teaches the “skills and knowledge to plan, develop, deliver and manage the strategic communication for a business or organization.” It is a business degree with concentration in the written, visual and oral components of communication that are utilized in marketing and advertising as well as in the day-to-day business communications. The program features online and on-campus courses. The courses available only online are Mass Media and Society, Advertising, Digital Media, Mass Media Ethics, Public Relations Cases and Social Media Strategies.
Accreditations
The Midwest Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission
The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs ( ACBSP)
Contact
Communication Studies Program
Baker University
618 Eighth Street
Baldwin City, KS 66006
785-594-8457
Susan.emel@bakerU.edu
Benedictine College
Department of Journalism and Mass Communications
This private, Roman Catholic college is ranked as #13 of Regional Colleges Midwest by the US News and World Report. It was founded in 1859 as Saint Benedicts College, a school for men. In 1971, the school merged with Mount Saint Scholastica School, a women’s school, to form Benedictine College. The student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1, and its four-year graduation rate is 49 percent. The school is divided into the School of Business, the Education Department, the Theology Department, the Engineering Department and the Nursing School. It also offers programs in Performing Arts.
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications
This school offers the degree program with concentrations in either journalism or in mass communications. It is intended to prepare students for careers in “reporting, digital media, public relations, photography, web design, publicity, media production and advertising.” The students produce a print newspaper with a digital version and a yearbook. The degree program contains 42 hours in core classes in addition to the university graduation requirements. Two of the courses included are Media and Society and Web Design. Students can also minor in communications by taking 18 hours in communications courses.
Accreditation
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Benedictine College
1020 North 2nd Street
Atchison, KS 66002
913-360-7390
Email through website
Bethel College, North Newton
Communication, English and Fine Arts
This private college in Newton, Kansas, is affiliated with the Mennonite Church. It was founded in 1887 and awarded its first degree in 1912. The school focuses on strong liberal arts and science foundational courses for all majors. Religious studies are required of all students and everyone must take a cultural experience course. The school says it concentrates on developing critical thinking skills as well as communication abilities. along with traditional majors, students can create their own major choosing from interdisciplinary courses. The school awards BA, BS and BSN degrees in 37 areas of study.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts
This degree program contains 36 hours in addition to the school requisites for graduation and a four-credit practicum or internship. Students get practical experience participating in forensics, theater, performing arts and print and electronic journalism. Graduates of the program will be knowledgeable in various forms of communication methods and be confident in public presentations and writing. Some of the courses offered are: Living in Performance, Introduction to Theater, Gender, Race, Class and the Media, Practicums in Theater and Radio.
Accreditation
The North Central Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
Communication Arts
Bethel College, North Newton
300 East 27th Street,
North Newton, KS, 67117
316-284-5228
tbuller@bethelKs.edu
Central Christian College of Kansas
Communicative Arts
This school began in 1884 as The Orleans Seminary, associated with the Free Methodist Church. It added two years of college and moved to McPherson, Kansas in 1914, becoming Central Academy and College. In 1991 it became accredited to award bachelor’s degrees. The school notes several “core values.” Among these are truth, spiritual foundations, comprehensive education, excellence, prayer, community, integrity, service, leadership, and followership. Central Christian College focuses on education for the whole person.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
The goal of this communication degree program is to give students a firm foundation in liberal arts and sciences to build a “fit mind, heart, body and soul.” The degree can be earned with one of three concentrations: Mass Media, Public Relations or Sports Communication. There are 27 hours in the communication core in addition to the school’s baccalaureate requisites, and six in the emphasis electives. Some of the common core classes included are: Introduction to Mass Media, Persuasion/ Argumentation, a portfolio which is the capstone and Digital and Electronic Imaging.
Accreditation
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
Communication, English and Fine Arts
Central Christian College of Kansas
1200 South Main
McPherson, KS, 67460
620-241-0723
Chris.gates@centralchristian.edu
Emporia State University
Communication and Theater Department
Emporia State University began in 1863 as the first teacher’s college in Kansas. Today, the public, coeducational school is a master’s institution. There are more than 180 academic programs at the school which are awarded through four colleges: Business, Arts and Sciences, Teacher’s, and the School of Library Sciences and Information Management. The US News and World Report ranks Emporia as #122 of Regional Universities Midwest. The student-to-faculty ratio is 18:1.
Bachelor of Science in Communication
This degree is appropriate for students interested in management positions in areas like human resources, public relations, and sales or anywhere a strong competency in oral communication is required. There are 21 hours in the common core, fifteen hours in one concentration and 12 hours in electives. The concentrations in this degree are Critical and Cultural Communications, Organizational Communications and Relational Communications.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
This degree is for people who want to go on to graduate school, into law school, the ministry or public service, among other careers. It contains 36 semester-hours in broad liberal arts education and an introduction to communication. There are 21 common core classes, 15 in the concentration and 12 in a required second program of study that may include independent study, an internship or participation in interschool forensics.
Accreditation
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
Communication and Theater Department
Emporia State University
1 Kellogg Circle
Emporia, KS, 66801
620-341-5702
scatt@emporia.edu
Fort Hays State University
College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
This public, co-educational school began in 1902 as the western campus of the Kansas State Normal School. It has a total enrollment of 15,100. The school features a unique Hispanic student initiative that prepares Hispanic high school students to succeed in college, the courses are taught by Hispanic instructors, and it is held on-campus. Fort Hays State has more than 50 courses taught online. It is the home of the notable Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
This degree program can be earned in three concentrations: General Communications, Public Relations and Advertising, or Organizational Communication. The 124-hour program contains 16 hours in core plus 24 hours in the emphasis in addition to university requirements. There are three requisite courses: Multiculturism in the US, Elements of Statistics and Modern Language plus 11 hours or electives.
Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
This degree is a “3 plus 2” program. It is restricted to students who scored 26 or above on their ACT and had a high school GPA of 3.7 or higher. The program allows students to complete a bachelor’s degree in communications in three years and then enter the master’s program.
Accreditation
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
Communications Department
Fort Hays State University
600 Park Street,
Fort Hays, KS 67601
785-628-5365
sjrobson@hhsu.edu
Friends University
Department of Fine Arts
This private co-educational Christian non-denominational university was founded in 1898. It ranks as #126 through #165 in the second tier of Midwest Universities. The student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1, and most classes have less than 20 students. The school has a special program that offers seven undergraduate and seven graduate degrees to working adults, holding classes one night a week.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
This is an interdisciplinary program taught within the business, media and visual arts classes. It is offered in a Media Studies track or a Visual Communications track. There are 33.5 credit hours of required core classes plus an ethics course. There are 24 credit hours in the concentration, and 124 hours total in the program.
Accreditation
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
Communications
Department of Fine Arts
Friends University
2100 W. University Ave.
Wichita, KS 67213
316-295-5913
scroggins@friends.edu
Students who find a program that interests them should proceed to the school website for more information. This list of bachelor’s in communications programs in Kansas should serve as a beginning of a thorough search.
Continue here:
- Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in Kansas (G-O)
- Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in Kansas (P-Z)