Enrolling in one of the available Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky is a great choice for anyone who wants to work in a field or job that involves communications methods. These programs train students on how to actually communicate with their peers and how to communicate with those they work with on the job. They can take courses on public speaking to learn more about presenting their work in front of a large crowd, and many students take performing arts classes and participate in public performances too. Kentucky programs can train students to work in any state and even overseas.
Asbury University
School of Communication Arts
Asbury University is one of the few religious institutions of higher learning in Kentucky to have full accreditation. Founded in 1890 as the Kentucky Holiness College, it later changed its name to honor a Bishop revered by its founders. The school served as a college for many years before gaining university status, and since gaining this status, its enrollment increased significantly. Though the university is larger in size today, it still maintains its small class sizes. Asbury now has an enrollment of more than 1,300 undergrads and more than 200 students. It has plans to further expand in the future too.
Communication Major
Asbury University offers a communication major that has four concentrations available for students, which is more than most of the other Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky offer. Students can pick a concentration in public relations, leadership, international communication or social media. It is one of the only programs in the state that allows students to study social media as a communications tool. The university can help students find internships working for major publications and organizations in Kentucky and in other states. Former students did internships at talent agencies, nonprofit organizations and even film and television production studios.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
One Macklem Dr.
Wilmore, KY 40390
(859) 858-3511
Berea College
Communication Department
Berea College is a small school in Kentucky that is less than an hour away from Lexington. Established in 1855, it was one of the first colleges in the nation that admitted both white and black students equally. All students followed the same curriculum and had access to all the same classes, which was unique at the time. U.S. News & World Report included Berea on its lists of the Most Innovative Schools and the Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the United States. Berea also ranks as a Best Value school because it keeps tuition rates low every year.
BA in Communication
Berea College makes it easy for students to find out exactly what they need to do to graduate because the college provides all students with a four-year plan that they can customize and change as they work with an adviser. All students must complete a communications capstone as a senior, and most students take this class in their final semesters. It asks them to study a topic that interests them and do research on that topic. Other courses in the program, which ranks among the best Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky, include Broadcast Journalism and Voice and Diction.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
101 Chestnut St.
Berea, KY 40404
(859) 985-3000
Campbellsville University
Arts and Sciences
Located in Campbellsville, Kentucky, Campbellsville University is one of the state’s largest religious institutions of higher learning. Founded in 1906 as the Russell Creek Academy, it initially operated as a school for boys before adding college classes to its curriculum, which evolved into the full four-year college programs that it offers today. Campbellsville launched distance learning programs to educate students living further away from its campus, and these programs later moved online. The university now offers several associate’s degree programs online. It also has accelerated programs for students who have more real-life experience. Campbellsville has an enrollment of more than 5,000 students.
Mass Communication
A unique option for students looking at the top Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky is the Mass Communication program that Campbellsville University offers. This program allows students to pick an emphasis area in lieu of declaring a major and picking a minor. The program acts like an interdisciplinary study program that allows students to study what they want and still take all the required classes needed to graduate. Students can work for the newspapers, which comes out once a month, do an internship working for a local publication or join one of the university’s clubs.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1 University Drive UPO 861
Campbellsville, KY 42718
(800) 264-6014
Eastern Kentucky University
College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
Eastern Kentucky University, also known as EKU, is one of the largest school systems in Kentucky. Not only is it large in terms of its enrollment, which is above 16,000 students, but also in terms of physical size. EKU has a large campus in Richmond that is its flagship campus and six campuses across the state, including those in Manchester and Lancaster. The foundation of the university occurred in 1906, but it actually existed as two separate schools before then. When the two campuses merged, the new school picked the name Eastern Kentucky University to reflect its location in the state.
Communication Studies
Eastern Kentucky University offers two of the top Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky. One of those is a Communication Studies program that is available as a BA or a BS program. The BA program focuses on integrated organizational communication, while the BS program focuses on interpersonal communication. Students can earn three or more credits for doing an internship or a co-op experience, and they can work with the department to find one of these experiences. The university offers two different scholarships for students who need financial help. Students can apply for these scholarships before enrolling in classes.
Communication Disorders
EKU students can also major in communication disorders and study some of the disorders that change the way individuals communicate with each other. This is a Bachelor of Science program that requires students take several science and research classes, and students will also need to do some lab work. Those who successfully complete this program can enroll in a graduate program to gain a license to work in speech and language pathology. The university will only accept new students into the communication disorders program who have a 3.0 grade point average and a score of at least 21 on the ACT.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
521 Lancaster Ave,
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 622-1000
Georgetown College
Academic Programs
Georgetown College is popular with both students who want to attend a smaller school and those who want to follow a liberal arts curriculum. Founded in 1829 by the state assembly, the college took over the campus of a small former academy that closed down due to financial issues. The college has an affiliation with the Kentucky Baptist Convention but accepts students of different backgrounds. It does not have as many rules and restrictions as other religious colleges do. The total enrollment at Georgetown, including undergrads and graduate students, is around 1,500 students, which reduces class sizes down to just 12 students.
Communication and Media Studies
Several Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky offer students the chance to study both communications and media studies. Georgetown College offers one of those programs, which teaches students the five valuable skills that they need in the workplace: analysis, persuasion, teamwork, decision making and communicating on a verbal level. Students must complete 33 credits of work to earn a communications degree, but this does not include the required general education courses that they take. Some of the courses in the Georgetown program include Introduction to Media Studies, Advanced Interpersonal Communication, Communication Theory and Research Methods and Sports and Communication.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
400 East College St.
Georgetown, KY 40324
(800) 788-9985
Kentucky Mountain Bible College
Programs of Study
Kentucky Mountain Bible College is one of the main seminary schools in Kentucky. More than 70% of its graduates work in the Christian faith in some way. Its graduates work as missionaries, speakers, pastors and in other positions. Founded in the 1930s, it initially operated as a training school that prepared students for working as missionaries and spreading their faith. Most of its early students attended high school in the area. As the school expanded beyond missionary work, it sought and received college status. KMBC is a very small school that has an enrollment of fewer than 100 students.
Communications Studies
Though Kentucky Mountain Bible College is a religious institution, it offers a communication studies degree program designed for those who want to talk about their faith in non-religious settings. Students will need to complete a general education core and a core on theology classes, but students in this program also have the chance to take some diverse communications classes. This is one of the only Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky with religious communications courses available, including Introduction to Christian Education, Media Ministries, Dramatic Ministries and Introduction to the Apologetics. Students can also take courses in counseling, broadcasting, and journalism.
Accreditation
Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
Contact
855 Hwy 541
Jackson, KY 41339
(606) 693-5000
Kentucky State University
Division of Literature, Languages and Philosophy
Kentucky State University, also called KSU, is a public university that started as the State Normal School for Colored Persons. When established in 1886, it was one of only two schools in Kentucky that offered education programs for African Americans. Though it went through a few name changes, it remained devoted to educating African Americans. The school became Kentucky State College and then Kentucky State University. While it accepts all students today, its enrollment of more than 2,000 students still includes a large number of African Americans. Minority students make up more than half its enrolled students at both the undergrad and graduate levels.
Mass Communications & Journalism
Many students look for Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky because they want to study journalism and work for major publications and papers. Kentucky State offers a program designed specifically for those students that combines elements of both journalism and communications. This is the only Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky that offers concentrations in public relations, broadcast journalism, and print/online journalism. Students take courses from within one of these concentrations and some required courses too. They’ll have the chance to take classes like Introduction to Photography, Community Journalism (Print Version), Desktop and Web Publishing and Advanced Public Affairs Reporting.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
400 East Main St.
Frankfort, Ky. 40601
(502) 597-6000
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Academic Programs
Kentucky is home to a number of small schools like Kentucky Wesleyan College, which has an enrollment of fewer than 800 students. Founded in 1858, it is a religious institution that retains its affiliation with the Methodist Episcopal Church. KWC moved to a new campus to make room for female students after going coed and then moved again when its enrollment outgrew its older campus. The college now offers a small number of online programs, but it also offers more than 40 programs for its on-campus students. KWC also has more than 40 organizations and clubs that students can join.
Communication Arts
One of the top options for students looking for Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky that combine religious education with communication studies is the program that KWC offers. Though the college does not use the term concentration, it allows students to pick an emphasis in one of two areas. The first is media studies, which looks at the media as a whole and how the media can communicate with the general public. KWC also offers an emphasis in advertising and public relations. This emphasis area focuses more on the skills that event planners, special coordinators and advertising professionals need in the field.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
3000 Frederica St.
Owensboro, KY 42301
(800) 999-0592
Midway University
Undergraduate Programs
Midway University has a unique history because it spent a number of decades as a college for women only. Established in 1849 as the Kentucky Female Orphan School, it originally offered classes and programs for young women who had nowhere else to go. It later shifted its focus from the high school programs originally offered to college programs that prepared women for working after they graduated. After gaining university status, it became Midway University. Midway University announced plans to admit male students in 2016, but while some men did enroll, the university still has a large number of female students.
Marketing Communications
Though many Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky offer concentrations or emphasis areas for students, Midway University is one of the only schools that offers a concentration in graphic design. Students in this concentration take courses such as Drawing, Photoshop I, Digital Animation and Applied Graphic Design. Marketing communications majors can also pick a concentration in writing. This concentration features courses like Introduction to Journalism, Advertising Writing, Political Writing and Professional Writing. The university requires that students take other communications classes too, including Consumer and Audience Analysis, Introduction to Public Relations, Writing for Marketing Communications and Advertising Principles.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
512 E. Stephens St.
Midway, KY 40347
(800) 952-4122
Morehead State University
Caudill College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Morehead State University opened in the 1880s as the Morehead Normal School, which was a training institution for teachers. After this school shut down, the state stepped in and created the Morehead State Normal School on its former campus. It also served as a teachers college and then a full college before becoming a full university. Though Morehead now offers a number of programs outside of education, it retains its reputation for its teaching programs and for being one of the top colleges in the nation for education majors. Enrollment at Morehead hit more than 10,000 in 2017.
Communication and Media
Morehead State has its own Career Development Office that provides assistance for communications graduates who need help finding jobs and applying for jobs. This office can also help students find internships with marketing agencies, publications, and corporations. As one of the top Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky, the program offers concentrations in convergent media and strategic communication. The convergent media program focuses more on digital and traditional media and encourages students to work for the university newspaper and other publications. Students in the strategic communication program learn more about the strategies that professionals use to communicate with clients and other employees.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
150 University Blvd.
Morehead, KY 40351
(800) 585-6781
Murray State University
College of Business
Murray State University is one of the top college options for Kentucky residents and students from other parts of the world. Established in 1922 as one of the new normal schools created by the state, it operated as the Murray State Normal School and then the Murray State Normal School and Teachers College. As the school shifted its curriculum to include more college programs, it became Murray State College and then Murray State University. Many now call it Murray State or MSU. U.S. News & World Report included Murray State on its list of the top regional colleges for more than 20 years in a row.
Graphic Communications Media
Murray State University offers a number of opportunities for communications majors and some fun classes for those students too. Traditional students follow a four-year plan, but the university also has a partnership with the Kentucky Community and Technical School (KCTS) that allows students to transfer to the university from that school and graduate in only two years. Its graphic communications media program features five tracks that students can follow to graduate with more experience in one specific area. These tracks include advertising, graphic communications media, journalism, public relations and television production, which allows students to work for the campus TV station.
Organizational Communication
The organizational communication program that Murray State offers is better suited for students who want to work in the business sector. Students learn how to lead others and communicate as a leader, work in small teams to get tasks done, present their work in a public setting and find solutions to conflicts. Some of the students in this program actually work full-time and take classes on a part-time basis. This Bachelor of Science program includes courses like Communication Foundation and Theory, Introduction to Sport Communication, Communication and Critical Thought, Contemporary Issues in Communications and Communication Skills for Professionals.
Undergraduate Program in Communication Disorders
Students who hope to one day work in audiology or pathology fields need to look for Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky with an emphasis on communication disorders like this undergraduate program available through Murray State. This four-year program features a number of science courses that give students the strong backgrounds that they need to study at the graduate level. All students will do at least 25 hours of observation work that allows them to gain some practical experience. Though the program is also available as a BA program, both feature similar courses like Introduction to Communication Disorders and Pediatric Speech Disorders.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
102 Curris Center
Murray, KY 42071
800) 272-4678
It’s important that students consider things such as the types of classes offered and the internships that other students did in the past before picking a degree program. The top Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky offer a number of opportunities for students on their campuses and off like internships and co-op programs.
Continue here: Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in Kentucky (N-Z)