Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky do more than just teach students how to talk with each other. These programs also look at new forms of communications such as the way people connect online and through other forms of technology. Students learn about the popular theories relating to communications and the ways in which people use the written world. Graduates of these programs find work in a number of different fields because they can use the skills they developed in a variety of ways. The top programs in Kentucky are available from colleges in larger cities like Louisville and smaller towns. For the first part of our list, don’t miss Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in Kentucky (A-M).
Northern Kentucky University
College of Informatics
Established in 1968, Northern Kentucky University is one of several regional colleges in the state that formed as a way to provide opportunities to students living in those specific regions. Like other regional colleges, NKU expanded rapidly and now sees students enroll from other parts of the United States. Forbes ranked NKU as one of the top American colleges, and U.S. News & World Report recognized the university for its affordable tuition rates. The university is just 11 miles from Cincinnati and is a common choice for Ohio residents, which is why it offers a lower tuition rate for students of that state.
Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies
One of the three Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky that NKU offers is a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies. This program looks at all the different ways in which humans interact with each other, including the written word and verbal communications. Many of the students in this program take journalism classes and/or work for the university newspaper and its other publications. NKU provides students with a four-year plan that shows them all the courses they will need to take, which include College Writing, Introduction to Communications Studies, Small Group Communications, Strategies of Persuasion and Culture and Communication.
Bachelor of Arts in Health Communication
The healthcare industry in Ohio and Kentucky keeps growing at a rapid rate, which is why the university now offers a Bachelor of Arts in Health Communication specifically for those who want to work in the healthcare field. This program prepares students for doing research in the healthcare industry and for working with other professionals as well as patients. Students will need to take courses in health and healthcare as well as some communications courses. It features classes like Introduction to Healthcare Operations, Individual and Society, Oral Communications, Foundation of Health Informatics, Multicultural Issues in Human Services and Media Skills.
Visual Communication Design, BA or BFA
Northern Kentucky University also offers a BA or a BFA in Visual Communication Design, which is a program available through its College of Arts and Sciences. All students must maintain a portfolio of the work they do in the program and present it during their sophomore years. Professors working in the department will determine if the students should remain in the program based on their work. Students can also take classes through its School of the Arts to gain stage and performance experience. This program includes courses such as Building Meaning in Visual Arts and History of Visual Communication Design.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Northern Kentucky University
Nunn Dr.
Highland Heights, KY 41099
(859) 572-5100
Simmons College of Kentucky
Academic Programs
Simmons College of Kentucky is one of the smallest colleges in the state. As a private and religious institution of higher learning, it requires that students follow some strict guidelines and regulations. Many students attend religious services several times a week too. Often called Simmons College or just Simmons, it’s one of the few colleges in the state that offers both bachelor’s degree programs and associate’s degree programs. This allows students to earn an associate’s degree in just two years and then decide whether to use their degrees to find a job or to stay and begin working on a bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor of Arts Cross-Cultural Communication
One of the only Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky with a cross-cultural focus is the program that Simmons College of Kentucky offers. This is a BA program that the college estimates most students finish in four years. As a cross-cultural program, it looks at the methods of communications that are suitable across different groups of people. Some of its graduates use their degrees to work for nonprofit organizations that support minorities or individuals living in rural areas. The program allows students to learn more about business, marketing and public relations too, which is why some of its graduates work in PR and advertising firms.
Accreditation
Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
Contact
1018 South 7th St.
Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 776-1443
Spaulding University
Communication
Spaulding University offers one of the most unique Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky because this is one of the only programs in the state that allows students to pick a concentration at the undergrad level. The university offers a business communication concentration for those who want to work in a business field and learn how to talk and share information with others. Its concentration in media studies is better suited for those who want to work in advertising or journalism. Spaulding also offers a communication studies concentration for students who want to focus solely on communications topics such as oral communication and communication theories.
Bachelor of Science in Communication
The study abroad program that Spaulding offers gives students the chance to study overseas and in another country to learn more about the communications methods used in those regions. Students in the Bachelor of Science in Communication program can sign up for a study abroad option, but these students can also do internships to see how well they can handle using the skills they learned in their classes in the real world. Though the university offers some traditional courses, it also offers more unique options. These courses allow students to study specific areas of communications such as journalism and marketing.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
901 South Fourth St.
Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 585-9911
Thomas More College
Academics
Many college programs today do not give students much freedom or flexibility beyond what electives they might take. Thomas More College offers its communications majors more freedom because it allows students to personalize the program based on their needs. Once a student completes some of the required courses, that individual can work with his or her adviser to decide which classes to take next. Students have the freedom to pick courses that relate to their future careers and to take classes that interest them. Communications majors can also do a co-op work experience or an internship to gain more hands-on experience.
Communication
In addition to internships and other practical experiences, the Thomas More College communication program is one of the only Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky that allow students to gain theater experience too. Many of its students sign up for school plays and other performances to gain experience working on stage in front of others. Its graduates develop the skills needed to work as event planners and coordinators, marketing professionals, speech writers and publicists. Some of the courses available for communication majors include Fundamentals of Public Speaking, Oral Interpretation of Literature and Introduction to Communication Literature and Research.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
333 Thomas More Parkway
Crestview Hills, KY 41017
(859) 344-3550
Transylvania University
Academic Programs
Transylvania University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state. Founded in 1780, its founders wanted to open a college that would educate students living in the area. The university was so popular during its early years that many of the prominent families living in Kentucky sent their children there to study. Financial problems arose after the Civil War that led to the university moving to a new location and raising the funds needed to construct new buildings. Transylvania University is now a private university that has an affiliation with the Disciples of Christ Christian Church.
Writing, Rhetoric and Communication Major
One unique option for students looking at Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky is the program that Transylvania University offers. It combines elements of writing and rhetoric study with communications studies. Many of the graduates of this program went on to attend some of the top graduate schools in the nation. It features courses like Cross-Cultural Communications, Voice and Interpretation, Interpersonal Communication and Gender and Communication. Transylvania University also encourages communication majors to do internships. Some of its students worked at top law firms in Kentucky and for major newspapers in the state for course credit in the past.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
300 North Broadway
Lexington, KY 40508
(859) 233-8300
Union College
Department of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts
Union College has its own Department of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts that offers a number of opportunities for communication majors. This department allows students to take classes on acting and other types of performing arts to teach them more public speaking and presenting their work in front of others. Students can also take courses in fine arts such as literature. Many communication majors also take courses on painting and drawing to learn more about using art as a communications tool. Union College encourages majors to take part in on-campus activities such as the plays and other performances put on each year.
Media Communication
Media Communication is a field of study that Union College offers as both a major and a minor. The majority of students enrolling in this program want to work in journalism fields. They take courses on how to conduct the research necessary to write reports and articles and courses that help them put their research together to write those reports. Many of the students choose to work for the campus newspaper or radio station, but media communication majors can also gain experience working in a job off the campus too. As one of the top Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky, it offers a number of internship opportunities.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
310 College St.
Barbourville, KY 40906
(800) 489-8646
University of Kentucky
College of Communication and Information
One of the top colleges in Kentucky is the University of Kentucky. Even people living outside of the state and on the opposite side of the country know this university. It is home to one of the top college basketball teams of all time. Its Wildcats made it to more Final Four tournaments and won more of those tournaments than almost any other college in history. More commonly called UK, it has a number of professional relationships that help its students find jobs and internships too. UK has organizations for communications majors and its own honors society for those students.
Communication Major
UK gives communication majors more choices than any of the other Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky do. Students can pick an emphasis area or track to follow after declaring a major in communication. Those tracks include business and organizational, health, human and digital and mass communications. Students chosen for the honors communication track will follow a slightly different path. All students will need to take five required courses before declaring a major. They’ll then take 21 credits of communication courses above the 325 level. They can take classes from any track, including Studies in Persuasion and Digital and Mass Communication Media Literacy.
Information Communication Technology Major
Information technology is a rapidly growing field, and UK now offers an information communication technology major for those who want to work in communications within the IT field. It offers tracks in commercialization for those who want to work in faster-growing sectors and a track in technology management for those who want to work as leaders in the field. Students enrolled in this program must demonstrate that they are component in different Microsoft programs and go through training on how to use those programs. This provides students with experience using popular programs like PowerPoint and Excel.
Integrated Strategic Communication Major
The University of Kentucky also offers an integrated strategic commercialization major for those who want to work in advertising, marketing and related fields. Though students take the same required courses, they can pick a track to follow in account management, direct response, public relations or creative. They will need to take at least two courses from the track they choose. Some of these tracks allow students to gain experience and class credit for doing an internship. Many tracks require that students take a course on ethics too. They need to present a portfolio at the end of the semester to pass this class.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506
(859) 257-9000
University of Louisville
Department of Communication
The University of Louisville ranks among the top public colleges in Kentucky, but it also ranks as one of the best schools in the country. Usually called UL, it is a major employer in Louisville. Many of its students either work part-time jobs while in school or do some type of internship to gain more experience. UL has a strong reputation for its sports teams too. During basketball season, fans wait in long lines just to purchase tickets. This university offers one of the only Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky that allows students to earn a BA or a BS.
BA/BS Communication
Students enrolling in the University of Louisville communications program can earn either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Communication. The BS programs helps students develop the analytical thinking skills needed to work in research positions and similar jobs, while the BA program focuses more on helping students develop strong written and oral communication skills. Many of the students in this program declare a minor in film studies, but students can declare a minor in any subject. UL has its own internship portal that makes it easy for students to search and apply for available internships.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
310 Strickler Hall West
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky 40292
(502) 852-6976
University of the Cumberlands
Academics
The University of the Cumberlands offers two of the top Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky that it combines into a single program. This allows students to choose between earning a BA degree and earning a BS degree. The BS version of the program includes more science and research courses that help students develop analytical and research skills. Students enrolled in the BA version of the program will learn more about public speaking as a form of oral communication and written communication. The university has its own newspaper and offers students the chance to work for its campus radio station too.
Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts
One reason why so many students like the communication program that the University of the Cumberlands offers is because of the small class sizes. They feel like their professors actually listen to what they have to say. Small class sizes also give them the confidence to contribute in class and to form connections with their peers. Though the university offers both a BA and a BS in Communication Arts, students typically take some of the same introductory courses before taking advanced communications classes. They can take classes like Small Group Communication, Argumentation and Debate, Television Directing and Film as Art.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
6178 College Station Dr.
Williamsburg, KY 40769
(877) 713-8767
Western Kentucky University
Department of Communication
Western Kentucky University is another regional public university in the state that opened to educate the students living close to the campus. It quickly grew as students from other parts of the state applied. It now welcomes students from across America and from other countries too. Usually called WKU, the university is home to a number of clubs and organizations that communication majors join, including the Public Relations Student Society of America and American Advertising Federation. It also has its own Honors Society that invites new students majoring in a communications field with high grades to join each year.
Communication Studies Major
Though WKU allows students to take communication courses, they must declare a major in Communication Studies to gain access to the full program. The university only accepts students into this program who maintain a 2.3 GPA in their other classes. This program features a communications core that is worth 19 credits and includes classes like Advanced Public Speaking, Introduction to Communication Research Methods and Organizational Communication. These majors must take a capstone that is only open to seniors too. This course asks students to do research and present either a final paper or a project relating to a communication subject.
Corporate and Organizational Communication Major
One of the only Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky designed for those who want to work in the business industry is the Corporate and Organizational Communication Major that WKU offers. This program teaches students the communications methods that they will need to interact with professionals on the job. It emphasizes the importance of both written and oral communications. Though it features the same required courses and the same capstone as the last program, it features other courses too. Those classes include Basic Marketing Concepts, Human Resource Management, Computer-Mediated Communication, Management of Non-Profit Organizations and Managerial Accounting.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1906 College Heights Blvd.
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 745-0111
Learning how to interact with others is an important part of the college experience. This provides students with the skills they need on the job after they finish school too. Bachelor’s in Communications programs in Kentucky provide students with the valuable communications skills needed for any job.