Oklahoma has a population of roughly 4 million. Ever since a dip in the late 1980s, that population has continued to rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that communications jobs are increasing either at an average rate or faster than average. Technical writers are increasing at a rate of 11 percent annually, for example.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most communications workers in the State of Oklahoma stand to earn $49,900 annually their first year in the business.
First, see: Bachelor’s in Communications Programs in Oklahoma (A-Q)
Rogers State University
Department of Communications
U.S. News and World Report ranks Rogers State University No. 28 in the West Region. A little fewer than 4,000 students study at this school that covers 160 acres in Claremore, which is a suburb of Tulsa. Indeed, the university is one of the only four-year institutions within the Tulsa metropolitan area. Rogers State University also provides distance learners with opportunities to pursue their degrees.
Bachelor of Arts in Communications
Rogers State University stresses the importance of critical thinking skills in all of its programs. Students studying communication not only learn theory and interpretive skills but also real-world, practical techniques. The school also has a novel approach in developing elocution and speaking skills: theater. Communications students study on the stage and develop interpersonal skills. Many also minor in theater or a related field.
Accreditation
•The Higher Learning Commission
Contact
1701 W. Will Rogers Boulevard
Claremore, OK 74017
(918) 343-7777
admissions@rsu.edu
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Department of Communications
Southeastern Oklahoma State University has earned ranking of No. 96 in the Southwest Region from U.S. News and World Report. It is a small, close-knit community of some 3,200 combined students and faculty. The 269-acre campus in Durant is home to a 30-percent Native American student population. The university is one of the only schools in the country to offer a course of study in Native American leadership.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication with an emphasis in Organizational and Strategic Communication Online
At Southeastern Oklahoma State University, this degree is offered 100-percent online. The 124-credit course focuses both on the present and past and includes such classes as Great Speeches of the 20th Century and Argumentation and Advocacy. The general education class work includes American History and Political Science. Communications is a field with many applications, and as such, provides students studying communications with the opportunity to select a related minor to broaden their horizons.
Accreditation
•The Higher Learning Commission
•Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
425 West University Boulevard
Durant, OK 74701
(580) 745-2000
registrarmba@se.edu
Southern Nazarene University
Division of Cultural and Communication Studies
In the small town of Bethany, Oklahoma, Southern Nazarene University gets students started on their careers in print, audio, or video communication. U.S. News and World Report issued a ranking of between No. 97 and No. 127 for Southern Nazarene University in 2018. As the name implies, the school is affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, and all of its instruction is based upon Christian precepts.
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
In addition to providing the standard postsecondary education in communications, along with state-of-the-art equipment upon which to work, Southern Nazarene University gives students the chance to study filmmaking in Australia, Washington, or Hollywood. Students must complete 120 credit hours in their communications major and may select a minor field too.
Accreditation
•The Higher Learning Commission
•Oklahoma State Board of Education
Contact
6729 N.W. 39th Expressway
Bethany, OK 73008
(405) 789-6400
mmcwilli@snu.edu
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Department of Art, Communication, and Theater
U.S. News and World Report ranks Southwestern Oklahoma State University between No. 98 and No. 127 for 2018. Slightly more than 4,500 students attend this university, which has a 73-acre, rural campus in Weatherford, Oklahoma. More than two-thirds of freshmen who attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University profess satisfaction with the school.
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s communication program follows a standard 120-credit hour progression. There are three degree foci: communication studies, theater, and mass communications. Students must achieve a grade of C in all major classes regardless of overall GPA to graduate. Motivated students may also select a minor whether it is in the communications field or not, and the grade requirement applies there equally.
Accreditation
•The Higher Learning Commission
Contact
100 Campus Drive
Weatherford, OK 73096
(580) 772-6611
robin.jones@swosu.edu
University of Central Oklahoma
Department of Mass Communication
U.S. News and World Report puts the University of Central Oklahoma at No. 77 in the Southwest region. Additionally, the school received a No. 24 ranking in Top Public Schools. It is a fairly large university with more than 14,000 students. Even with that many students, the student-to-faculty ratio is 18-to-1, which indicates a fair amount of individual instruction in the communications program.
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
There are five different bachelor’s degree specializations available from the communications department. They are:
•Interpersonal communication
•Organizational communication
•Professional media
•Photographic arts
•Strategic communications
Each of these is a 124-credit hour program that highlights its focus and also provides context in both the post-college world and the field’s core curriculum. Students may also choose from among nine minors, including journalism, media studies, and public relations.
Accreditation
•The Higher Learning Commission
•Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation
Contact
100 North University Drive
Edmond, OK 73034
(405) 974-2000
onestop@uco.edu
University of Oklahoma
College of Arts and Sciences
Both in size and enrollment, the University of Oklahoma is the largest university in the state. It sprawls over more than 4,000 acres and enrolls more than 22,000 students. U.S. News and World Report ranks the university No. 124 among national universities, No. 83 among “Best Colleges for Veterans,” and No. 135 for “Best Value Schools.” In addition to its nationally ranked academics, the university also has one of the top American football teams in the country.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Students who study communications at the University of Oklahoma have many opportunities to study abroad in both English and in foreign languages. While closer to home, they study such classes as Public Speaking, Communication Theory, and Communication Research Methods. Students may also minor in a variety of subjects, such as Political Science or Sociology. Students who want to take a break from their communications studies can meander over to the National Weather Center and even conduct their own research during the summer months.
Accreditation
•The Higher Learning Commission
Contact
660 Parrinigton Oval
Norman, OK 73019
(405) 325-7710
shay.glover@ou.edu
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Department of Communication
The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is a tiny educational institution with an enrollment of just 883 students. It is quite competitive, too, with an annual acceptance rate of below 50 percent. U.S. News and World Report ranks the college at No. 173 among national liberal arts colleges and No. 162 among “High School Counselor Rankings.”
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma’s communications program focuses heavily on journalism and ethics. The curriculum is eclectic, as well, and offers classes in photography, philosophy, news broadcasting, and graphic design. To help with interpersonal skill development, most of the professors also subscribe to the theory that humor fosters not only good communication but also a relaxed atmosphere for learning. Minor fields of study are also popular among students, and the required level of achievement is the same as that for their major fields.
Accreditation
•The Higher Learning Commission
Contact
1727 West Alabama
Chickasha, OK 73018
(405) 574-1357
cperri@usao.edu
University of Tulsa
College of Health Sciences
The University of Tulsa is nationally ranked No. 106 by U.S. News and World Report. That publication also ranked the university at No. 114 for “Best Value Schools” and No. 68 for “Best Colleges for Veterans.” The university only accepts four in 10 of applicants. Currently, slightly more than 3,000 students attend, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 11-to-1.
Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
The communications focus at the University of Tulsa is slightly different than that at other schools. The focus is on communication disorders and their associated treatments. The courses are also geared toward graduate school preparation, including the practicum in the on-campus speech lab where students in their senior year will work with actual patients. The University of Tulsa also prepares a secondary transcript when students graduate, and this transcript lists all real-world and co-curricular skills the student obtained at the school.
Accreditation
•The Higher Learning Commission
Contact
800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104
9918) 631-2000
admission@utulsa.edu
The varied world of communications, which includes both study and application in the “real world,” offers challenges to make the world a better place and help the 7 billion people on this planet speak to and relate with each other. These eight schools, with their commitment to fine education and innovation, all have similar philosophies toward the betterment of communication and the improvement of ethics in the field.