Studying Communications at UND
The University of North Dakota appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Best Online Communications Degree Programs.
Established in 1883, the College of Arts & Sciences attracts over 300 University of North Dakota undergrads to the Bachelor of Arts in Communication program for multi-disciplinary exploration of what people should say when. Chaired by Dr. Timothy Pasch in Columbia Hall, the 120-credit curriculum offers six tracks: Journalism, Strategic Communications, Advertising, Public Relations, Social Media Strategy, or Digital Analytics. There’s a high 21:1 student-faculty ratio for required courses like Media Writing and Popular Culture either in Grand Forks or online via Blackboard. Majors might also intern at Leighton Broadcasting, deejay on KFJM 90.7FM, write for The Dakota Student, practice in the DigiComm Lab, attend the Writers Conference, exchange to New Zealand, and join Toastmasters.
Exclusively in Grand Forks, The University of North Dakota also admits cohorts of 10-15 for the Ph.D. Program in Communication that integrates a non-thesis Master of Arts. Directed by Dr. Soojung Kim, the 90-credit option centers on researching the complexities of oral and nonverbal language in multiple systems. Expect advanced courses like Quantitative Methods, Intercultural Global Conflict, Communication Technologies, and Media Ethics. Most complete the teaching practicum, comprehensive exam, and dissertation in five years post-bachelor’s. State-of-the-art facilities, such as the Social Science Research Institute and Institute for Philosophy in Public Life, offer unparalleled resources. Other opportunities include attending the IABC World Conference, running the UND TV Center, publishing in the Journal of Communication, adding a Social Entrepreneurship Certificate, and traveling to Spain.
About The University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota was opened in Old Main in 1884 with an inaugural class of eight, including the Roughrider State’s first female physician Dr. Cora Smith King, after George H. Walsh’s territorial bill passed. Closed during WWI and the Spanish flu, UND hit record enrollment in the 1970s with increased student activism. Now generating a $1.4 billion economic impact, The University of North Dakota is a public, space-grant RU/H member of the Summit League. Publishing North Dakota Quarterly, UND educates 14,648 Fighting Hawks, including Communications majors. Its 521-acre Red River Valley campus off Interstate 29 stocks over 1.6 million volumes in Chester Fritz Library. Linked to 50,175 LinkedIn alumni, North Dakota has trained media stars like Irv Kupcinet, Larry Watson, Maxwell Anderson, and Nicole Linkletter.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked UND the 192nd best national university, 25th most innovative college, 102nd top public school, and 66th best online educator. On Niche, North Dakota is America’s 85th best athletics college, 188th most conservative university, and 437th top academic choice. According to the CWUR, The University of North Dakota is the country’s 217th best institution with the 235th top faculty. The Princeton Review placed UND 19th for least accessible professors though. On College Factual, North Dakota is the 172nd best communications value with the 268th highest-paid alumni. Washington Monthly noticed UND for the 148th best graduation rate and 159th most PhDs. Sperling’s Best Places also listed Grand Forks as the 20th most secure city.
The University of North Dakota Accreditation Details
In March 2018, The University of North Dakota submitted to an assurance review by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) to continue its Level VI accreditation through 2023 without sanctions under president Dr. Mark Kennedy. Located over 700 miles away in Chicago, this 19-state regional agency based in Chicago is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for checking UND’s 90 baccalaureate, 67 master’s, 34 certificate, and 38 doctoral programs, even online. Zero North Dakota colleges currently hold Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) accreditation.
The University of North Dakota Application Requirements
Classified as “minimally difficult” on Peterson’s, The University of North Dakota had a Fall 2016 acceptance rate of 83 percent. First-year Fighting Hawks seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Communications must finish high school or earn GED subject scores over 145. A 14-unit secondary curriculum should be completed with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Achieving at least 18 on the ACT or 940 on the SAT is expected. Transfers who are 25+ years old or hold 24+ credits are free from exams, but a 2.0 college GPA is mandatory. The Ph.D. program requires finishing a bachelor’s or master’s with an average above 3.0. GRE scores in the 45th percentile or higher are deemed good for five years. Foreign students must be fluent in English with a 50 SPEAK score or equivalent too.
The University of North Dakota has rolling undergrad admission with a priority deadline of February 1st. Candidates for the Ph.D. Program are considered until August 1st for Fall or November 15th for Spring. Prospective students create online accounts on My GradSpace for the application. Paper copies might be mailed to Gorecki Center at 3501 University Avenue Stop 8357 in Grand Forks, ND 58202 too. Communications majors put their best foot forward with these:
- $35 nonrefundable fee
- Every official transcript
- Entrance exam scores
- One to three references
- English language proficiency
- Typed statement of interest
- 10-page writing sample (only Ph.D.)
Tuition and Financial Aid
North Dakota residents pay $362 per credit or $8,695 each year full-time for UND’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication. Non-residents are charged $864 per credit or $20,759 annually. The Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) discounts costs to $512 per credit or $12,307 yearly. Budget for the $597 student fee, $72 technology fee, and $66 Connect ND fee. Living at the Grand Forks campus’ dorms like Noren Hall adds $8,226 annual room and board. Cost of BA attendance equals $21,417 in-state and $33,017 out-of-state. The PhD Program follows graduate tuition at $404 for North Dakotans and $976 for non-residents per credit.
According to the NCES College Navigator, 51 percent of full-time UND Fighting Hawks share $28.78 million for financial aid packages worth $4,868 on average. Institutional funds include the Adrian R. Dunn Memorial Scholarship, Beulah Rom Gullekson Scholarship, Blanche Lynch Scholarship, David Beach Memorial Scholarship, E.E. Simmons Scholarship, Edward K. Lander Memorial Scholarship, and Robert J. Hagen Scholarship. PhD candidates with 3.0 GPAs qualify for graduate assistantships of 20 hours weekly. The Federal Work-Study program pays at least $7.25/hour, including in the Media Relations Department. Submitting the FAFSA after October 30th with code 003005 could unlock Pell and FSEOG Grants. Flickertail State natives may earn the North Dakota Student Incentive Grant or Tribal Higher Education Grant. Money ranked UND 309th with a median debt of $16,993 from Direct, PLUS, and private loans too.
Learn more about The University of North Dakota at the Department of Communication website.