Program Overview

Program Overview

The Communication Studies program at Xavier University is designed to help students understand, analyze, and master the art of human connection. The program provides deep insights and practical proficiencies necessary for students to succeed as communications professionals.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Communication Studies major is as follows:

• First Year:
  • Fall:
    • Core 101: GOA (0cr.)
    • Comm 101 (OC Flag) or Comm 123 (3cr.)
    • English Composition or Rhetoric (3cr.)
    • Second Language Elective (3cr.)
    • Core 100: First-Year Seminar or Theo 111 Theological Fundations (3cr.)
    • Math 105 (Math at placement level) or Math 116 (Math Perspectives) (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • Core 102: GOA (0cr.)
    • Comm 101(OC Flag) or Comm 123 (3cr.)
    • Historical Perspectives (3cr.)
    • Second Language Elective (3cr.)
    • Core 100: First-Year Seminar of Theo 111 Theological Foundations (3cr.)
    • Philosophy 100: Ethics as Introduction to Philosophy (3cr.)
• Sophomore:
  • Fall:
    • Communications Arts Course (3cr.)
    • Creative Perspectives (3cr.)
    • Philosophy 200: Philosophical Perspectives (3cr.)
    • Social Science Elective (3cr.)
    • Quantitative Reasoning Flag (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • Communication 206: Writing Flag (3cr.)
    • English 205: Literature & the Moral Imagination (3cr.)
    • Theology Perspective (Theo 200+) (3cr.)
    • Scientific Perspectives (3cr.)
    • Natural Science Elective (3cr.)
• Junior:
  • Fall:
    • Communication Arts Course (3cr.)
    • Communication Arts Course (3cr.)
    • Solidarity and Kinship Flag (Comm 323, 324 or other) (3cr.)
    • E/R & Focus Flag (Comm 477) (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • Communication Arts Course (3cr.)
    • Communication Arts Course (3cr.)
    • Humanities Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
• Senior:
  • Fall:
    • Communication Arts Course (3cr.)
    • Communication Arts Course (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • Communication Arts Course (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)

Outcomes

98% of Xavier students, including those in the communication studies major, are working, volunteering, or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2023). Exciting job opportunities include:

• Communications Specialist
• Content Coordinator
• Freelance Graphic Designer
• Marketing Coordinator
• Public Relations Manager
• Recruiter
• Social Media Marketing Assistant Alumni have gone on to work at:
• Procter & Gamble
• ESPN
• Fifth Third Bank
• NCAA
• Macy's
• Amazon
• Four Entertainment Group
• Total Quality Logistics
• Mercy Health
• ABC

Sample Courses

• Organizational Communication (COMM 260): A comprehensive examination of organization theories and essential concepts, providing a framework to address contemporary communication challenges.
• Persuasion (COMM 264): Empowers students as informed consumers of information, providing them with the tools to analyze, respond to, and craft persuasive messages effectively.
• Interpersonal Conflict Management (COMM 327): Delve into the intricate processes underlying conflict and gain insight into evaluating different conflict styles.
• Senior Seminar (COMM 469): Integrate concepts and experiences throughout the communication studies major and liberal arts core to develop an original project for a real-world client with deliverables suitable for student portfolios.

Clubs

• The Advertising Club: Specializes in uniting creativity and advertising within the Xavier Community.
• Business Leaders for Tomorrow: Explore business processes firsthand by networking with and learning from various business leaders in Cincinnati and beyond.
• Film & Television Club: Produce a weekly news broadcast, including a sports segment, with the entire show being produced by students.
• Xavier Marketing Club: Associated with the American Marketing Association, offering students the opportunity to gain a broader, realistic, and practically oriented exposure to marketing activities.
• Public Relations Student Society of America: Focuses on career-building skills such as networking, personal branding, campaign planning, fundraising, event planning, mentoring, and strategic community outreach.

Related Programs

Related Majors

• BA in Digital Innovation, Film and Media
• BA in English
• BA in International Studies
• BA in Marketing
• BA in Political Science

Related Minors

• Digital Media
• Business
• Entrepreneurship

Related Graduate Programs

• Master of Business Administration

Program Features

• Gain real-world experience: Craft deliverables tailored to meet real-world client needs, resulting in a strong portfolio and invaluable real-world experience.
• Learn from expert faculty: Professors who are experts in their fields, bringing real-world insights into every classroom.
• Located in a city of opportunity: Cincinnati provides an extraordinary environment for communication students to gain practical experience.
• Education for the greater good: Rooted in Xavier's Jesuit tradition, the program emphasizes ethical communication practices, preparing students to be responsible and compassionate leaders in their chosen field.

Alumni Making an Impact

• Damon Jones: Chief Communications Officer at Procter & Gamble, leveraging P&G's influence as a force for good.
• Isaac Fiely: Content Creator for Xavier University Athletics, started as a student content creator and moved to a full-time gig covering the Musketeers.
• Adoria Maxberry: Owner/Artist at Most OutGROWING LLC, created her own arts company focused on helping students of all ages grow through artistic expression.

Faculty Spotlight

• Wendy Maxian, Ph.D: Research highlights how people connect with the media they consume, studying media psychology, particularly the emotional ties individuals have to content.

FAQ

• What jobs does the communication studies major prepare students for?
  • A degree in communication studies opens up a wide range of career opportunities, including:
    • Marketing and Advertising
    • Media and Journalism
    • Human Resources
• What skills do communication studies majors gain?
  • Effective Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Problem-Solving
  • Adaptability
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Research and Analysis
  • Public Speaking
  • Cultural Awareness
  • Technological Proficiency
  • Creative Thinking
• Does Xavier offer an honors program for communication studies majors?
  • Yes, the University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.