Program Overview

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Digital and Strategic Communication at Xavier University is designed to prepare students for a rewarding career in the fast-paced, digital-first world. This innovative program combines comprehensive communication theory with essential practical skills, giving students the competitive edge needed for success.

Program Features

• Customize your academic journey: Tailor your degree to your specific career aspirations with three concentrations: Advertising, Digital Media, and Public Relations.
• Excel at audience analysis and research: Every project requires students to conduct secondary and often primary research, ensuring messages are informed, strategic, and impactful.
• Craft strategies for local companies: Build a robust portfolio through experiential learning, applying communication theory to create effective digital and offline media for real community partners.
• Develop a strong ethical foundation: The curriculum rigorously integrates ethical frameworks, challenging students to consider the moral implications of communication in every decision they make.

Curriculum

The sample course sequence for the Digital and Strategic Communication major includes:

• First Year:
  • Fall:
    • CORE 101: Transition to Xavier
    • CORE 100: First Year Seminar or THEO 111: Theological Foundations
    • COMM 101: Oral Communication or COMM 123: Intro to Comm and Media
    • PHIL 100: Ethics as Intro to Philosophy
    • Second Language Elective
    • ENGL 101: English Composition or ENGL 115: Rhetoric
  • Spring:
    • CORE 102: Beyond Your First Year
    • CORE 100: First Year Seminar or THEO 111: Theological Foundations
    • COMM 101: Oral Communication or COMM 123: Intro to Comm and Media
    • MATH 105: Fundamentals of Math or MATH 116: Elementary Statistics
    • Second Language Elective
    • Historical Perspectives
• Sophomore Year:
  • Fall:
    • COMM 206: Writing for the Media
    • ENGL 205: Literature and Moral Imagination
    • PHIL 200: Philosophical Perspectives
    • Creative Perspectives
    • Social Science Elective
  • Spring:
    • COMM 235: Digital Design
    • First COMM Specialization Course (270 or 221) or MATH 116
    • Theology Perspectives
    • Scientific Perspective
    • Humanities Elective
• Junior Year:
  • Fall:
    • COMM 329: Audience Survey and Research
    • First or second COMM Specialization Course
    • Diversity Flag Elective
    • Natural Science Elective
    • General Elective
  • Spring:
    • COMM Production Elective
    • Second or third COMM Specialization Course
    • General Elective
    • General Elective
    • General Elective
• Senior Year:
  • Fall:
    • COMM 477: Strat Comm Ethics Society
    • Third COMM Specialization Course or General Elective
    • COMM Special Topics Elective
    • General Elective
    • General Elective
  • Spring:
    • COMM 449
    • General Elective
    • General Elective
    • General Elective
    • General Elective

Outcomes

98% of Xavier students are working, volunteering, or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2023).

Career Opportunities

• Communications Specialist
• Content Coordinator
• Marketing Coordinator
• Public Relations Manager
• Recruiter
• Social Media Marketing Assistant

Recent Alumni Employers

• Disney
• Procter & Gamble
• ESPN
• Fifth Third Bank
• NCAA
• Macy's
• Amazon
• Four Entertainment Group
• Total Quality Logistics
• Mercy Health
• ABC

Sample Courses

Writing for the Media (COMM 206)

Learn to craft compelling messages for various media platforms, including traditional print, broadcast, and digital channels. This introductory workshop focuses on developing journalistic, news-style, and feature writing skills, alongside styles used in advertising and public relations.

Digital Design (COMM 235)

Gain essential hands-on training in Adobe Photoshop software. This course provides students with the foundational knowledge to begin creating stunning digital designs.

Audience Survey & Research (COMM 329)

This course provides a comprehensive overview of how to gather, analyze, and apply audience-related information to build successful campaigns. Students learn about research design, sampling, data collection, and statistical analysis, with a focus on quantitative and qualitative methods common in communication, including broadcast ratings and syndicated research.

Strategic Communication Ethics & Society (COMM 477)

Explore the crucial ethical and legal principles that guide responsible strategic communication practices in American society. This comprehensive course examines the professional responsibilities and societal impact of communication professionals.

Clubs

• The Advertising Club
• Film & Television Club
• Xavier Marketing Club
• Public Relations Student Society of America

Related Programs

Related Majors

• BA in Communication Studies
• BA in Digital Innovation, Film & Television
• BSBA in Marketing
• BS in Sport Marketing

Related Minors

• Business Analytics
• Communication Studies
• Digital Innovation, Film & Television
• Political Communication
• Writing

About Xavier University

Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."