Communication

The communication major at Mount Mary University helps you develop practical skills and knowledge about effective communication methods, strategies and techniques. The curriculum allows you to choose courses that match your career interests.

All communication majors are required to complete an internship and complete a capstone project that includes preparation of a professional portfolio and a social justice project.

Admission & Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

The credits required for a Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree depends the area of concentration that you choose. You also must complete the university’s core curriculum requirements. All courses are taught by faculty, not by teaching assistants. See the communication curriculum sheet.

Complete degree requirements and a listing of courses are available in the Undergraduate Bulletin (PDF).

Some academic programs require a GPA higher than what is required for general admission to Mount Mary University. Contact your admission counselor for more information.

Communication Minor Requirements

A communication minor is an excellent addition to any major. You can gain communication skills and expertise—important for any profession. You also have the flexibility to choose from all communication courses to model your minor with your professional interests and goals.

Consult the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details on requirements and courses for this minor.

Communication Student Learning Outcomes

Our program combines a strong liberal arts foundation with coursework designed to provide theoretical and practical knowledge of communication.  Not only will you acquire a broad base of communication skills to enter communication-related careers, but you will be able to critically engage in the public arena and  use your communication skills to advance social justice locally, national and internationally.

We want our students ready to engage in their professions and to be active, engaged citizens.  Therefore, students in the communication program will:

• Apply communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts.
• Use elements of effective communication with diverse audiences.
• Create messages appropriate to audience purpose and context.
• Understand and practice ethical communication.
• Analyze interpersonal, organizational and mediated discourse.
• Understand the impact of communication on the individual, organizations, and society.

Faculty

The School of Arts and Sciences at Mount Mary is rich with talented faculty who care about their students.

All areas of concentration require courses in communication theory and research methods.

You can select a course of study in one of four areas of concentration:

Communication Studies (37 credits) – Provides you with a foundation of communication knowledge and skills to explore a wide range of social, cultural, organizational and interpersonal communication professions. The communication professional operates in a variety of settings and has the flexibility to advance in many different communication occupations.

Health Communication (39 credits) – Provides you with the skills, knowledge and experience needed to understand how health and behavior are shaped by communication, information and technology. A health communication specialist is interested in improving health communication at the individual and community level.

Pre-MPH Health Communication (54 credits) – Study the vital field of health communication as you work toward your master’s in public health. Learn how to create and deliver health campaigns. Understand what messages motivate people to change their behavior. Analyze crisis and risk communication to strategically improve health outcomes. Health communication provides an excellent foundation for the future public health professional.

A communication degree gives you the flexibility to create a successful career in a variety of professions. Salaries for communications majors average $62,427 per year, according to ZipRecruiter.com (2021). Salaries depend on job type and industry, and could include positions such as:

• Advertising and sales
• Corporate communications specialist
• Digital marketing
• Health educator
• Human resources
• Human resources
• Internal Communications
• Marketing specialist
• Media relations specialist
• Non-profit administration
• Patient advocate
• Political campaign coordinator
• Public relations professional
• Social media specialist
• Special events planner
• Speech copywriter or editor
• Training and development specialist
• Wellness coordinator

Practice Your Craft in College

Internships provide you with practical experience to develop your professional skills and are great ways to start building a network. All communication majors are required to complete an internship prior to graduation.

Our students have gained practical and professional experience at the following companies:

• American Heart Association
• AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin
• Aurora Health Care
• Boss Snowplow
• Children’s Hospital
• Harley-Davidson Motor Company
• JDRF
• Johnson Controls
• Kohl’s
• Marcus Corporation
• Medical College of Wisconsin
• Milwaukee Public Museum
• Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Northwestern Mutual
• Summerfest
• V100 Radio
• WTMJ-Channel 4

Hone your leadership and networking skills through many student clubs and organizations at Mount Mary University, including the Communications Club, the communications national honor society Lambda Pi Eta or Arches student newspaper.

Communication Club

Empowering Voices is Mount Mary University's student communication club. The club operates as a three pronged Social, Service, and Networking club, and aims to be a resource for the MMU student body. Empowering Voices plans events around these three areas aiming to give the MMU student body a chance to acclimate and integrate with other students, fostering a larger sense of community within the university. Follow our page on Facebook: Mount Mary University Empowering Voices! Contact Marmy Clason, faculty adviser, for more information on this club.

Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society

Lambda Pi Eta is the honor society sponsored by the National Communication Association and is an accredited member of the Association of College Honor Societies. The honor society’s mission is to recognize, foster and reward scholastic achievement while stimulating interest in the discipline of communication and public relations.

To be eligible to join Lambda Pi Eta, you must have an overall GPA of 3.0, have a major GPA of 3.25, completed at least 60 credits toward an undergraduate degree and completed at least 12 credits in communication-related courses.

Contact Marmy Clason, faculty adviser, for more information on this honor society.