Communication, Bachelor of Science

(Students who plan to transfer a completed Associate's degree should review the Communication Completion Degree information below.)

A Degree for the 21st-Century

The Bachelor of Science degree in Communication provides students a choice of three concentrations:  Digital Journalism, Public Relations and Strategic Communication, and Visual Communication, with embedded certificates:  Technical Communication, Social Media, and Graphic Design.  This multidisciplinary program draws upon courses from multiple colleges, providing students the expertise needed to develop highly desirable skills from the College of Technology in visual communication, digital publishing, and multimedia design, with classes from the College of Business in marketing and public relations and the College of Technology in technical and news writing, social media, communication theory, and media studies.

Program Philosophy and Objectives

This career-oriented program is practical in its approach rather than theoretical. It caters to the 21st-century Communications professional. It serves the new or veteran Communication practitioner and satisfies the Wilmington University mission by offering real-life skills that stimulate competitiveness in the variety of communication skills. The communication courses are taught by highly qualified faculty who are practitioners in the field. By utilizing the rich experience of actual communication practitioners, students are prepared to begin or continue their careers.

Students entering the degree program with a work background in a communication field may be considered for competency-based credit. Students new to the communication world have the advantage of earning college credit while working through our work-integrated learning program.

After completing their chosen course of study, which includes - depending on the concentration - a certificate in technical communication, social media, or graphic design, graduates of a Communication degree may find positions in a number of specialty areas in the communication field.  These can include electronic publishing, graphic design, journalism, public relations, broadcasting, multimedia, social media, and public relations, as well as technical communication, public service, and more.

Students can specialize in:

Digital Journalism

Digital Journalism is a large and dynamic work arena where messages are created by professionals on behalf of an organization to efficiently and ethically deliver information to a target audience. Professionals in this field have strong strategic thinking and persuasive skills and are successful in disseminating information to an audience using a combination of information delivery formats, including print, broadcast, and digital. Digital Journalism provides a two-way interactive relationship between the consumer and the information provider. Professionals also know how to monitor an audience’s response in order to maintain a positive connection with that audience. Students in the Digital Journalism concentration sharpen their skills through practical experience inside and outside the classroom in preparation for an exciting and competitive 21st century job market. 

This concentration includes an embedded undergraduate certificate in Technical Communication, including one course that offers training for an optional professional certification as Certified Professional Technical Communicator ^TM(CPTC ^TM).  In addition, with an additional 15-18 free electives, students may add a second certificate of their choice, a minor, or, if meeting certain requirements, may elect to take an accelerated to master's degree option of two Master's of Science in Management Business Communication graduate courses.

Graduates of this concentration may find opportunities in corporate communication, technical communication, journalism, digital publishing, and more.

Public Relations and Strategic Communication

Public Relations and Strategic Communication is the crafting of recognizable and memorable marketing, advertising, and public relations messages using multiple media formats. The goal is to create a “brand” that is seamless to the customer. Whether the customer is being exposed to the message through print, broadcast, or digital formats, the professional strives to create a brand that is unforgettable. The PRSC objective is to have all of the various modes connect, both visually and logically, in a way that serves both the customer and the business. Students in the PRSC concentration study and produce marketing, advertising, and public relations plans, presentations, and reports to help them compete in the 21st-century marketplace. 

This concentration includes an embedded undergraduate certificate in Social Media.  In addition, with an additional 15-18 free electives, students may add a second certificate of their choice, a minor, or, if meeting certain requirements, may elect to take an accelerated to master's degree option of two Master's of Science in Management Business Communication graduate courses.

Graduates of this concentration may find opportunities in corporate communication and management, digital publishing, public relations, strategic communication, and more.

Visual Communication

Visual Communication is a growing field, and employment of graphic media designers is projected to grow through 2026.  Those earning this degree may work as art directors, who design the vision for a product or work of art, including advertising, publications, video games, theater, and film; multimedia artists and designers, who combine visual art with a variety of forms, such as sound, storytelling, or animation, and may work as special effects artists, 3D animators, and game designers; or graphic designers, who visually communicate ideas and messages for commercial or promotional purposes.  Using words, images, and symbols, these designers tweak style elements - such as color and typography - to create posters, logos, packaging, and other products.

This concentration includes an embedded undergraduate certificate in Graphic Design.  In addition, with an additional 15-18 free electives, students may add a second certificate of their choice, a minor, or, if meeting certain requirements, may elect to take an accelerated to master's degree option of two Master's of Science in Management Business Communication graduate courses.

Graduates of this concentration may find opportunities in business communication and management, graphic design, multimedia, special effects, logo and brand development, packaging, storytelling, visual art and animation, visual communication, and more.

Program Competencies

In addition to the University’s undergraduate graduation competencies, students will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities related to:

Digital Journalism

Apply current digital communication process in the 21st-century media marketplace.

Demonstrate critical thinking through creative problem solving in digital journalism projects from inception to completion.

Engage in ethical Digital Communication behavior.

Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Integrate imagery, such as logos, ads, and design/visual elements of film, television, and the Internet that capture appropriate audience attention.

Apply current industry standards for Public Relations and Strategic Communication utilizing the web, video, and imagery.

Engage in ethical Public Relation and Strategic Communication behavior.

Visual Communication

Design visual communication products that capture audience attention with branding, packaging, spatial design, publication design, and typeface design.

Deliver professional communication products using appropriate communication tools and techniques.

Create innovative design solutions that communicate to a given audience.

Engage in ethical Visual Communication behavior.