Communications Degree Online Mid-America Christian University (MACU)

Communication Career Opportunities

Advertising Creative
Brand Manager
Broadcaster
Content Creator
Editor
Freelance Writer or Journalist
Marketing Specialist
Podcaster or Webcaster
Public Relations or Social Media Specialist
Speech Writer
Technical Writer

A Communications Degree That Opens Career Doors You May Have Never Considered

A communication degree could be the starting point that lands you a career you can’t even imagine today. That’s because communication is a skill valued across every industry and at every job level. It’s also a necessary part of the growth of every profession. Direct growth within the communication and media fields is expected to be 14 percent during the next decade as the demand for communication specialists continues to rise.

At Mid-America Christian University (MACU), the communications degree consists of a three-tiered program divided into media studies, public relations, and social media. Students learn the skills needed to master emerging communication channels to ensure their words stand out on crowded platforms. The program reaches beyond the theoretical. Practical applications include the ongoing creation of a digital portfolio of work. Graduates have the skills required to write for websites, blogs, advertising agencies, and PR firms among the thousands of options open to communication degree holders.

Communication is also available as a concentration as part of either a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or a Bachelor of Science in Management & Ethics.

Online

On Campus

A BS in Communications Degree Completed Online Is a Natural Fit

Online learning is not new to MACU. It’s been a part of the university since 2008. Your degree is earned one five-week course at a time, taken in consecutive order. It’s a simple step-by-step program that can fit into any busy schedule.

When you consider the volume of communication taking place online in the world today, it seems only fitting that your degree in communication revolves around online courses designed to propel you forward in a growing field. You’ll gain an understanding of and confidence in the rapidly changing communication landscape, from digital writing to social media management. The goal is a methodical, forward momentum on your career path.

Here’s how MACU saves you money and helps you complete your degree faster online:

Earn as many as 30 credits for life experience
Apply your military service and training as course credits
Free placement testing
Student services and tutoring available every step of the way
Upfront costs are minimal, including no initial book fees

Prep for Wide Range of Careers with On-campus Bachelor’s Degree in Communication

The demand for those who excel at communication is universal. Regardless of what career path lies ahead, MACU’s BS in Communication, Media, and Ethics is a launchpad toward success. The work students do on this degree is only enhanced by the social opportunities on campus, from sports to faith-based clubs and groups. Add in a caring faculty team and the scene is set for growth, both intellectual and spiritual.

And it all takes place in the heart of Oklahoma City with its strong job market and a strong Christian community. Activities in the city include national sports teams, vibrant downtown shopping and eateries, and outdoor adventures that range from hiking to whitewater rafting.

Additional advantages of an on-campus degree program at MACU include:

A streamlined degree completion plan that’s affordable
Low faculty-to-student ratio
A campus that values safety and security
Support services, including tutoring, so students can thrive
Recreational, academic, and faith-based activities and groups
Competitive sports and esports teams

A Communications Degree with Ethics at Its Core

We live in a world where communication is valued but treated with a great deal of skepticism. What better way to move forward with your communication career goals than with a Christ-centered degree giving you the ethical edge employers are seeking.

MACU programs, both online and on-campus, create leaders with strength of character as well as intellect. Dedication to Christ shines through in all our coursework, in our instructors, and in our student body.

MACU is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).

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Major Courses

COMM 2113

Media Culture and Social Influence

This course encourages students to examine and analyze the media’s influence on groups and individuals in today’s society. Students will expand their media literacy through a critical evaluation of mass media including, but not limited to journalism, television, the entertainment industry, publishing, advertising, radio, and social media. Traditional media will be examined as well as rapid technology. By course end, students will have
a firm understanding of mass communication as a social, political, cultural and economic force in modern society.

COMM 2123

Introduction to Computer Mediated Communication

Introduction to Computer Mediated Communication (or CMC) will immerse students in a deeper understanding of the practical, professional, and scholarly uses and approaches to understanding how communication not only functions but also continually evolves in an increasingly digitized world. Courses will explore theoretical foundations in CMC, with discussions and assignments bent toward applying knowledge of CMC toward corporate and social situations

COMM 2143*

Digital Media Literacy

Digital Media Literacy offers a foundational introduction into better understanding how mass media and mediums create, disseminate, and even manipulate knowledge and information, for good and for ill. Students will engage a survey of broad readings designs to deepen visual, cultural, and linguistic “literacy” as a method for better understanding how the Internet and digital cultures function to shape communication. Assignments and readings intentionally reflect the messy nature of contemporary media, and students will gain access and exposure to a wide spectrum that combines digital journalism with scholarly publication.

COMM 2803

Writing for Mass and Social Media

This course serves as an introduction to and an examination of the various writing styles and techniques required by communication professionals in our digital age. Students will learn how to meet the demands of the marketplace for persuasive, professional writing skills for broadcast, print, web, or social media. Careful attention will be given to the roles of informing, persuading, and motivating while learning to communicate with clarity and impact. Includes basic interview skills and an introduction to journalistic ethics.

COMM 3213*

Organizational and Professional Communication

COMM 3233

Media Law and Ethics

Students will be introduced to legal and ethical practices in the public relations discipline. Copyright, liability, and contracts in public relations will be emphasized.

COMM 3433

Media Studies in Research and Design

Students will use client interview skills and subsequent research to develop strategies to meet identified public relations needs for a client assigned to the student. The results of the research are used to design specific,
implementable components of a public relations campaign that will be presented to the client for approval. Clear, measurable goals of the public relations campaign will be articulated. The course will culminate in a draft of a contract for public relations work between the student and the client.

COMM 3533*

Public Relations, Advertising, and Brand Management

Students will oversee the implementation of the public relations campaign components designed in COMM 3433. Elements of the campaign will be assigned to students in other relevant courses. The COMM 3533 student will be responsible for establishing timelines, working with other students who are engaged in implementing the campaign components, maintaining communication with the client, and generally overseeing the progress of the campaign.

COMM 4413

Communication and Cultural Change

This course provides a study of the emerging role of communication as a means to facilitate social, economic and political change in society. Theories from interpersonal and organizational communication will be examined, as will case studies of persuasive strategies employed in recent social movements here in America and abroad.

COMM 4513

Digital Persuasion, in the Social Media Age

This course examines the theories and practices of communication that affect change in society and how people think, feel, and act toward another entity (person, organization, idea, group, or product, etc.). Students will examine persuasion campaigns and strategies while being exposed to the social, scientific, and interpersonal theories and their social influences.

COMM 4603*

Creating Social Media Presence and Cultural Movements

This course reviews one of the most significant shifts in consumer media behavior in history, social media. Students will develop the practical knowledge required to create and manage a successful social media presence; learn new definitions of “community” in a digital culture; and learn to use this media to move constituents toward their cause or to act on their organization’s behalf. Theories of motivation and influence will be examined.

COMM 4803

Media Studies, Public Relations, Social Media Capstone

This course is designed to provide leadership level application experience for the communication major emphasizing public relations. Students will work in public relations campaigns at a design and directing level. Weekly participation in internship group with other student-interns and a communication faculty member is an integral part of this course.

COMM Electives

COMM 3143

Internship

Internship hours provide a crucial link between core tenets of higher education, professional development, and the unique advantages that real-world experience provides students in an operational environment. The goal for any internship is to expand a student’s conceptualization of and familiarity with onsite labor demands in an area compatible with a student’s degree program. Enrolling in internship hours, students will work with their advisor-instructor on a plan for a pre-approved short-term partnership with a business-organization, including mapping clear expectations, methods for accountability, and direct reporting of observational and/or direct labor experiences.

COMM 3153

Internship II

COMM 3343

Directed Readings

Directed Readings allows students to deepen their specialized knowledge in an area of interest that expands upon a previously introduced topic that is not the primary emphasis of another course or curriculum offered during a student’s period of enrollment. The directed readings packet should be agreed upon in advance and arranged between the student, their advisor, the program director, or a combination of parties working to meet the individual’s needs. Parties involved will prioritize academic rigor. Students are expected to produce one or more written projects to meet the successful completion of the directed readings course cycle.

COMM 3443

Special Project

The Special Project course affords students a unique opportunity to focus exclusively on larger written or multimedia projects intended to enhance the quality and quantity of their Digital Media Portfolio, a requisite component of the Communication, Media, and Ethics degree program. Students will identify a project of interest that meets the criteria for either scholarly interest or professional development. Students will substantially progress their original project over the duration of the course. Ultimately, enrollees must present their findings or final project in a live audience or pre-recorded format, in addition to the submission of the special project materials for course credit.

COMM 3603

Mass Communication Perspectives

This course examines the relationships between media, culture, and society, and reveals how various media platforms are used to influence individuals, groups, and society at large. Students will be exposed to the roles and responsibilities of media in relation to societal, political, and economic institutions, Close attention will be given to the media’s influence on human behavior, including voting behaviors, and violent and antisocial behavior.

COMM 3613

Intercultural and Cybercultural Communication

The rise of digital communication has made it possible for companies and organizations to form partnerships worldwide. This course examines the theories and provides essential skills for effective communication between individuals and groups from different cultures. Students will learn to think and communicate in global contexts and learn to appreciate and respect cultural differences. Experts in the field will address how to people and organizations from diverse communities can work together effectively. Special consideration will be given to recognizing and evaluating the behavioral, communicative, political, religious, and ethical issues.

COMM 3903*

Integrated Marketing and Public Relations

This course goes deeper into the functions of public relations to expose students to advanced functions of the PR professional including: strategic messaging; corporate communication; influencing and measuring public opinion; story and pitch presentations; campaign planning and management; risk and crisis management; and reputation and brand management, among others. Particular attention is given to the methods and processes of building support for a cause, movement, organization, or institution and moving constituents toward a desired goal.

COMM 4103*

Special Topics in Media Studies

Special Topics in Media Studies is intentionally designed as a rotating survey course that specializes in a niche area of media studies. The course presents students an opportunity to engage media studies at a deeper level, whether understanding and assessing media from the position of content, context, audiences, or industries. Special Topics in Media Studies will enhance critical thinking and analytic skills and teach students how to shift media consumption from a passive leisurely activity to an active socially engaged role.

COMM 4203

Special Topics in Media Studies II

Special Topics in Media Studies II provides a dynamic atmosphere where students gain exposure to a singular focus area in media. Enrollees then develop a multimedia project that demonstrates knowledge about the topic and familiarity with why this media sustains market interest with creators, producers, investors, and stakeholders. Students will have the opportunity to work individually or in groups to develop one or more projects that immerse enrollees in problem-solving situations that require diverse media production techniques. COMM 4213 Special Topics II does not require pre-enrollment in or completion of COMM 4103 Special Topics in Media Studies.

*Courses are required for an optional concentration in Communication in one of the following Bachelor’s degree programs:

Bachelor of Science, Communication, Media, and Ethics