Communication Degree

Command the attention of a room

Communication is the driving force behind a successful workplace. From public relations to advertising, it takes skill and drive to convey your message to an audience.

With a degree in communications from Indiana University Kokomo, you’ll prepare for your future by learning to connect, network and build relationships. Our program is a broad-based liberal arts program, giving you plenty of freedom to choose the courses that pique your interests, as you study the nature, process, and effect of successful messaging.

Explore our degrees

Bachelor of Arts in Communication

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication develops a broad knowledge of communication in a variety of written and oral formats within the academic discipline and related professions. The Bachelor of Arts degree differs from the Bachelor of Science by incorporating a broader focus in the liberal arts, and by providing more freedom in course selection.

Bachelor of Science in Communication

You will gain a broad knowledge of communication in a variety of written and oral formats within the academic discipline and related professions.


To find out what the next four years might look like while studying for these degrees, explore sample degree maps and schedule a visit with an advisor today.

A Communications Degree from IU Kokomo can take you anywhere

Watch the Communications Degree video with descriptive audio.

Description of the video:

Communication Degree Transcript – July 2021

An aerial shot of New York City is seen on a smartphone sitting on a desk. A voice is heard as the video zooms into the smartphone and then you see the face of the voice, Sydney McIlrath on camera.

A series of interviews follow about Communication Arts at Indiana University Kokomo takes place.

Alumna Sydney McIlrath sits on campus with the Main Building behind her as she speaks.

Sydney McIlrath (SM): The trip to New York City definitely changed my life.

Isaac Beechy sits on campus with Hunt Hall behind him as he speaks.

Isaac Beechy (IB): We did a ton of fun things like going to a Broadway show. We did the 911 museum.

Sydney McIlrath continues:

SM: Probably going to NBC studios. We even went to the Nasdaq and talked to some people there who had communications degrees. We got to see the behind the scenes of a lot of things. And it was like “someone with a communications degree does this?” and you're like… “okay!”

Chris Darr, Professor of Communication Arts, speaks on campus with the quad behind him.

Chris Darr, Professor of Communication Arts (CD): They had a good time, but they also learned a lot about what their career might look like. So, our students go into careers like public relations, social media management, sales, journalism, etc. And they actually do the work while they're here. 

Asya Randolph speaks with Hunt Hall sitting behind her.

Asya Randolph (AR): As far as the communications program, I don't feel like it gets the light that it deserves. On the outside looking in before I got into the program, I probably would have thought the same thing like how hard is it to communicate? There was a class that I took, research methods, that blew my mind, like what goes into research!

Isaac Beechy sits on campus with Hunt Hall behind him as he speaks.

IB: One thing that did attract me IU Kokomo was the small classrooms. Going to Eastern High School, I always had small classrooms and I did well in that environment and I didn't want to change it up.

Sydney McIlrath sits on campus with the Main Building behind her as she speaks.

SM: After that trip I was like, “you can take this degree anywhere!” You can do so many different things with it. 

Chris Darr, Professor of Communication Arts, speaks on campus with the quad behind him.

CD: Because you're going to learn job skills that are in high demand. You're going to be prepared for a job market that wants people who are good communicators, can solve problems, can work well with others… you're going to learn all those things here. 95 percent of students who get communication degrees are working in their field within two years.

Brandon Bishop, Market Director, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Kokomo, IN speaks in the Coca-Cola warehouse.

Brandon Bishop, Market Director, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Kokomo, IN: We look for candidates with strong communication skills, so having that strong communications background starting in the workplace… home run! The experience that they gain talking to professionals, doing mock interviews, you know, mock pitches that they do at IUK, that I've been a part of as well, that just gives them more experience to come in on day one at the workplace and hit the ground running.

Being an outsider looking at somebody that has a communications degree, like immediately I'm gonna look at, you know, that industry is, you know, probably news, you know, some kind of media right? You know whether it be radio television, whatever the case may be, but I mean communication is in every single industry.

And you know we were talking about, you know, a new hire like that just… that just takes you from day one to week six on the onboarding and you can actually start getting into what your job really is.  

Sydney McIlrath sits on campus with the Main Building behind her as she speaks.

SM: You can really do anything, you can go anywhere, you can do whatever you want like if you put your mind to it, you've got it

The screen cuts to an aerial video of New York City as the text “Come learn more about where a communication arts degree can take you! Visit.iuk.edu” appears on the screen.

visit.iuk.edu

Public Communication

Focus on developing students’ presentational skills and prepare for careers in business, government, marketing, sales, advertising, speech writing, and other careers in which oral and written communication skills are essential.

Journalism

Develops your writing, editing, layout and video/photography skills. Learn the journalism basics of reporting and editing. We encourage you to combine your core skills in the profession with online media and your unique interests to better prepare for a market which demands great breadth and sensitivity to the intersections between social issues, human nature, and technology.

Public Relations/Corporate Communication

Prepares to strategically manage communication resources for both profit and nonprofit organizations. You will learn how to enhance a corporation’s image and reputation, monitor and resolve issues, and influence relevant attitudes and opinions, to adapt an organization to its environment and the environment to its organization.

Strategic Communication

Develop your skills in written communication, data visualization, teamwork, and critical thinking with a concentration in Strategic Communication. Take classes that will enhance your writing and planning skills, while imparting how different communication formats and techniques can help you relate to diverse communities. You’ll graduate with the knowledge you need to bring your future in communications to new heights, and prepare for future work in social media management, public relations, journalism, or event planning.

Professional Communication & Leadership

Oral and written communication is essential in all careers. Professional Communication & Leadership introduces the skills that employers are looking for, from relationship building and collaborative problem solving, to conflict resolution and written/oral communication skills.

Ready to Jump In?

For more detailed information about the most current degree requirements and course offerings, please visit our Academic Bulletin or schedule an appointment with an advisor!

If you want to learn more about the Department of Communication and Performing Arts, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our department!

Ready to begin your journey?