Applied Communications, B.A.
The undergraduate major in Applied Communications prepares students to achieve success in the field of professional communications. The Applied Communications major provides the skillsets necessary for working in the following areas of contemporary communications: social media, writing for the Web, business writing, persuasive writing, public relations, conflict management, organizational communications, creative writing, public speaking, and presentation. The Applied Communications major also provides a foundation for graduate studies in Communications, Marketing, Business, Writing, and Public Relations.
The program is offered in both fully-online and blended formats.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
PLO1. Demonstrate competence in effective oral, written, visual, and digital communication skills necessary in a world of professional communication.
PLO2. Articulate and critically analyze theoretical, cultural, historical, and practical frameworks of communications.
PLO3. Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work.
PLO4. Identify and execute legal, ethical, and professional communication practices.
PLO5. Demonstrate competencies in strategies and skills for constructing, thinking critically, and delivering effective messages across multiple forms of media and communications channels.
PLO6. Apply theory and practical skills in a constantly changing social, political, economic and technological society.
PLO7. Demonstrate techniques for success in global environment characterized by intercultural, multigenerational understanding and diversity.
Program Details:
- Requires 180 QH, including 60 QH of General Education, for completion
- Requires a minimum grade of “C” in all major courses as well as ENG 101 and ENG 201
- Credit for Prior Learning may be accepted for general education, elective credit and as determined appropriate by the faculty, toward major requirements
- Students may complete a minor or concentration, listed below
Minors:
Concentration:
Required Courses
Research Methods
| RES 200 | Research, Writing, and Analysis | 1 |
Note: RES 200 is required for students completing a fully-online program.
Communications - 15QH
| ENG 101 | Beginning English Composition | 5 |
| ENG 201 | Intermediate English Composition | 5 |
| ENG 203 | Effective Speaking for the Undergraduate | 5 |
Humanities and Fine Arts - 15QH
| ART 101 | Basic Art Appreciation | 5 |
| HIS 103 | History Across the Globe | 5 |
| PHI 107 | Ethics, Logic and Critical Inquiry | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in humanities or fine arts.
Quantitative Reasoning - 5QH
| MTH 101 | Introduction to Mathematical Concepts | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any college-level mathematics course.
Physical and Life Sciences - 10QH
One course must have a lab:
| SCI 101 | Physical Science | 5 |
| and | |
| SCI 102 | Survey of Biological Science with Lab | 5 |
| or | |
| SCI 225 | Human Impact on Environment | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use one course in any physical science and one course in any life science.
Social and Behavioral Sciences - 15QH
Choose two Social Science courses from the list below:
| ECO 200 | Macroeconomics for Today’s Professional | 5 |
| HIS 102 | Civics and American Government | 5 |
| SOC 101 | Foundational Sociology | 5 |
| SOC 222 | Culture and Identity | 5 |
| and | |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in social and behavioral sciences.
Additional General Education Requirements
Students must complete GEN 103 and one of the following course options:
Pathways Students
| GEN 210 | Think Global-Perspectives from the Field | 3 TO 5 |
| BRV 200 | Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator | 5 |
| or | |
| CAR 215 | Personal Branding | 3 |
| and | |
| CAR 216 | Professional Networking | 2 |
| BRV 201 | Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator: Capstone Challenge | 2 |
| or | |
| CAR 217 | Workplace Leadership | 2 |
Transfer Students
| CAR 202 | Creating Professional Identity | 2 |
| CAR 203 | You The Professional | 0 TO 2 |
Note: GEN 103 may be waived for on-campus students who (1) enter NLU with an associate’s degree or 90 or more quarter credit hours of transfer credit; and (2) have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or above in their previous undergraduate studies. GEN 210 is required for Pathways students only.
Gateway Courses
Core Courses
| COM 200 | The Influence of Culture on Communication | 5 |
| COM 204 | Multigenerational Workforce Communication | 5 |
| COM 205 | Social Media Networking | 5 |
| COM 206 | Professional Writing | 5 |
| COM 207 | Contemporary Media Communications | 5 |
| COM 306 | Organizational Communication and Conflict Management | 5 |
| COM 404 | Legal and Ethical Communications | 5 |
| COM 406 | Public Relations in Contemporary Society | 5 |
| BUS 490 | Internship in Business | 2 TO 5 |
Note:
BUS 490 must be taken for 5 quarter hours.
Capstone Course
| COM 499 | Capstone in Applied Communications | 5 |
Electives
Choose additional courses to total 180 QH. These hours may be satisfied by completing the minors and/or concentrations listed above.
For more information about this program, visit http://www.nl.edu/academics/communicationsbachelors/baappliedcommunications/