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Communication, BA

Overview

Exceptional communication skills are necessary regardless of your career path. Employers seek outstanding oral and written communication skills, and in fact consistently rank these skills as most important in many research studies and employer surveys. People skills―including building relationships, making quality group decisions, helping others navigate difficult situations, managing and mediating conflict, working in teams in culturally-diverse organizational settings―are relevant and desirable in all professional and practical fields.

At SDCC, we emphasize the application of Christian truths and values to the study of communication theories and processes, consideration of ethical issues, and the mastery of current scholarship in each field. Our personable, caring, and committed faculty are devoted to helping communication students discern their calling and pursue it in whatever form that takes, whether that includes pursuing graduate studies, joining an organization after graduation, or launching an independent start-up company.

The mission and vision of the Department of Communication is to develop student competence in the application and synthesis of communication processes, theories and skills that enable individuals and groups to communicate effectively in an increasingly complex and global society. Students are challenged to embrace professional excellence in every form of communication, from virtual to interpersonal, as they hone their communication skills to make a lasting impact for Christ.

BENEFITS

Communication Majors Are Prepared For:

    • Professional speaking and writing
    • Interpersonal excellence in personal and organizational settings
    • Conducting research involving interactional, organizational, and cultural dynamics affecting all types of human relationships
    • Developing and working within high-performance organizational teams and groups as a leader and member
    • Solving problems and making decisions in relational, group, and organizational settings
    • Assisting others in solving difficult conflicts
    • Understanding and engaging across various media platforms and technology systems
    • Advanced research and professional study in communication, including a specialization in media communication management

You Should Consider a Communication Major If You:

  • Enjoy interacting with and leading people
  • Desire to explore the science behind why people do what they do individually and socially
  • Seek to build and develop people and programs in your career options
  • Desire to become skilled at working with people across diverse platforms and cultures
  • Excel at building relationships, teams, and effective processes
  • Enjoy fast-paced, challenging work environments
  • Want to help others work through conflict and come to mutually-beneficial solutions

Graduates in Communication Work As:

  • Communication training and development specialists
  • Attorneys and lawyers
  • Public relations specialists
  • Marketing and strategic planning managers
  • Social media and brand developers
  • Dispute resolution professionals
  • Human resource officers
  • Corporate or personal event planners
  • Executive consultants
  • Customer relations managers
  • Sales representatives
  • College administrators
  • Corporate managers
  • Journalists
  • Ministry leaders (pastors/youth pastors) in churches
  • Non-profit organization directors and executives
  • Missionaries
  • High school and elementary administrators and guidance counselors
  • Film producers and storytellers
  • Actors and directors
  • Entrepreneurs

 

PROGRAM DETAILS

The major in Communication is an interdisciplinary curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. It seeks to provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of the nature of human communication, the symbolic systems by which it functions, the environments in which it occurs, and its impact on society. Employing critical, empirical, and practical approaches, the major draws its resources from the social sciences, humanities, and the fine arts.

 

Courses You Will Take:

  • Introduction to Communication
  • Public Speaking
  • Communication and Relationships
  • Fundamentals of Storytelling and Scriptwriting
  • Performance and the Art of Directing
  • Argumentation and Debate
  • Survey of Communication Theory and Research
  • Statistics
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Communication Ethics
  • Media Literacy
  • Diversity and Cultural Communication
  • Organizational Communication and Leadership
  • Nonverbal Communication and Persuasion
  • Conflict and Crisis Communication
  • Ethnography Capstone
  • Communication Internship

 

Your Pathway from Education to Vocation Will Include:

  • Experiencing real team dynamics
  • Building your research skills
  • Engaging in a ethnically-diverse and cross-cultural college experience
  • Growing your skills in an on campus job or student leadership position
  • Volunteering locally and globally to shape your perspective
  • Gaining knowledge about your career options
  • Preparing job application materials, including a professional resume
  • Receiving feedback on your interviewing abilities
  • Securing an internship and building your professional network
  • Have letters of recommendation on hand for your chosen career or graduate school

 

Non-Communication Majors:

Non-communication majors are welcomed to choose the specialization in Media Communication Management offered in the Communication Department, which includes the courses in Media Literacy, Social Media Marketing, Fundamentals of Storytelling and Scriptwriting, and Organizational Communication and Leadership (12 credits).

 

FACULTY

JOHN LOO, PH.D CANDIDATE
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION

Department Chair, Communication

B.A., Pensacola Christian College
M.S. in English Ed., Pensacola Christian College
M.S. in Speech Ed., Pensacola Christian College
Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and Comp. (ABD), Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Areas of Focus: Professional Speaking & Writing, Argumentation & Debate, Communication Theory, Media Literacy, Intercultural Awareness & Communication, Professional Networking, Communication Leadership & Research.

MARC HUTCHINS, M.F.A.

Areas of Focus: Film & Media Studies, Communication Theory, Mass Communication

PHILLIP VAN SAUN, M.A.

Areas of Focus: Communication Ethics, Conflict & Crisis Communication

HANNAH JOHNSTON, M.S.

Areas of Focus: Communication & Relationships, Storytelling & Scriptwriting, Performance & Directing, Nonverbal Communication

DAVID ZARRAONANDIA, M.B.A.

Areas of Focus: Professional Speaking, Persuasion Theory, Communication Leadership & Management

ALUMNI SUCCESS

“Being well-written and well-spoken are two of the most important qualities to have in the work world, and the Communication Department at SDCC gave me the tools and instruction I needed to strengthen both areas. Not only that, the underlying foundation of a biblical worldview showed me the importance of building healthy relationships to increase effective communication in our interactions with others.  The smaller class sizes made for a great learning environment in which everyone knew and supported each other, wanting everyone to succeed. I am forever grateful for the friendships and connections I made during my time at SDCC.” — Dominique Omari Watkins, 2017

 

“The Communication Department has developed much more than my knowledge in the art of communication and my ability to practice it. I learned about the importance and necessity of community and proper mentorship. Having smaller class sizes provides a natural format for discussion-based learning where you are able to personally engage with your professor and hear from the perspective of each of your classmates, giving you an overall balanced and deeper understanding of each topic addressed.” — Chandler Corzine, 2016

 

“The study and practice of law demands an ability to articulate clearly and concisely, both in the written and spoken word. An accomplished advocate is able to recognize truth, organize thoughts, and present those thoughts in a persuasive manner. I have full confidence that no other life experience prepared me as well for the practice of law than my time in speech and debate as a Communication Major at San Diego Christian College. This activity forced me to articulate my thoughts, to find my voice, and to recognize truth from fiction. Because of this, I am a more capable advocate.”
— Colin McDonald, 2009