2026-2027 UVA Wise Catalog
Department of Communication Studies
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Communication Studies
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in English
Major: Communication Studies
Chair: Rachel Tighe
Faculty: Amy Clark, Brittany Robertson, Rachel Tighe, Julia Weiss
The Department of Communication Studies offers a Bachelor of Arts degree grounded in an applied curriculum that prepares students for a wide variety of career opportunities as well as graduate study. The program is centered on four key areas of communication: strategic communication, interpersonal communication, media communication, and rhetoric. Across these areas, students develop the knowledge and versatility needed to understand, analyze, and practice communication in diverse personal, professional, and public contexts.
Our primary goal is to prepare students to be confident, adaptable, and competent communicators. Students build expertise in both written and oral communication through hands-on, project-based and/or applied learning that emphasizes presentations, collaborative work, and reflective practice. This approach ensures that graduates not only understand communication concepts but can apply them effectively in real-world settings. We also require students to complete a practicum in applied communication in a work area of interest to them in order to help them gain work experience.
Our majors have gone on to careers in sports marketing, social media, journalism, the travel industry, public relations, podcasting, marketing, and higher education just to name a few. Others have completed advanced degrees at institutions such as Marshall University, West Virginia University, the University of Georgia, Virginia Tech, ETSU, and the University of Virginia.
Application Process
Those who wish to earn the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Communication Studies must complete the following procedure:
- Submit to department chair a declaration of major form. In order to be accepted into the department major, students must have a 2.0 GPA overall and a 2.3 GPA in courses taken for the major.
- The student will be assigned an advisor to assist in developing a schedule of courses to complete the major.
- This procedure must take place by the first semester of the student’s junior year to ensure that the student has completed the Liberal Arts Core requirements, and to provide time to complete the major requirements in a reasonable fashion. From time to time, the department will review the progress of the student.
Honors
The Department of Communication Studies is pleased to award graduation with honors to distinguished students. To earn honors the student shall:
- Maintain a 3.50 cumulative grade point average in courses taken on campus and courses transferred to UVA Wise;
- Be nominated for honors by the student’s departmental advisor and at least one other member of the department;
- Submit a research paper in COM 4992 that is deemed to be distinguished by at least two members of the Department of Communication Studies.
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