Communication

Careers in communication span across fields such as web and digital media, public relations, advocacy, social media, organizational communications, and advertising. OWU's program combines strategic theory and practical experience.

About the Major

OWU's Communication major blends the intellectual breadth of a liberal arts education with a deep understanding of communication strategy and experience in digital media production. With classes in areas such as digital media skills, persuasive communication, and inter-cultural communication, you learn to write and speak with clarity and use communication technology effectively.

All Communication majors gain real experience through an internship, and you complete an in-depth capstone project, mentored by a faculty member.

OWU also offers a minor in Communication.

Popular Second Majors

About one-third of OWU students graduate with two or more majors. Popular second majors for students in Communication include Creative Writing and English Literature. Some students combine their Communication major with a second major in a specialization field where they'd like to pursue a communication career, such as Zoology, Environmental Studies, Public Health, Politics & Government, or Theatre.

Popular Minors for Communication Majors

Think Big

Let your curiosity lead you to think big. You can work closely with faculty mentors to explore research projects to solve real-world problems and discover new knowledge. Or you can dive into a creative project on a subject and in a medium that interests you.

Communication majors can create documentaries and podcasts, explore cultural communication challenges, examine communication issues in specific professions such as health care, and more.

Research & Independent Study

River Cleanup Video

Erin Ross '21 and Jacey Scheffel '21 created a video on the 2019 Olentangy River Cleanup.

Powell History Video

Tiffany Moore '20 created a video on Powell, Ohio history.

Go Global

Every Ohio Wesleyan student has many options to become immersed in new cultures and environments. Gaining a global perspective and understanding is a crucial part of a 21st-century university education - and a central element of the OWU Connection.

Communication majors can take a variety of travel-learning courses, receive funding for research projects anywhere, and study away in more than 50 programs.

Travel-Learning Courses Study Away Programs

Valuable Exchange

Hayley Sanders '26 studied in Northern Ireland, focusing on topics related to her majors.

Purposeful Path

Anubhav Raghav '25 attended the Yale Impact Investing Conference.

Blogging from Italy

Alanna Williams '20 interned in digital marketing and blogged while studying in Italy.

Get Real

Every communication student completes an internship. They build connections to the professional world with internships from New York to San Francisco

For-credit internships are available with local, regional and national organizations and publications, as well as radio and television stations. Ohio Wesleyan's Office of Marketing & Communications also offers internships in news writing, website and digital communication, magazine production, sports communication, social media, publication design, photography, and videography.

Internships OWU Connection Opportunities

Bishop Elevated

Katie Fink '27 interned with Bishop Elevate, helping first-gen students thrive & succeed.

NYU Sports Comm Internship

Michaela Alfano '25 interned at NYU Athletics, gaining pro sports experience.

Cleveland Internship

Deshawn Rode '24 interned at Benjamin Rose Institute, learning to run a nonprofit.

Saturday Night Live

Shay Manuela '21 completed a fall 2019 internship with SNL as part of her NYAP experience.

SoCal Internships

Leah Crawford '19 interned in California with Grey Matter Productions and Artists First.

Highlights

Liberal Arts Breadth

The best communication professionals can think critically, analyze complex situations, understand diverse cultures, solve urgent problems, and, yes, communicate clearly. These are skills best developed in at a liberal arts college like Ohio Wesleyan.

The OWU Connection

Digital Media

All OWU Communication majors study and work in digital media. They develop skills in text, graphic, audio, and video communication and web distribution.

Interdisciplinary

The communication major can include classes in politics & government, English, sociology & anthropology, psychology, fine arts, theatre, giving majors a wide-ranging expertise in communication.

Specializations

Majors can focus on specific fields, such as political, health, or business communication. The program is flexible to allow students to build the major to meet their own interests and career goals.

Graduate Outcomes

Stephanie Taylor '07

As a producer at Ogilvy, a major marketing and public relations firm in Washington, D.C., Stephanie works with private and public clients including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Peace Corps, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Illustrious Graduates

Several OWU graduates are leaders in the communication field, including Goodman Media International President Tom Goodman '76, Children's Hhospital of Philadelphia Managing Editor Zan Hale '79, and Barnett Cox & Associates Senior Strategist Chip Visci '75.

Career Advice

"The more skills students have in photography, video production, digital presentation, designing interactive graphics, coding, in addition to great reporting and writing, the more marketable they will be." - Gordon Witkin '77, executive editor at the Center for Public Integrity

A Dynamic Field

According to Payscale.com, "Communications majors will play a key role in the evolution of new media as we switch from traditional media channels, like newspapers, television broadcasts and magazines, to dynamic, online media channels. For this reason, studying communications in college can set you up for job titles like Digital Strategist, Senior Interactive Producer and Brand Strategist."

More Information

Many Career Paths

Communication majors can combine coursework and internships to focus on careers in almost any industry, including health care, business, education, the arts, or social service. Students with a strong interest in a specific field can combine communication with a second major.

Headlines

More News Headlines

A Look at Communication
UCLA-Certified— Leah Crawford '19 shows off her completion certificate for the UCLA Film and Television Summer Institute 2018. She completed an eight-week track in creative producing.

UCLA-Certified

Leah Crawford '19 shows off her completion certificate for the UCLA Film and Television Summer Institute 2018. She completed an eight-week track in creative producing.

London Travel-Learning

London Travel-Learning

Department Contact Info

Location

Elliott Hall
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
P 740-368-3650
E communication@owu.edu

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Department Contact

Chair: Ashley R. Kennard
Assistant Professor in the Department of Journalism & Communication
Elliott Hall 005 | 740-368-3645 | arkennar@owu.edu

Academic Assistant: Wendi Kay
Academic Assistant in the Department of Journalism & Communication
Edwards Gymnasium 107G | 740-368-3982 | wwkay@owu.edu