Your major in communication studies will focus on developing intellectual capacities to advocate, negotiate and relate, putting you on a pathway to successfully navigate professional, personal and public life. You’ll learn how to craft a persuasive message, what communication strategies aid health and well-being, and why communication is at the heart of identity and culture.
Start with the core requirements focusing on communication, collaboration and community, and then dive deep into areas that match your interests.
Emphasis Areas
- Communication, health and well-being
- Communication, public advocacy, and civic engagement
- Diversity, culture, and global communication
Academics + Experience = Opportunities
Complement academic preparation with experiential learning, creating more opportunities after graduation. Talk to an academic advisor and a career coach about making the most of your time at Nebraska.
Four-year success plan
What to do each year
Catalog
Major requirements and courses
Printable summary
With sample four-year schedule
Transferrable Career Skills
- Communicate confidently and appropriately with individuals of different cultures
- Listen actively and facilitate individual and group communication
- Collaborate with a team to develop solutions
- Advocate for marginalized or underrepresented groups
- Develop a strong awareness of self and others
- Develop and defend evidence based arguments
- Motivate others to achieve common goals
- Offer empathetic, sensitive, and patient interactions with others
- Provide a creative, inquisitive approach to problem-solving
- Coordinate people, activities, and event details
Experience
Experience is valuable and goes beyond the classroom. We strive to help you connect your academics with research, internships, education abroad, service learning and leadership experiences in communication studies, such as:
- Interning with Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
- Learn more about internships
- Researching communication techniques used in coping
- Learn more about undergraduate research
- Studying abroad in the inspiring Veneto region of Italy
- Learn more about education abroad
- Serving on the Undergraduate Student Advisory Board
- Learn more about getting involved in student organizations
- Volunteering with Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement
- Learn more about service learning
Opportunities
Did you know communication is the #1 skill sought by employers? As communication studies majors you will prepare yourself with the knowledge and skills necessary for entering a wide variety of career fields, such as law, politics, government, public administration, public relations, personnel management, industrial/labor relations, sales, marketing, sales management, education, health/social services, business/industry, media, performing arts, ministry, counseling, public information management and teaching as well as graduate studies in communication studies and related disciplines.
Examples of Alumni Careers
- Account Manager/Marketing Consultant, Three Eagles Communications
- Behavioral Health Specialist, Children's Respite Care Center
- Communications Outreach Specialist, NET TV
- Director of CEO Communications, Back to the Bible
- Human Resources Generalist, City of Lincoln
- Investment Specialist, Merrill Edge
- Program Director, Fremont Public Schools
- Sales Operations Coordinator, Healthcare
- Truman Fellow/Policy Analyst, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Web Design and Marketing, Simplified Office Solutions
Examples of Graduate Schools Attended by Alumni
- Ph.D, Communication Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Juris Doctorate, Boston College
- Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Master's Degree, Higher Education - Student Access and Success, University of Michigan
- Master's Degree, Public Administration, University of Kansas
- Master's Degree, Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Bachelor of Nursing, Nebraska Methodist College
- Doctor of Chiropractic, Cleveland College of Chiropractic
- Master's Degree, School Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Master's Degree, Occupational Therapy, Nebraska Methodist College
“I love that we are given the opportunity to go deeper into what we are specifically interested in. In undergrad alone, I could learn about the art of persuasion in Theories of Persuasion, or learn about how to rally people around a cause in organizing social change, or learn about bridging barriers in intercultural communication.”
Randy Thomas
Communication Studies at Nebraska
Communication studies is an interdisciplinary major in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Our liberal arts degrees provide a broad education across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, preparing students for a variety of careers.
Let curiosity move you.
Contact Us
Academic and Career Advising Center
107 Oldfather Hall
402-472-4190
casadvising@unl.edu