Outer Wrapper

About The Program

College of Arts and Sciences

Communication Studies

Northern's communication studies students learn to understand and practice communication, developing insight into and ability in effective expression and listening.

In this compact, agile communications program, we'll help you tailor experiences and projects to your special needs and interests.

Our communication studies degree also prepares you for professional schools in law, journalism, public relations, and organizational communication; or graduate studies in speech communication, rhetoric, public relations, mass media, and others.

You can also test your abilities and sharpen your competition skills on Northern's Speech and Debate team, which places competitively in state and regional meets and whose members have qualified for national competition.

Public Relations Emphasis

Public relations specialists read, research, write and speak well - they're doers who have a creative flair. NSU's Communication Studies program offers a focus on public relations, opening opportunities for you if you're interested in preparing and sharing information that keeps people informed.

Careers

The communication studies degree program provides a foundation for many careers. You'll learn the skills needed to obtain positions in business, industry, education and government service. Other potential career areas include sales and marketing; artists, broadcasters, editors, entertainers, public relations specialists and writers; and management- and administration-related occupations.

Public Relations

Public relations specialists work for private firms, educational institutions and government agencies, or are self-employed. They also have positions in sales and marketing or as artists, broadcasters, editors, entertainers, and writers, and work in management and administrative occupations.

For more information on careers in your major or help choosing a major, contact the NSU Career Center.

Internships

Communication Studies students gain valuable real-world experience through a required a 3-credit internship.

NSU College of Arts and Sciences Internships

Scholarships

Arts and Sciences Scholarships

NSU Scholarships

Course Requirements

Communication Studies (BA) Course Requirements

Communication Studies Minor Course Requirements

Plans of Study

Communication Studies (BA) Plan of Study

Public Relations Emphasis (BA) Plan of Study

Our Faculty

Justin (Gus) Foote

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

Languages, Literature and Communication Studies

Programs

Communication Studies

Julie M. Johnson

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

School of Business

Management and Marketing

Languages, Literature and Communication Studies

Programs

Communication Studies

Management

Dr. Julie M. Johnson brings to the classroom at NSU a world of real-life experience using her communication degrees and skills. She served as secretary in the Governor’s Cabinet in Pierre, S.D., and later as secretary of the state departments of labor and revenue. Dr. Johnson also was president of the Industry and Commerce Association of South Dakota, where she was the chief lobbyist and spokesperson for the South Dakota business community before the state Legislature, administrative agencies and Congress. Later, she ran the S.D. Rural Development Council, where she gave voice to rural communities before federal agencies and in Congress.

She returned to Aberdeen to run a growth initiative known as Absolutely Aberdeen, and Prairie Vision, its regional development arm. She used her communication skills to advocate for the region, focusing on economic, community, and workforce development needs and issues of the area.

Dr. Johnson has written countless speeches and communication strategies, participated in many debates, led campaigns for or against ballot issues, and advocated on behalf of Aberdeen and northeast South Dakota.

She was a high school and college debater, and counts herself fortunate to be able to use these skills advocating for the region and helping NSU students develop expertise in speech communication.

Elizabeth Sills

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

Languages, Literature and Communication Studies

Programs

Communication Studies

Resume/CV

Dr. Elizabeth Sills received her Ph.D from Louisiana State University and her M.A. in communication studies from the University of Montana. Her interests lie in rhetorics, philosophies, and cultural consequences surrounding comedy, humor, and any other catalysts of mirth that constitute The Funny. Other examples of her work may be found in Comedy Studies, Empedocles: European Journal for the Philosophy of Communication and in the 2013 Eisner Award-winning volume Black Comics: Politics of Race and Representation. She also enjoys teaching standup comedy skills to her students and hosting workshops that teach community members how to understand and make use of the funniness of their everyday lives.

Sills is president of the Lighthearted Philosophers’ Society, a group of scholars dedicated to studying philosophies of humor in funny ways. She is also serving a two-year term as president of the Speech Communication Association of South Dakota. On campus, she is the advisor for the communication studies honorary, Lambda Pi Eta, and a co-advisor of Northern's Feminist Club.

Search form

Explore More Degrees

Outer Wrapper

Communication Studies

Academics at Northern

cascompressed.jpg

sobcompressed.jpg

soecompressed.jpg

sfacompressed.jpg