Communication, Bachelor's , Minor
Overview
You'll have amazing opportunities to gain real-life experience as an intern, develop an extensive portfolio of your work, and establish professional networking contacts.
Students majoring in Communication at DeSales explore the use of written, verbal, and nonverbal behaviors to express or exchange information. DeSales’ Communication graduates learn critical written and oral communication skills that prepare them for careers ranging from Public Relations to Publishing and Editing.
Here at DeSales you can customize your degree with tracks that fit your professional goals and gain hands-on experience across multiple fields. There are four tracks from which to choose:
- Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations
- Business
- Professional/Creative Writing, Editing, Publishing
- Sports
Our in-class, campus, and internship experiences will provide you with amazing opportunities to gain real-life work experience, develop an extensive portfolio of your work, and establish professional networking contacts. Many students gain valuable writing experience through contributions to the University’s yearbook, school newspaper (The Minstrel), and literary magazine.
Prepared for Professional Life
You'll have plenty of opportunities to learn what it's really like to be a communication professional. Industry specific courses help you focus on your career goals. You’ll sharpen your strengths and bring them into the internships and careers you pursue.
Our robust internship program will help sharpen your strengths and build your resume with "real world" experience. You’ll also have the chance to study abroad for a semester or have a study abroad trip built into one of your classes.
Add an MFA
Go beyond the bachelor's degree and add on a master's of fine art in creative writing degree! Students can start taking MFA courses in their senior year, and will only add one additional year to their studies.
A DeSales Communication degree will help you build a well-rounded skill to stand out among job-seekers in a wide range of careers. Customize your degree with courses that fit your professional goals and gain hands-on experience across multiple fields.
Admissions Requirements
At DeSales, we not only look at your past academic achievement but also your potential for future growth to determine your admission.
We find that students who have demonstrated significant achievement within a demanding curriculum are best suited for academic life at DeSales. Quality of academic performance plays a critical role in the admissions decision making process. This helps indicate a student's potential for academic growth going forward. We welcome applications from all qualified students regardless of race, religion, sex, national, or ethnic origin.
Application Checklist
- Application Fee: None
- Transcripts: Official High School Transcript
- Standardized Tests: Test-optional, however, an Admissions Interview may be requested
- Recommendations: Completed Guidance Counselor Form and Teacher Recommendation Form
- Please refer to the Program Specific Requirements section for any requirements specific to this program
All materials can be mailed to:
DeSales University Admissions Office
2755 Station Ave.
Center Valley, PA
* SAT scores are highly recommended for students applying for the Nursing and Health Science programs. Please refer to the Program Specific Requirements section for any requirements specific to this program.
Additional recommendations
High School Academics - Remember, there is no single preferred high school academic program, but a college preparatory course of study is highly recommended. Here's an example:
- Four years of English
- Three or four years of college preparatory mathematics
- A minimum of two years of modern, foreign, or classical language
- At least two laboratory science courses
Visiting DeSales - A personal, on-campus interview is strongly recommended, but is not required. We encourage you to visit so that you'll have a chance to learn more about DeSales, and we'll have the opportunity to learn more about you, too.
Learn more about Undergraduate Admissions & Aid
When to Apply
We encourage you to apply early in your senior year. We use a rolling admissions system, which means you will be notified promptly about your admissions status—usually within four weeks of our receipt of your completed application.
Priority deadline for scholarship consideration is December 1 of your senior year.
Curriculum
As a communication major at DeSales, you'll take a variety of courses in writing, speaking, persuasion, journalism, and professional presentation.
Each Communication major completes 6 core courses that include:
- Mass Communication
- Communication Theory
- Professional Speaking
- Journalism
- Public Relations
- Professional Communication Seminar (Senior Research Capstone)
The flexibility of our program almost guarantees that no two majors are the same! As a Communication major at DeSales, you'll take a variety of courses in writing, speaking, persuasion, journalism, and professional presentation. A degree in Communication can be tailored to a student’s interests, strengths, and ambitions.
Academic Catalog
Graduation Requirements
View the graduation requirements and example schedule for this program
Careers & Internships
Communication majors find careers in:
- Public Relations
- Journalism
- Corporate Publication
- Media
- Business
- Advertising and Marketing
- Sales
- Banking
- Higher Education
- Financial Counseling
Internships are an important aspect of the major that help students prepare for their careers. Opportunities are available at companies, local firms, non-profits, hospitals, and other sites. Our students have interned at locations including:
- SiriusXM
- Seventeen Magazine
- PPL Corporation
- CNN
- MTV
- VH-1
- Crayola
- ArtsQuest
Tuition & Fees
DeSales can help make your college expenses affordable through a combination of grants, loans, student employment, and scholarship resources.
View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and undergraduate program information sheets
Cost of attendance for undergrads for 2024-2025
Resident Students
Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Room and Board - $13,800
Mandatory Fees - $1,800
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $60,800 (including first-year/transfer fees)
Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Total cost for resident students: $67,116
Commuter Students
Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Mandatory Fees - $1,400
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $46,600 (including first-year/transfer fees)
Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Transportation Costs - $1,908
Living Expenses - $2,298
Total cost for commuter students: $57,122
Off-Campus*
Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Mandatory Fees - $1,400
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $46,600 (including first-year/transfer fees)
Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Transportation Costs - $1,908
Living Expenses - $9,192
Total cost for off-campus students: $64,016
*First-year students are required to reside on campus or commute from home.
Parking Fee - $100
View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and undergraduate program information sheets
Dual Degree Undergraduate-to-Graduate Programs
If you are enrolled in an undergraduate-to-graduate degree program — for example a 5-year, 3+2, 3+3, program — the undergraduate tuition and fees apply only to the undergraduate portion of the program. As you progress into the graduate phase of your program, graduate tuition and fees apply. Please see your respective graduate program for more information.
The financial aid process may appear overwhelming at first glance, but don't worry, we'll help you through it.
Accepted students are automatically considered for scholarships upon receipt of a completed application and are awarded regardless of financial need. Funds for scholarships are limited, so we do encourage students to apply early.
Our comprehensive financial aid packages carefully explain the types and amounts of assistance —including federal, state, and institutional — that you may be eligible for to help cover education related expenses.
Total cost of attendance includes estimates for tuition, fees, room, board, books, and personal, transportation, and living expenses.
You can estimate your total cost of attendance with our Net Price Calculator
