Communication Studies Major

The communication studies major is appropriate for students pursuing a general liberal arts degree who desire flexible preparation applicable to many contexts. It is a strong major for those who intend to go to law school, who want to go into teaching, and who are interested in sales, management training, social work, community organizing, mediation and conflict resolution, broadcasting, journalism, public relations, advertising, media analysis, graduate school in communication studies and related areas, and other careers.

The communication studies major also prepares students for careers and/or graduate study in several different specializations. Communication studies faculty are prepared to support students who wish to specialize in areas such as communication in relational contexts (for example, interpersonal, group, and organizational communication), strategic communication processes (such as argumentation, political and campaign communication, public relations, and advertising), and media studies (including journalism, global media studies, and media production). Faculty members regularly advise students in designing a course plan to achieve the desired specialization.  Hamline University’s 3-3 program, in partnership with Mitchell Hamline School of Law, allows highly talented and motivated students to pursue a variety of paths to law school. Students majoring in communication studies have very successfully participated in this program. See this website for more information: https://www.hamline.edu/cla/legal-studies/3-3-law-school-early-admission/