Communication, B.A.
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Program Overview
As a communication major, you will develop strong oral and written communication skills as well as the ability to craft clear and persuasive messaging. You will gain strong critical thinking and analytic skills as well as the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. When you major in communication, you can choose from three tracks: Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication, Professional and Organizational Communication, or Visual and Media Studies.
Major Details
The program information listed here reflects the approved curriculum for the 2025–26 academic year per the Brooklyn College Bulletin. Bulletins from past academic years can be found here.
Major Description
The interdisciplinary B.A. in communication provides a foundation in the range of communication forms; the history and technologies of communication contexts; research methods in communication; and pertinent legal, ethical, and cultural issues.
Major Requirements (38–41 Credits)
Students must complete both A and B below.
The program director, in consultation with the program’s advisory committee, may allow substitutions for up to two course requirements, consistent with the educational goals of our program. Special topics courses may, in addition, be used to fulfill program requirements.
A. Communication Core (26–27 credits)
Each of the following nine courses in the Communication Core must be completed with a grade of C or better:
Communication 1000; Television, Radio & Emerging Media 1165; Communication 2000/Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 2639; Communication 3000 (English 3196); Communication 3100 (Psychology 3120); Communication 3150W (Television, Radio & Emerging Media 2222W); Communication 3200 (Philosophy 3315); Communication 3300 (Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 3235/Television, Radio & Emerging Media 3535); Communication 4000 (nine or more field hours per week) or Communication 4100 (14 or more field hours per week).
The internship course requirement may be waived for full-time employees in related fields with the permission of the program director; those students must take a substitute communication course elective. Internship credit cannot be earned retroactively.
B. Choose and Complete One Track
Students must choose and complete one track, consisting of four courses, one from each area (12 credits):
- Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication
- Professional and Organizational Communication
- Visual and Media Studies
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Describe the communication discipline and its central questions
- Employ communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts
- Engage in communication inquiry
- Critically analyze and create messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context
- Identify and apply ethical communication principles and practices
- Utilize communication to embrace difference
- Demonstrate workplace competencies (e.g., communication, teamwork, DEI, and leadership) that afford opportunities such as relevant internships, employment, and postgraduate study
Degree Maps
To help you pursue your studies in the most efficient manner, and to maximize your efforts to graduate in four years, Brooklyn College has created four-year degree maps for all its majors.
View degree maps for this major and others.
Contact
Sharona Levy, Program Director
3439 Boylan Hall
E: slevy@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5225
Or contact:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
222 West Quad Center
2900 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11210
E: adminqry@brooklyn.cuny.edu
To make an appointment with an undergraduate admissions counselor, visit:
Tracks
Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication
Area 1—Culture
Africana Studies 3230 (English 3158); American Studies 3402 (English 3157); Anthropology 3301; Anthropology 3126 (Children and Youth Studies 3126); Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 1619; Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 1627; Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 3105; Sociology 2200.
Area 2—Society
Africana Studies 3228 (American Studies 3306); Anthropology 2215; Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 1608; Philosophy 3308; Political Science 3106; Political Science 3160; Psychology 2100; Psychology 3110; Sociology 1101; Sociology 2601 (Africana Studies 3328); Sociology 2605; Sociology 3605.
Area 3—Family
Africana Studies 3320; Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 1635; Psychology 3270; Sociology 2400; Sociology 3609 (Women and Gender Studies 3318).
Area 4—Gender
Africana Studies 3362 (Women’s and Gender Studies 3488); Anthropology 3310; Business 3250 (Women’s and Gender Studies 3345); Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 4625; Philosophy 3726 (Women’s and Gender Studies 3137); Political Science 3153 (Women’s and Gender Studies 3353); Political Science 3155 (Women’s and Gender Studies 3330); Psychology 3360; School Psychology, Counseling and Leadership 3000; Sociology 2600 (Women’s and Gender Studies 3420; Women’s and Gender Studies 1001.
Professional and Organizational Communication
Area 1—Organizational
Business 3210; Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 2631; Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 3733; Psychology 3171; Sociology 3607.
Area 2—Communication and Presentation Skills
Business 3010 (Television, Radio & Emerging Media 2660); Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 1707; Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 2623; Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 2719.
Area 3—Groups and Teams
Business 3220; Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 1618; Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 4646; Psychology 3140.
Area 4—Specialization
Business 3160; Business 3110 (Computer and Information Sciences 1597/Television, Radio & Emerging Media 3537); Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 2607; Health and Nutrition Science 2183 (Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 4666); Psychology 3172 (Business 3240); Television, Radio & Emerging Media 2517 (Business 3130); Television, Radio & Emerging Media 2519; Television, Radio & Emerging Media 2726W.
Visual and Media Studies
Area 1—Culture
Anthropology 3180; Art 3167; Film 2117; Film 2131; Film 3122; Music 3101; Philosophy 3702; Puerto Rican and Latino Studies 3335; Sociology 3802; Television, Radio & Emerging Media 3434 (Women’s and Gender Studies 3121).
Area 2—Media
Anthropology 2320; Art 2811; Film 2120; Film 2129; Television, Radio & Emerging Media 2032; Television, Radio & Emerging Media 2420.
Area 3—History and Society
Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 2615 (Television, Radio & Emerging Media 2615); English 4405; Film 2116; History 3462 (American Studies 3406); Sociology 2800; Television, Radio & Emerging Media 2265; Television, Radio & Emerging Media 4160.
Area 4—Theory
Art 3177; Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders 1643; Film 3130; Philosophy 3501; Philosophy 3511; Television, Radio & Emerging Media 4430W.
The Support You’ll Find
Brooklyn College is an integral part of the cultural and artistic energy of New York City. Our faculty members affiliated with Communication offer incomparable expertise and tremendous talent, and each brings a unique perspective to their teaching and mentoring in and out of the classroom.
Internships and Employers
Through job fairs, the internship database, and internship panels, the Magner Career Center gives students in the communication B.A. program access to career opportunities at a wide variety of employers, including:
- Amazon
- Apple
- Brooklyn Museum
- Brooklyn VA Hospital
- Citibank
- Columbia Business School
- The Daily Show
- Firelight Media
- Full Picture
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Make a Wish Foundation
- No Peeking Theater
- Police Athletic League
- Sony Records
- Warner Music Group
