A communication degree from Rockhurst University focuses on communication processes, communication methods, and improving your communication skills within yourself and with your future workplace team.
Why choose strategic communication at Rockhurst?
Communication is at the heart of everything we do. Whether in personal relationships, the workplace, or on digital platforms, effective communication is essential. At Rockhurst University, our Strategic Communication degree program empowers students to master the principles, methods, and tools of impactful communication.
Our Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication equips students with the skills to lead in today’s dynamic, media-driven world. You’ll explore how communication influences thought, emotion, and behavior—and how to craft messages that resonate across diverse audiences.
Through a curriculum that blends theory with hands-on experience, you’ll develop advanced communication skills essential to a variety of careers.
What you’ll learn
The Strategic Communication curriculum focuses on planning, implementing, and evaluating communication strategies across organizations and industries. Students gain real-world skills in:
- Strategic message development
- Audience and stakeholder analysis
- Internal and external communications
- Communication ethics and leadership
- Multimedia storytelling and digital communication
Our students learn to think critically, write clearly, and speak persuasively—building the confidence to succeed in any communication-related career.
Rooted in Jesuit values
Located within the College of Business and Technology, Rockhurst’s communication program emphasizes ethical communication, social responsibility, and personal development—core principles of our Jesuit tradition. Our mission is to develop thoughtful, skilled communicators ready to serve and lead in their communities.
Program options
Rockhurst University offers flexible pathways for students interested in communication careers:
- B.A. in Strategic Communication
- B.A. in Strategic Communication with a Business Emphasis
- Minor in Communication
- Undergraduate Certificate in Strategic Communication
- Graduate Certificate in Strategic Communication
Ready to shape the future through communication?
Explore how a Strategic Communication degree from Rockhurst University can help you make a lasting impact:
Student Learning Outcomes
While in the program, students will:
- Describe the communication discipline and its central questions
- Apply communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts
- Conduct communication inquiry and research
- Create messages appropriate to audience, purpose, and context
- Critically analyze and evaluate messages
- Demonstrate self-efficacy in achieving communication goals
- Practice ethical communication across situations
- Use communication to embrace diversity and cultural difference
- Effectively influence public discourse
Practical skills for real-world communication careers
Graduates of the Strategic Communication program will demonstrate career-ready skills including:
- Communicating clearly and confidently across verbal, written, print, and digital formats
- Presenting ideas and strategies effectively to internal teams and external stakeholders—both face-to-face and virtually
- Building and sustaining professional workplace relationships with colleagues, clients, and leadership
- Collaborating on team projects through transparent and respectful communication
Preparing you for professional success
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication, students will be able to:
- Understand the body of scholarship and research in the communication discipline
- Grasp the complexities of intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, organizational, public, and mass communication
- Write and speak with confidence, clarity, and purpose in diverse professional settings
A strategic communication degree is a great way to prepare for a career in fields ranging from corporate communication and marketing to media relations, journalism, and more.
Communication majors and minors enjoy nearly unlimited career potential. For example, strategic communication majors:
- Help scientists communicate with the public about climate change
- Become physicians who create trusting health-care partnerships with their patients
- Advocate for and with people in our communities whose voices aren’t always heard
Graduates from Communication programs also pursue advanced studies in law school, medical school, graduate school, and other professional fields.
Public Relations Manager
Communications Director
Marketing Manager
Director of Content Strategy
Social Media Director
Research Analyst
Communication Consultant
Creative Director
Course details are listed below via the Rockhurst University catalog:
Popular courses
Application of communication theory to face-to-face unplanned and planned interactions. Emphasis on acquiring and demonstrating effective communication skills in dyadic and group communication contexts as well as understanding the cause and effect patterns that constitute relationships.
This course provides a basic survey of the field and instruction in the fundamentals of multimedia writing, interviewing, editing, audience engagement, and visual storytelling.
A study of the rhetorical, psychological and ethical principles of influencing change in others which includes consideration of the role of attitudes, beliefs, values and motives in human behavior. Application of theories through preparation and presentation of persuasive speeches and analysis of campaigns.
This course examines social media as a means of shaping and reflecting contemporary culture. Course content is based on the foundation of “media-as-environments,” constructed by human beings, within which we live our lives and use media to meet personal needs. The primary goal of the course is to understand the central place of mediated communication in many aspects of culture including, but not limited to, personal identity, social movements, politics, popular culture, law, news media, propaganda, and other related topics.
Rockhurst is committed to preparing students to be the best communicators they can be! The communication program invests not only in high academic standards but also in fostering critical thinking and ethics in every course offered.
Many of the communication courses are small, discussion-based classes. This seminar-style learning creates opportunities for professors and students to engage in exploratory discussion and grapple with complex topics. Students find the classroom environment conducive to learning, articulating their point of view and presenting thoughtful arguments.
Former students tell us they appreciate the relationships they built with professors, support staff, and administrators in the Communication Program, as well as the College of Business and Technology. Communication majors and non-majors make connections with a team that supports students throughout their academic careers. Support includes warm smiles, academic and career guidance, attentiveness and responsiveness to personal issues, and, of course, help with course concepts and processes.
Communication students have unique opportunities to work with and alongside students in programs such as business, health science, technology, and the arts in collaborative educational ventures. Other fun and unique opportunities include department events, networking with community professionals, membership in the National Communication Association’s honors society, internships that provide real-world experience, speaking and presentation competitions, communication-focused study abroad, and more.
My Internship: Brenna McAdam, Strategic Communication
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My name is Brenna McAdam, and I am a senior Strategic Communication student at Rockhurst University with an emphasis in Public Relations and Advertising. This summer, I've had the pleasure of interning with Parris Communications, a highly respected public relations firm in Kansas City.
As the Media Relations, Social Media, and Event Planning Intern, I've had the opportunity to grow professionally in ways I never expected. From attending community events to helping plan, coordinate, and execute them, I've gained firsthand experience with the many moving parts of public relations. One of the things I've admired most about Parris Communications is the team's attention to detail and empathetic approach to serving clients and the Kansas City community. Watching Team Parris lead with both strategy and heart has been an invaluable learning experience.
Dean's Scholar Program
Two Degrees, Less Time
Why wait six years for what you can do in five? The Dean’s Scholar program is a 4+1 track
that allows Rockhurst students who complete program prerequisites to earn
both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years
(four years for undergraduate, one year for graduate).
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