Exceptional students currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in the Department of Communication Studies are encouraged to apply to our Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program (ABM). This program is open to all Communication Studies students regardless of their concentration that meet the criteria for admission.

How it Works

To accelerate progress through a master’s degree in the Department of Communication Studies, a limited number of graduate courses (up to 12 credit hours) may be counted as a Communication Studies electives towards both the completion of the undergraduate degree and the Communication Management graduate degree.

The Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Student Media Club is open to anyone who has an interest in media, whether TV, radio, film, or digital media. The organization’s goal is to broaden opportunities for students who would like to advance their knowledge, standing, and connection in the media industry by linking students with industry professionals, faculty, and other students who hold similar interests.

The Student Media Club hosts regular events throughout the year, including guest speakers, technical workshops, film screenings, social gatherings, field trips, service events, and lectures. The organization also manages the annual Steel Reel Film Festival, hosted on campus each Spring. The Student Media Club has partnered with other organizations on campus for various events, so if you have ideas for collaboration, please let us know!

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) is the National Communication Association’s official honor society at four-year colleges and universities. LPH has more than 500 active chapters at four-year colleges and universities nationwide.

LPH became a part of the National Communication Association in 1988, and the association's official honor society in July 1995. It is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS).

LPH represents what Aristotle described in Rhetoric as three ingredients of persuasion: logos (Lambda), meaning logic; pathos (Pi), relating to emotion; and ethos (Eta), defined as character credibility and ethics.

Qualifications

• 45 Credit Hours (3.0 GPA)
• 12 Communication Credit Hours (3.25 GPA)

Goals

1. Recognize, foster, and reward outstanding scholastic achievement in Communication Studies
2. Stimulate interest in the field of Communication
3. Promote and encourage professional development among Communication majors
4. Provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas in the field of Communication
5. Establish and maintain closer relationships between faculty and students
6. Explore options for graduate education in Communication Studies

The Public Relations Council of Alabama/Public Relations Student Society of America at UAB (PRCA/PRSSA at UAB) chapter is a strong student-led group for students in any major who have an interest in joining an award-winning team of young professionals that can add standout experiences to your resume! This organization offers valuable skills in networking and building communication skills and leadership experiences which apply to any career path.

PRCA/PRSSA at UAB has won the Public Relations Council of Alabama Student Chapter of the Year for 39 of the last 41 years!

In 2024, UAB brought home 9 Medallion Awards (the highest award offered by PRCA), 10 Awards of Excellence and 17 Awards of Merit. In 2024 the chapter also won the Outstanding Chapter Award, Chapter Campaign Award, Best Chapter Award, Community Service Award, and Chapter Website Award from Alabama PRSA. One of our students received the PR Strategist Award and Wordsmith Award. Another student won Best of Show and one student placed second for the Student of the Year Award. Students won three group awards recognizing their campaigns representing local nonprofit organizations in the community. One student won the Judge's Choice Award for her individual contribution to the campaign and three students won Judge's Choice Awards for their firm's campaigns.

The chapter has also received the STAR chapter award from the Public Relations Student Society of America for the last six years. In 2023, the chapter received the prestigious Dr. F. H. Teahan National Chapter Award for Chapter Firm.

PRCA/PRSSA at UAB is an extremely active group, always looking for young professionals who wish to excel in this field! The organization conducts workshops, hosts panels and networking events, and participates in service-based learning in the community.

As a member of the PRCA/PRSSA at UAB, students will have the unique opportunity to network and share ideas with fellow peers and local public relations professionals. Education and professional development are key elements to the success of this organization.

For more information, contact the faculty advisor, Dr. Jacquelyn S. Shaia at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Join us as our team of young professionals work together for 2025!

Undergraduate

Graduate

Faculty

The Honors Program in Communication Studies offers an enhanced and challenging academic experience for exceptional and highly motivated undergraduate students, especially those considering graduate school. Students who complete the program will graduate with "Honors in Communication Studies.”

Eligibility

To be eligible, a student must be a declared Communication Studies major and must have a cumulative, institutional, and Communication Studies GPA of 3.5 or above.

Requirements

• Fulfill the normal requirements for the Communication Management major or Mass Media concentrations.
• Submit a completed Communication Studies Honors Program application form to the Director of Departmental Honors for approval. Students must secure the permission of the Director and their mentor in order to enter the Communication Studies Honors Program.
• Maintain and graduate with a cumulative, institutional, and Communication Studies GPA of 3.5 or above.
• Successfully complete and defend (no later than four weeks before graduation) an Undergraduate Honors Thesis conducted under the supervision of a faculty member in the department.

In a recent national survey of corporate recruiters, 86 percent identified “effective communication” as the most important professional skill they were looking for in prospective employees. Think about it: different jobs require you to do very different tasks. But what do they all have in common? Communication. This is why communication consistently is identified as one of the top skills employers seek in job candidates, regardless of industry.

If you desire a career in fields such as public relations, broadcasting, or journalism, we have specializations for you. But we also offer classes addressing almost every career imaginable. You can take classes on topics as diverse as nonverbal communication, communication in romantic relationships, visual media production, and public relations strategy. You will learn about effective presentations, social networks, media criticism, and news reporting. Whether you are a scientist or a salesperson, a medical researcher or a musician, desire a career in politics or sports marketing, communication skills will be an essential part of your job; and we are here to help you acquire and master those skills.

Below is a small sampling of some of the professions our majors go into:

How We Help You

The faculty in the Department of Communication Studies take preparing you for your future very seriously. You will receive hands-on training for your future professions in many of our classes, such as Public Speaking (CMST 101), Newswriting and Reporting (CMST 210), or Conducting Public Relations Campaigns (CMST 442). Classes such as Communications and Teamwork (CMST 310), Organizational Communication (CMST 311), Communication Leadership and Management (CMST 315) and Interviewing (CMST 309) are specifically designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the workplace. In fact, you’ll find that most of our curriculum has a strong, practical emphasis that prepares you for the communication challenges that lie ahead.

Where Should You Start?

Start your search here at UAB. To talk about professional opportunities in Communications, make an appointment with Jacquelyn S. Shaia. You can reach out to her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (205) 934-3877.

Career and Professional Development Services has job and internship listings, job fairs, resume builders, and many more resources for UAB students. We recommend that you take advantage of all that they have to offer.

In addition, there are plenty of other websites that can help you with your career search. Start with one of these:

• One Day One Job
• PayScale Salary Report
• 20 Highest-paying Jobs for Communications Majors

One of the best things about UAB is its amazing diversity of its students — we are one of the topmost diverse campuses in the United States. We want you to have every opportunity to succeed in your coursework and college life. Here are eight easy tips for you to follow:

Are you an international student interested in attending UAB? Explore the INTO UAB initiative.

• Visit the UAB International Student and Scholar Services website. They have all sorts of forms, guides, and helpful links to make your life easier.
• Don’t be shy. Let your instructors know that English is your second language.
• Take advantage of class study groups. They let you go over material at your pace.
• Record lectures (with your instructors’ permission). Transcribe your recording to notes.
• Meet regularly with your advisor. They are experts and can help!
• Visit the UAB English Language Institute. They will give you assistance with both oral and written English.
• Visit the UAB Writing Center. They have tutors and instructional workshops.
• Frustrated and out of options? UAB counselors are there for you.

We invite you to explore all of the programs and services offered to international students. International Student and Scholar Services will be able to advise you about how to apply and who to contact for information. Please visit their website, or send general questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

And remember — you are not alone! There are other international students/non-native English speakers in just about every class you take! Share your stories and help each other!

No matter how good a student you are, having good advice is essential to your academic success. Students are assigned College of Arts and Sciences advisors based on their status as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior.

The College of Arts and Sciences' Academic Advising website has everything you need — advice, contact information, and all kinds of helpful links.

Visit CAS Advising

Incoming and Transfer Students

If you are a new student, meet with your advisor before signing up for classes. The hardest part of your first year should be your classes, not deciding what they should be. Take the easy way out: Make an appointment to talk or meet with your academic advisor before you attend New Student Orientation.

Contact the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office at (205) 934-6135 for help with registering but also with making the most of your choice to attend UAB!

Current Students

You can rely on your academic advisor for information, assistance, and encouragement throughout your time at UAB. In general, advisors will:

• help you identify your goals and develop educational plans to reach them
• help you understand degree requirements, course selection, and schedule planning
• refer you to resources across campus that can boost your academic performance
• help you understand academic policies and procedures
• provide information about potential areas of study

Visit the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office to find contact information for the Communication Studies advisor.

Why Should I Major in Communication Studies?

Choosing a major is arguably the most important decision you will make during your collegiate career. Why should you major in communication studies? Because majoring in communication studies will provide you with knowledge and skills that are essential for success in the real world.

In a recent national survey of corporate recruiters, 86 percent identified “effective communication” as the most important professional skill they were looking for in prospective employees. Think about it: different jobs require you to do very different tasks. But what do they all have in common? Communication. This is why communication consistently is identified as one of the top skills employers seek in job candidates, regardless of industry. Your communication knowledge and skills will set you apart from others in the competitive marketplace. Whether it’s managing a sales unit, coordinating medical personnel during an emergency, pitching a proposal to potential clients, creating an online public relations campaign, or negotiating an agreement with vendors, the professional world of today is created through communication. Your ability to effectively communicate with a variety of people will make all the difference in whether you successfully achieve your career goals. So why not develop your communication skills with us, learning from some of the top scholars in the field of communication?

Our Programs

In our department you will find a wide variety of options, whether you're interested in majoring in communication, adding a communication minor to your program of study, or even just taking a few classes. Consider exploring:

• the Communication Management concentration — designed for students interested in the general principles of communication, from interpersonal relationships to the theory and practice of public dialogue. Learn how to manage communication and interpersonal relationships more effectively across a variety of contexts, including health, organizational, and intercultural.
• the Mass Communication concentration — designed for students interested in specializing in broadcasting, journalism, or public relations.
• the Sports Communication Concentration — prepares students for careers in the fastest growing area within the field of communication.
• the Communication Management minor — created for students who already have a major, but want to develop their communication knowledge and skills to enhance their career options.
• the Mass Communication minor — a minor that can be paired with many careers, designed for students interested in the general principles of broadcasting, journalism, and public relations.
• accelerated learning opportunities — the Department of Communications Studies offers a Communications Management Master's (ABM) option for high-achieving students. All communication management courses may be used toward the major in communication studies with a concentration in communications management through the ABM, excluding CM 618, CM 675, CM 698, and CM 699.

Explore

We invite you to explore the site to learn who we are. Check out our courses, get to know our faculty and our discipline. Ask Us Questions! Take a class with us and learn how communication skills can launch your career.

Major

Careers

Honors Program