BA in Liberal Studies, Communication and Media

Effectively communicate your passions.

Learn how to harness critical thinking, industry best practices, and expressive talents to increase your opportunities for a career rooted in creative communication. Envision media as an agent of change to understand the profound effect that media of all forms have on today’s society. Develop proficiency in communication media and gain real-world experience that will be translatable to a variety of fields. Delve into the narrative process and forms of message distribution while also learning distinctive humanity perspectives through a vast array of interdisciplinary courses. These community, societal, and global contexts allow our adult learners to assume a full picture of the complex media environment.

This degree is offered by AU Seattle.

Program Overview

The goal of this concentration is to prepare students to work in fields such as digital media, film, education, hypermedia, community journalism, advocacy, and public relations. Students also acquire the necessary prerequisites for successful graduate study.

While students may choose to focus on one area of communication, the concentration encourages cross-disciplinary study. They are encouraged to develop proficiency in at least one medium of communication, such as video, radio, graphic design, photography, writing, or public speaking, and to gain real-world experience in at least one profession-related communication area, such as video production, journalism, podcasting, social justice advocacy, community relations or event planning.

Customization is Key

In the BA in Liberal Studies program, each study plan is based on the student’s past experience, current needs and interests, and future goals. Students work in close collaboration with faculty advisors, instructors, and other students to shape their studies. Students build on earlier college work and on competencies learned at home, and at work, through independent reading and volunteer activities.

Degree Requirements

The Liberal Studies Bachelor’s degree requires 180 quarter credits, including a minimum of 60 upper-division credits, and a maximum of 120 lower-division credits.

Graduation requirements include:

• 7 liberal studies courses
• an internship, or other in-the-world learning experience of the student’s choosing
• at least 40 credits in the Communication and Media Concentration
• a senior capstone project

For detailed curriculum, degree requirements, and course descriptions, please visit the AUS catalog.

Example Coursework for Concentration Requirements

• Media for Social Change
• Global Cinema
• Intercultural Communications
• Documentary Film
• Community Voices
• Citizen Journalism
• Fake New, Journalism & Politics
• Surveillance

Sample Community-Based Learning Experiences

• Produced and directed short videos with nonprofits
• Interned with local news organizations
• Apprenticed with graphic designers at a local firm
• Designed public relations and outreach materials for a small business

Sample Synthesis Projects

• Shot and edited a documentary about the ecosystem and marine life in Puget Sound
• Developed a strategic communication campaign to raise awareness about healthy eating
• Organized nonviolent communication workshops dealing with domestic violence
• Hyper-local reporting: writing for community papers and blogs
• Internship with a local TV station

Admissions / Cost / Aid