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Communication

Communication is a fundamental social and cultural process, one that’s essential to human interaction and learning. The UMass Amherst Department of Communication emphasizes theories of communication and critical thinking. As a Communication major, you’ll develop analytical abilities that help you understand how communication works, whether in an argument between friends, a political speech, communication through social media or the web, cross-cultural interactions, or a film or television program.

Undergraduate program options include a Bachelor’s degree and a certificate in Media Literacy.

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Welcome to the Communication Community

Communication is a fundamental social and cultural process that makes us who we are as people and societies. The UMass Amherst Department of Communication emphasizes theories of communication and critical thinking. As a Communication major, you will develop analytical abilities that help you understand how communication works, whether in an argument between friends, a political speech, communication through social media or the web, cross-cultural interactions, or a film or television program.

Much of our undergraduate curriculum is organized around five areas: Interpersonal Communication and Culture; Media and Popular Culture Studies; Media, Technology, and Society; Rhetoric and Performance Studies; and Film Studies. In addition, we offer a variety of classes that focus on communication skills, including public speaking, writing and screenwriting, research methods, leadership and service learning, and video production. We currently do not offer industry-oriented, how-to classes in public relations, advertising, or broadcasting.

Featured Articles

New Leadership Opportunity – SBS Ambassador Program

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News & Articles

The Pathways Center is excited to launch a new Ambassador Pilot Program to help develop new SBS student leaders. These leaders will work with the Assistant Dean and Executive Director of the Pathways Center and the Director of Student Success …

By Koni Denham

Koni Denham Director of Student Success - SBS

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SBS Internship & Study Abroad Scholarships – Opening Soon!

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News & Articles

Mark your calendars for upcoming scholarship opportunities! The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) offers scholarships to support your career and study abroad interests. Soon we will be opening scholarships for spring opportunities. Please check out the dates below, …

By Koni Denham

Koni Denham Director of Student Success - SBS

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The Key to Academic Excellence: YOU!

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The Key to Academic Excellence: YOU!

Dr. Saundra Yancy McGuire, author of Teach Students How to Learn, describes metacognition as the process of thinking about your own thinking and being consciously aware of yourself as a problem solver. We all struggle with procrastination, and she suggests …

By Koni Denham

Koni Denham Director of Student Success - SBS

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Marianne Neal-Joyce
Director of Undergraduate Advising Schedule an Appointment

Aaron Hoholik
Senior Academic Advisor Schedule an Appointment

Mary Pion
Academic Advisor Schedule an Appointment

Important: These advising links are for current majors. To declare this major, follow instructions here.

Upcoming Events

October

02

Wayfair Meet & Greet Table - Isenberg Hub

Mon, Oct 2 at 1pm - 3:30pm
03

Peace Corps Information Table on the Goodell Lawn

Tue, Oct 3 at 11am - 2:30pm
19

Veeva - Recruiting Table on the Goodell Lawn

Thu, Oct 19 at 11am - 2:30pm

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Featured Jobs + Internships

Communication Internship Taunton River Watershed Alliance - Spring 2024
Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
2024 Summer Internship - Product Line Management - Business, Recreational, and Homeowners
State Farm Insurance Companies
2024 Business Relationship Manager Trainee Program - Full Time Analyst Opportunity (New York)
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Business Analyst - Full-Time (January & 2024 Start)
Wayfair
Fellowship Program 2024
Havas Health & You

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Featured Alumni

Casey Lyons’19 Communication

Alumni

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Boston, MA
Marketing Coordinator The Boston Globe Companies

Bridget Thom’18, Communication

Alumni

Sales Capture Specialist Accenture

Dianna Bronchuk’16, Communication & Sociology

Alumni

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Assistant Director of Educational Initiatives Northeastern University Alumni Relations Office

Ella Khorov’19, STPEC & Communication

Alumni

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Washington, DC
Legislative Health Fellow Office of U.S. Congressman Tony Cardenas

Lucia Castellana’13 Communication

Alumni

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Boston, MA
Supervisor - Paid Social Mediahub Global

Alexandra McInnis’17 Communication

Alumni

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Atlanta, GA
Account Executive Dagger

Meet Alexandra >

George Smith’02 Communication

Alumni

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New York, NY
Head of Creative & Digital Strategy - Creators League Studios PepsiCo

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AcademicWorks: Scholarship Application SystemShare This: Share AcademicWorks: Scholarship Application System on FacebookShare AcademicWorks: Scholarship Application System on LinkedInShare AcademicWorks: Scholarship Application System on Twitter
UMass’ powerful scholarship application system. Log on with your net ID and password to get started.

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Tutoring: Learning Resource Center (LRC)Share This: Share Tutoring: Learning Resource Center (LRC) on FacebookShare Tutoring: Learning Resource Center (LRC) on LinkedInShare Tutoring: Learning Resource Center (LRC) on Twitter
The central academic support unit for undergraduate students.

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Writing CenterShare This: Share Writing Center on FacebookShare Writing Center on LinkedInShare Writing Center on Twitter
We work with undergrad, grad, staff, post-doc, and faculty writers at any stage of the writing process: brainstorming and outlining, …

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Remedying Inequity through Student Engagement – SBS RISEShare This: Share Remedying Inequity through Student Engagement – SBS RISE on FacebookShare Remedying Inequity through Student Engagement – SBS RISE on LinkedInShare Remedying Inequity through Student Engagement – SBS RISE on Twitter
SBS RISE is designed to create community, and provide specialized academic programs and opportunities for underrepresented students within SBS (those …

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Study Abroad: International Programs Office (IPO)Share This: Share Study Abroad: International Programs Office (IPO) on FacebookShare Study Abroad: International Programs Office (IPO) on LinkedInShare Study Abroad: International Programs Office (IPO) on Twitter
For any student interested in Education Abroad.

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Success Coaching: CMASSShare This: Share Success Coaching: CMASS on FacebookShare Success Coaching: CMASS on LinkedInShare Success Coaching: CMASS on Twitter
Success coaching is a personalized service to promote progression towards your desired outcomes. CMASS Coaches use a holistic, intersectional and …

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Communication: Engaged ScholarshipShare This: Share Communication: Engaged Scholarship on FacebookShare Communication: Engaged Scholarship on LinkedInShare Communication: Engaged Scholarship on Twitter
The Department of Communication at UMass Amherst advances engaged scholarship in media and communication fostering collaboration among faculty, students, and …

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Communication: Careers for MajorsShare This: Share Communication: Careers for Majors on FacebookShare Communication: Careers for Majors on LinkedInShare Communication: Careers for Majors on Twitter
As a liberal arts degree, the BA in Communication prepares you for any career that calls for higher literacy skills, …

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Communication: Student Showcase & AwardsShare This: Share Communication: Student Showcase & Awards on FacebookShare Communication: Student Showcase & Awards on LinkedInShare Communication: Student Showcase & Awards on Twitter
We are excited to honor work that addresses issues of social justice and promotes diversity, especially work that celebrates a …

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Skill-Building With Linkedin Learning Classes

See below for skill-building classes – visit LinkedIn Learning for more.

Build a Successful Career in Project Management

Taught by Oliver Yarbrough

Do you want to get into project management? Maybe you’re already in project management, but you want to grow. Either…

Media Relations Foundations

Taught by Jessica Chen

View Jessica’s LinkedIn Newsletter If you want your business to succeed, you need as much brand recognition as you can…

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Essential Training (2021)

Taught by Corey Koberg

Google Analytics 4 provides the means to track, analyze, and report on the visitors to your site and app—who they…

Social Media Marketing Strategy: TikTok and Instagram Reels

Taught by Ashley Kennedy

If you’re in marketing, the only thing worse than not having a social media marketing strategy is having a bad…

Emerging Leader Foundations

Taught by Dan Schawbel

View Dan’s LinkedIn Newsletter Taking on a leadership role in the diverse, ever-changing modern workplace can feel both exhilarating and…

Learning to Write Marketing Copy

Taught by Ian Lurie

Copy is the heart and soul of almost every marketing endeavor. Get a great foundation for all your campaigns with…

Learning Design Thinking: Lead Change in Your Organization

Taught by Turi McKinley

Design thinking is a user-centered way of solving problems. It involves extensive collaboration, using strategies such as mapping customer journeys,…

Customer Service Foundations (2020)

Taught by Jeff Toister

View Jeff’s LinkedIn Newsletter Do your customers feel valued? When they do, they keep coming back. When they don’t, your…

Content Marketing: Online Reviews in Social Media

Taught by Melodie Tao

For business owners, online reviews are a powerful asset in your marketing toolkit that can make or break a sale,…

SEO Foundations (2018)

Taught by David Booth

Modern consumers navigate the world through search. From laptops, smartphones, virtual assistants, tablets, and more, they search the wild and…

Purpose-Driven Sales

Taught by Lisa Earle McLeod

Do you have a purpose, or do you just sell stuff? Best-selling author and sales leadership consultant Lisa Earle McLeod…

User Experience (UX) for Non-Designers

Taught by Tom Green

User experience (UX) design is more than just pushing pixels and adding interactivity. It’s a people-centric practice that involves many…

Brand Design Foundations

Taught by Sean Adams

Everyone knows the importance of great branding, but how do you build a brand from scratch? In this course, Sean…

Business Analysis Foundations: Business Process Modeling

Taught by Haydn Thomas

When you’re trying to grapple with user demands and market changes, it can be difficult to mentally zoom out and…

Digital Marketing Trends

Taught by Martin Waxman

View Martin’s LinkedIn Newsletter Stay up to date on the latest trends in digital marketing. In this biweekly series, marketing…

Customer Service: Managing Customer Expectations

Taught by Jeff Toister

View Jeff’s LinkedIn Newsletter Today’s customers expect a lot. Customer service expert Jeff Toister helps frontline employees identify where they…

Social Media Marketing for Small Business (2016)

Taught by Martin Waxman

View Martin’s LinkedIn Newsletter Small businesses can’t afford not to be active on social media. Having a Facebook, Instagram, or…

Photoshop 2022 Essential Training

Taught by Julieanne Kost

Whether you’re an experienced creative professional or just looking to make the most out of your new camera, learning how…

Six Sigma Foundations

Taught by Richard Chua

Learn how to apply Six Sigma to drive improvements in the performance of your processes, products, and services. Dr. Richard…

Google Ads Essential Training (2020)

Taught by Brad Batesole

Learn the foundations of pay-per-click (PPC) advertising with Google Ads (formerly known as AdWords) the industry-leading PPC platform. First, explore…

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Relevant Courses

SBS College to Careers – SOCBEHAV 250

SOCBEHAV 250: College to Careers This class is all about YOU. • One credit, highly-participatory course • Learn about yourself…

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Experiential Opportunities

						
									Remedying Inequity through Student Engagement (SBS RISE)									

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									SBS in Boston – Boston-based credited internship program during the semester									

									UMass Amherst: Mt. Ida Campus
																	
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									Civic Engagement & Service Learning (CESL)									

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									Domestic Exchange									

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									Study Abroad									

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									SBS Shadows – Spend a Day With an Alum in their Workplace Over Winter Break									

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Research Opportunities

Communication: Student Showcase & AwardsShare This: Share Communication: Student Showcase & Awards on FacebookShare Communication: Student Showcase & Awards on LinkedInShare Communication: Student Showcase & Awards on Twitter
We are excited to honor work that addresses issues of social justice and promotes diversity, especially work that celebrates a …

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Communication: Departmental HonorsShare This: Share Communication: Departmental Honors on FacebookShare Communication: Departmental Honors on LinkedInShare Communication: Departmental Honors on Twitter
Communication majors enrolled in the Commonwealth Honors College have the option of selecting a Departmental Honors track in Communication.

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Research Readiness Moodle Course: UMass OURS ProgramShare This: Share Research Readiness Moodle Course: UMass OURS Program on FacebookShare Research Readiness Moodle Course: UMass OURS Program on LinkedInShare Research Readiness Moodle Course: UMass OURS Program on Twitter
OURS has created a short Research Readiness Moodle course that provides information about getting involved in research and guides you …

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Rising Researcher Award (UMass)Share This: Share Rising Researcher Award (UMass) on FacebookShare Rising Researcher Award (UMass) on LinkedInShare Rising Researcher Award (UMass) on Twitter
ABOUT THE AWARD

The Rising Researcher award is designed to raise the profile of our most promising undergraduate students and …

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Office of National Scholarships (ONSA)Share This: Share Office of National Scholarships (ONSA) on FacebookShare Office of National Scholarships (ONSA) on LinkedInShare Office of National Scholarships (ONSA) on Twitter
The Office of National Scholarship Advisement (ONSA) at UMass helps students (and alumni who are not currently in grad school) …

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Office of Undergraduate Research & Studies (OURS)Share This: Share Office of Undergraduate Research & Studies (OURS) on FacebookShare Office of Undergraduate Research & Studies (OURS) on LinkedInShare Office of Undergraduate Research & Studies (OURS) on Twitter
OURS helps students find and access undergraduate research and scholarly opportunities on and off campus, throughout the year.  We serve …

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Explore Outcomes

The SBS Office of Career & Professional Development annually surveys graduating seniors in order to provide a snapshot of their post-graduation plans. The survey begins just prior to graduation, and continues until six months after graduation. Our data collection process is guided by the industry standard put forth by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, and includes information collected by the SBS Office of Career & Professional Development, the Office of Institutional Research at UMass Amherst, and by various academic departments, as well as from information that is made publicly available by students. The SBS undergraduate outcomes knowledge rate for 2022 was 70%, though knowledge rate varies among departments.

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The SBS Office of Career & Professional Development annually surveys graduating seniors in order to provide a snapshot of their post-graduation plans. The survey begins just prior to graduation, and continues until six months after graduation. Our data collection process is guided by the industry standard put forth by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, and includes information collected by the SBS Office of Career & Professional Development, the Office of Institutional Research at UMass Amherst, and by various academic departments, as well as from information that is made publicly available by students. The SBS undergraduate outcomes knowledge rate for 2022 was 70%, though knowledge rate varies among departments.

First Destination
Top Employers
Starting Salary
Job Titles
Employment Locations
Top Universities
Degree Types
Fields of Study

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First Destination

SBS graduates pursue a range of plans after graduation, including employment, continuing education, and volunteering/service, among others. This graph depicts what recent SBS graduates tell us they are doing within six months after graduation.

Top Employers

Students in the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences at UMass Amherst build the skills employers seek, such as critical and analytical thinking, creative problem solving, communication, cultural awareness, and more. This makes our students highly attractive candidates for a wide variety of roles with an even wider range of employers and industries. The list of employers featured here is based on information reported by students or employers to SBS, or employment data that is made publicly available by students. The list is formulated based on the most-commonly reported hiring employers. Generally, the first ten on the list have hired multiple students, and after that, employers who have hired at least one SBS grad are listed in alphabetical order. Survey data indicated that a minimum of 330+ distinct employers hired UMass students in 2022.

Starting Salary

Starting salary data is self-reported by the new graduates and is not a required field on the survey, so this data is incomplete with regard to salary ranges. Keep in mind that salaries for volunteer/service roles are, by their nature, low, and skew the averages lower. There are also students making significantly more than the average. Both cost of living (based on geographic location), and chosen industry have a significant impact on starting salaries. These data do not include information on benefits such as health insurance, tuition reimbursement, bonuses, and other important factors in a student's employment decision making process.

Job Titles

Employment Locations

A majority of students in the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, as with the University as a whole, are residents of Massachusetts. While the majority of our graduates choose to stay in Massachusetts for their first post-graduate jobs, many others accept positions all across the country, and around the world. Common first destination locations are Washington, D.C., New York City, California, and the other New England states.

United States

World

Top Universities

The list below provides a look at the most-commonly reported graduate schools in which SBS graduates are enrolled. While many SBS graduates choose to stay at UMass Amherst for their graduate education, many others attend universities across the country and around the world.

Degree Types

Fields of Study

The variety of fields of study selected by SBS graduates is a good indication of their diverse interests, and their desire to both expand and deepen their understanding of their area of interest.

We don’t have enough student data to show you these results.

Featured Videos

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Learn more about the Public Relations concentration, PR student club, & career opportunities

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Introduction to Academic Works from SBS

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SBS in DC Goes Virtual – Summer 2020

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SBS in DC Summer Internship Program

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