Earning communications degrees today offers a suitable base for many different types of employment. Students who wish to go on to advanced school for law or business, or who might be looking to begin study for an MBA would find the skills taught in a communications program a very valuable addition to any further study. For students in Florida, there are several options available for study in communications that are located all over the state. One of the best elements of studying in Florida is that it’s a beautiful state with hundreds of miles of beaches, so going to school almost feels like going on a vacation every day.
DeVry University
College of Business Management
DeVry University offers education through several different colleges including the Keller Graduate School of Management, Ross University, and Carrington College. In recent years, the school has achieved enrollment of over 90,000 students spread out over several campuses across the country. For students in Florida, there are DeVry campuses in several towns including Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, and Orlando, in addition to several others. Students may also complete their instruction through online classes, so there aren’t any geographical restrictions on taking courses. The school boasts that over 230,000 students have graduated since the school became its modern incarnation in 1975 and started focusing on technical degrees.
Technical Communication Degree Specialization
Writing is always a creative endeavor; however, today’s writing often requires technical specialization for use in business, marketing, and technical documents. The program at DeVry is designed to take advantage of an expected 17% growth of jobs from 2010 to 2020, according to numbers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Some of the types of writing that might require technical writing include user guides, instructional resources, and software guides. The technical communications degree specialization is available through three different degrees at DeVry including Business Administration, Management, and Technical Management. Some of the classes students may take while enrolled in the technical communication course include Marketing and Corporate Communications, Virtual Design, and Web Design. One of the valuable features of the program is the Scientific and Medical Writing course, which helps students to decipher complex terms and general scientific jargon that must be included in various medical or technical writings.
Contact
DeVry University
5200 Belfort Rd #175
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Phone: 888.903.3879
admissions@devry.edu
Website
Eastern Florida State College
Communications
This state college in Florida has four locations around the state in Cocoa, Palm Bay, Melbourne, and Titusville. The school was established in 1960 and was made part of the Florida College System in Brevard County. The area is referred to as Florida’s “Space Coast” and according to statistics provided by the college, over a half-million students have taken classes in the system. The school also offers students a high graduation rate when compared to other schools in the Florida system of higher education. When it first opened its doors, the school only had between 600 and 700 students enrolled, but would grow significantly over the next several decades.
Associate in Arts (A.A.)
Eastern Florida State College quotes Nathaniel Hawthorne and his suggestion that words are potent when wielded by a knowledgeable individual. The communications courses at Eastern Florida State offer students instruction in a variety of vital skills such as writing, speaking, and reading. In addition, the program features a heavy concentration on critical thinking, as well as study of foreign languages. Students who learn about communications are able to meet the challenges of many different careers and may also use the degree as a jumping-off point for further education in college. The communications classes at EFSC are so important that they form the basis of the core curriculum for many degrees offered by the college. Some of the communications classes students will get to take include Film Appreciation, Creative Writing, Technical Writing, and Special Topics in Literature. The college also offers a program for students who speak English as a second language.
Contact
Eastern Florida State College
1519 Clearlake Road
Cocoa, FL 32922
Phone: 321.632.1111
info@easternflorida.edu
Website
Flagler College
Department of Communications
A private, liberal arts college, Flagler College has around 2,500 students enrolled and is locate in St. Augustine. The college opened its doors in 1968 and had a campus-wide celebration in 2008 to celebrate its fortieth anniversary. The school has been named as one of the best colleges in the southeast region by publication “U.S. News & World Report” and sits on the list of “America’s Best Colleges.” The “Princeton Review” also ranked the college in the top tier of colleges, in the southeastern United States. The campus is a beautiful one and features historic buildings like Ponce de Leon Hall, which was built in 1888 as a luxury hotel.
Journalism and Documentary Production Major
Although the survival of newspapers has been questioned over the past few decades with the rise of the internet, journalism has remained an important facet of getting important news to the public. Flagler College’s program in journalism and documentary production offer students a valuable curriculum that takes advantage of standard documentary techniques, as well as new methods used by documentarians today. Some of the journalism classes students may expect to take include Media Literacy, Newswriting, and Photojournalism. Classes on the documentary side include Audio Production, Writing for Short Subjects, and Introduction to Documentary Styles. Students describe Flagler’s program as a combination of theory and practice. Students often appreciate the combination of hands-on learning and the instruction received in the classroom. One of the important features of the program is that journalism from many points of view is part of instruction. Students aren’t just exposed to traditional newspaper tactics, but also learn about new media and modern approaches to print, graphics, and “converged” media.
Contact
Flagler College
74 King Street.
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: 904.829.6481
admissions@flagler.edu
Website
Florida Gulf Coast University
Department of Communications and Philosophy
FGCU is part of the state university system in the state of Florida and has around 14,000 students enrolled. The university offers over 50 bachelor’s degrees and almost 30 different master’s degrees, in addition to 6 doctoral degrees. The school was established recently in 1991; however, construction didn’t occur for a year after that. The governor of the state established the school and after construction was complete, the college started offering classes in August of 1997. A year later the school finished traditional dormitories for students. The school was developed as a tech-friendly school that would offer students many ways to learn.
Communications (B.A.)
Students may enter a variety of industries after receiving a degree in communications from Florida Gulf Coast University. Students seeking a career in areas like law, business, journalism, or mass communications would find themselves well-prepared to meet the challenges of those industries. The program also features a demanding curriculum that ensures students will succeed in graduate school if they choose to continue to advanced degrees after receiving a diploma. The university offers four different concentrations for students to narrow their focus during study. Those concentrations include Communication Studies, Political Communication, Public Relations, and Environmental Communication. There are similar core courses that all students take no matter their concentration and students must complete courses like Foundations of Civic Engagement, Philosophy of Human Communication, and Fundamentals of Communication. The school suggests in its learning outcomes that students must learn how to present high quality oral presentations, develop effective arguments, and apply communication theory to practice.
Contact
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Blvd, South
Fort Myers, FL 33965-3428
Phone: 239.590.1000
mhambrick@fgcu.edu
Website
Florida International University
Journalism & Mass Communication
Established in 1965, Florida International University was built in Miami-Dade County. Today, the university receives a grade of “high research activity” from the Carnegie Foundation and is also considered a first-tier research university within the state by the Florida government. There are 12 campuses in the state university system and Florida International University is one of them. The school has an extraordinary number of students with over 50,000 enrolled. There are over 280 majors from which to choose that are housed in a variety of colleges and schools within the university. Despite the school’s immense size, it’s not the largest in the state and comes in second place as far as total enrollment numbers are concerned.
Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications, Journalism Specialization
The School of Journalism and Mass Communications offers a wide variety of classes for students to develop their skills in areas like digital, interactive, and media communications. The program is designed to offer students modern, updated knowledge regarding communication that takes the digital revolution into account. The curriculum combines traditional best practices as well as technical content to ensure students receive a timely and valuable degree. Students also graduate with a portfolio of work that they may use during the job hunt after graduation, or which may be used during application to graduate school. Students may enter the workforce in a variety of roles in industries like the news media, politics, and any organization which requires public relations. Some of the jobs students might seek include lobbyists, photojournalists, researchers, and copywriters. Some of the classes students should expect to take include Writing Strategies, Global Media and Society, and Mass Communication Law & Ethics.
Contact
Florida International University
School of Journalism & Mass Communication
3000 N.E. 151 Street, Academic 2
North Miami, FL 33181
Phone: 305.919.5625
sjmc@fiu.edu
Website
Florida Southern College
Arts & Sciences
A private college situated in Lakeland, Florida Southern College has offered classes since 1883. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and has been named as one of the top ten Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelors by “U.S. News & World Report.” In addition, “The Princeton Review” named the college as one of the country’s Best Value Colleges. The school has an extensive collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and Florida Southern even gained acclaim when “The Princeton Review” named the campus as the most beautiful in the country in 2012. About 2,300 students attend Florida Southern College and take classes from an academic staff of just over 100.
Advertising & Public Relations
FSC’s program offers a strong focus on multimedia, as well as practical learning and students are immediately ready to find success in the workforce after graduation. Each student must complete an internship before graduation and benefits from the valuable advice and mentorship from professors after graduation. The location of the college also means that students have the opportunity to attend a variety of conferences so as to network with professionals and expand upon classroom instruction. One of the neat features of the program is that after students receive instruction on various topics of advertising and public relations, students will work with a local organization to create a campaign. Students will learn about how award-winning commercials are made, how critical thinking skills boost professional success, and how memorable advertisements are created. Students are encouraged to participate in the National Student Advertising Competition, which gives students access to an actual campaign and which is also terrific for networking purposes.
Contact
Florida Southern College
111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: 863.680.3003
aortiz@flsouthern.edu
Website
Florida State University
Communications and Information
Located in the state capital of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a large school with over 41,000 students enrolled. There are 16 colleges at the school that offer study in more than 300 different programs. The school was named as a university with high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation and was also the site of a major advancement in cancer research with the development of the drug Taxol. The university also boasts one of the biggest museums on any university campus in the entire country. Interestingly, the school as dubbed a “Budget Ivy” in a report of colleges offering a superior education with a low price tag.
Bachelor of Science/Arts in Media & Communication Studies
Students enrolled in the Media & Communications program at Florida State enjoy a varied curriculum that looks at the history of media and also considers where future leaders in the industry might head with new inventions and styles of communication. Students will also learn about how communication impacts the economy and how the media influences society. These legal and ethical issues are essential knowledge for any student wishing to graduate as a well-rounded individual. The university has a cap on how many students it will admit into the program and reaching the minimum GPA required by the school isn’t necessarily a guarantee of acceptance. Additionally, once admitted, students must achieve grades of at least a C- for those courses to be counted toward graduation. Students are monitored by advisors to ensure that they take the right classes which will ensure they graduate on time. The program also requires students to take foreign language classes.
Contact
Florida State University
Communications and Information
CCI Advertising Center
4115 University Center, Bldg C
Tallahassee, FL 32306
Phone: 850.644.7278
advising@cci.fsu.edu
Website
Full Sail University
Online Bachelor’s Degree
Established in 1979 in Dayton, Ohio, Full Sail University was once known as Full Sail Recording Workshop. The school soon relocated to Florida and added a variety of media courses to its offerings. By the time 1989 rolled around, the university arrived at its modern campus. In 2007, the university started offering online degrees. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges to award a variety of degrees. Graduates of Full Sail have gained notice in various industries such as music recording when it won an award from “Mix” magazine for Best Recording School/Program in Technical Excellence and Creativity.
Media Communications
Graduates skilled in a variety of modes of communication are valuable to companies today who need to transmit messages to consumers and within various types of media. Some of the areas where students may focus during their education include Written & Visual Communications, Digital Audio & Video Production, New Media Tools, and Transmedia Storytelling. FSU ensures students obtain a varied curriculum that includes study in all modern media in use today in marketing and advertising. Some of the classes students take while enrolled include Digital Video and Editing Principles, Media Entrepreneurship, and Media Publishing and Distribution, in addition to many more interesting classes. The university refers to its program as “media-rich” with several video presentations, online guest lectures, and podcasts for students to attend at the virtual campus. In addition, the program provides animated instruction and interactive content to enhance learning. Students even get access to “Project LunchBox,” which offers students a deeply discounted laptop.
Contact
Full Sail University
3300 University Blvd.
Winter Park, FL 32792
Phone: 407.679.6333
admissions@fullsail.edu
Website
Indian River State College
Bachelor’s Degree Programs
Located in Fort Pierce, Indian River State College was originally a junior college serving the counties of Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee when it opened in 1959. The school transitioned into a college offering bachelor’s degrees in 2007 and the name was changed to its current name in 2008. In addition to the main campus in Fort Pierce, the college also operates campuses in Okeechobee, Stuart, Vero Beach, and other cities in the area. The sports program at the school is wildly successful as the men’s swimming and diving team has won 39 NJCAA swimming championships in a row.
Bachelor of Applied Science in Digital Media – Graphic Design and Visual Communication
Students interested in digital and graphic creativity will want to check out the Graphic Design and Visual Communications degree at IRSC. Graphic design is a heavy part of most media today and influences what we see on the TV, internet, video, as well as places like advertising, animation, and corporate branding. Students learn how to become innovative thinkers who thrive on creativity and technical prowess. Some of the classes students take while enrolled include 3D Media Art and Illustration, Visual Communication, and Scripting for Web Sites. Students must also complete a Digital Media Capstone Project which demonstrates the knowledge a student has gained during his or her time in the program. Students must dedicate an extraordinary amount of time to the Capstone project and advisors limit enrollment in classes to just 12 credits during a student’s final semester. One of the convenient aspects of classes at IRSC is that students may attend classrooms anywhere around Florida’s Treasure Coast.
Contact
Indian River State College
3209 Virginia Ave
Fort Pierce, FL 34981
Phone: 772.462.7898
admissions@irsc.edu
Website
Lynn University
College of International Communication
Lynn University is a private, non-profit school located in Boca Raton. Founded in 1962, the university counts students from almost every state and also have students enrolled from 80 countries around the world. There are around 2,100 students enrolled at the university, and the school focuses on offering students a curriculum designed to offer students strong mentoring through individualized attention, as well as an international view within most degree programs. The university offers more than 25 different undergraduate degrees and several graduate degrees as well. Students often choose to study abroad during their study and experience learning in a different country.
Bachelor of Arts Communication and Emerging Media
Students benefit from a strong curriculum that offers study of the past, present, and future in media. Although the program features a strong foundation of communication standards, students also learn about emerging technologies and how technology has influenced modern communication. The university says that its learning centers offer state-of-the-art equipment and that students will get to put their lessons into practice through hands-on experience. Lynn University prides itself on its innovative and advanced program that also offers students the opportunity to learn near the beautiful beaches of southern Florida. Alumni from the program have gone on to careers with several major companies including CNBC, Verizon Wireless, VH1, JetBlue Airways, and Ryan Seacrest Productions. The faculty are industry veterans and have experience in the real world in their fields of instruction. Students are able to develop a healthy portfolio while enrolled at the college, which helps students when they leave school and graduate.
Contact
Lynn University
3601 N. Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: 561.237.7900
admissions@lynn.edu
Website
There are virtually no industries where communication skills aren’t valuable. With a degree in communications, students may seek out work directly in various media fields like journalism and filmmaking, or they may choose to enter graduate school in nearly any focus or concentration. A communications degree is a versatile degree and gives students the skills they need to succeed in nearly any venue. “The Princeton Review” cites communications degrees as one of the most popular areas of study for students in the United States and is in the top 10 of most popular college majors. Florida offers students several communications degrees from respected universities located all over the state.
For more information on Communication degrees in Florida, please see Communications Degrees in Florida (P-Z).
