You have seen the world change so much in such a short amount of time: climate change, human rights violations and wealth inequality, to name a few. You feel the need to help. With our social change degree, you can explore critical social justice issues and learn the communication skills necessary for social advocacy work. 

This communication degree can be tailored to your specific interests in social justice, positioning you to make a difference and create change at the local, state and federal levels.

A group of college students sit outside the library. Some are on laptops and some are reading books.
Degree:

Bachelor of Arts

Delivery:

On campus, some online

Campus:

Oakland

Transfer credits:

Up to 90 credits

The social advocacy curriculum includes in-person and online courses. In addition to your communication courses, political science and social work courses are included in the curriculum to help you develop your understanding of how communication relates to social policy and advocacy. You will have the opportunity to focus your social change degree on specific interest areas including poverty, education equality and health care. 

With access to Carlow’s Hopkins Communication Lab, you will gain critical learning experiences, develop and practice professional presentations, and perform research. 

Hands-on experience includes the Youth Media Advocacy Project, an organization that empowers middle and high school students in the community to develop communication advocacy campaigns.

Quick facts

  • Courses offered in-person and online for a hybrid model
  • Focus on your social justice interests
  • Access to our communications lab
  • Hands-on experience with the Youth Media Advocacy Project
Communications students work together with documents at a table.
Edward Scott, left, (Class of ’22, respiratory care) and Choomia Darwin (Class of ’22, respiratory care) study for a final exam at the A.J. Palumbo Hall of Science and Technology, Monday, December 9, 2019. (Rebecca Droke/Carlow University), 2019. (Rebecca Droke/Carlow University)

Career opportunities for communications

Students with a communications degree can work in an array of media and communication occupations such as a public relations specialist, a reporter or specialized areas of communications outreach for an organization.  

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in media and communications occupations is projected to grow four percent from 2019 to 2029. The public relations specialists job market is expected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029. This growth is largely driven by organizations’ need to develop their public image.


  • Submit an application for admission. It is free to apply.
  • Request that official transcripts from all current and previous institutions you’ve attended are sent directly to the Carlow University Office of Admission.
Apply

anytime

Start terms:

Fall, Spring & Summer

#1
FROM OUR BLOG
3 Keys To Mastering Storytelling In Marketing Communications

3 keys to mastering storytelling in marketing communications Tell a good story—one that somehow defines your values—the essence of who you are, and why others should care—and you’ll capture the hearts and loyalty of customers…

#1
previous arrow
next arrow

If you are interested in this major, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.

Minor in communication

One skill set, highly sought by employers, crosses all academic disciplines at Carlow University: communication. The Communication minor program of studies will teach you how to build and maintain relationships across diverse cultures and groups, and cultivate leadership and team-building skills.

The Communication minor is ideal for students interested in counseling, health professions, business and other fields where interpersonal communication is essential. With an emphasis on working with others, courses will help you build written and digital communication skills.

Communication minor curriculum

The Communication minor can be customized to your interests and needs, and is open to any major. A minimum of 18 credits is required (6 credits must be 200 level or higher; 9 credits must be completed at Carlow University). 

Required Courses

  • Interpersonal/Relational Seminar
  • Persuasion
  • 4 communication elective courses

Prepare for a dynamic field with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications degree

Be the voice of change for a community, help market a business or product, or become a business leader with a communications degree from Carlow University. You’ll develop the tools you need to communicate effectively through oral, written and multimedia outlets. Gain practical, real-world experiences by collaborating with Carlow multimedia artists, writing for our student-run newspaper or announcing Carlow Celtic sporting events. If you have a specific focus in mind we offer tracks, including organizational management, advocacy and social change, and digital media.

As a communication major, you have the opportunity to not only reach your audience but your personal goals, too. Our Communication alumni remain connected to the program as a strong professional network for any communication graduate.

Quick facts

  • Develop skills valued by employers
  • Specialize your studies with program-specific tracks (organizational management, advocacy and social justice, digital media)
  • Get hands-on experience with the student-run newspaper and the sports radio program
Professor Michael Balmert teaches a communications ethics, Wednesday, January 29, 2020. (Rebecca Droke/Carlow University)
A group of college students sit outside the library. Some are on laptops and some are reading books.
Degree:

Bachelor of Arts

Delivery:

On campus, some online

Campus:

Oakland

Transfer credits:

Up to 90 credits

Communication degree curriculum

Classroom and real-world practice help you hone problem-solving, team-building and critical thinking skills, all highly sought after by employers. In the Hopkins Communication Lab, you can practice professional presentations and perform research. Student tutors can help you master your public speaking skills.

10:1

student to faculty ratio

Choose a communication track that is right for you

As a communication major you can choose the general track or specialize your studies to better fit your career goals. In each track, you will access hands-on learning opportunities, such as developing your news writing and research skills by working with “The Carlow Chronicle,” a student-run newspaper, and polishing your broadcasting skills with “Carlow Sports Talk.”

Advocacy and Social Justice

Focus on communication and social justice preparing you to make a difference and create change at the local, state, and federal levels

Digital Media

Concentrate on crafting messages across multiple platforms, like social media and gain experience in marketing and public relations

Organizational Management

Focus on business communications, including media relations and the principles of strategic planning

Liberal Arts advantage

As a Carlow University student, you have the opportunity to pursue a well-rounded liberal arts education full of career-readiness pathways including our honors program, internships, service-learning, study abroad and research.

Carlow Compass logo

The Carlow Compass is our general education curriculum that allows you to develop your knowledge and skills as you discover what you want to study or pursue as a career.

Learn more about the curriculum

Career opportunities for communications

Career opportunities for communication majors are projected to increase 4%* as organizations in every industry continually need communication professionals to create, edit and deliver information through multiple platforms.

  • Work in the arts, entertainment, sports, business and government industries
  • Hold job titles like content creator, announcer, editor, translator, reporter, journalist or author

We help you get to where you want to be
Our Office of Career Development offers one-on-one services including job search help and internship programs.

*Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics

Admission requirements and application process

  • Submit an application for admission. It is free to apply.
  • Request that official transcripts from all current and previous institutions you’ve attended are sent directly to the Carlow University Office of Admissions.
Apply

anytime

Start terms:

Fall, Spring & Summer

Olivia Miller, ’21, biology major and runner on the track & field/cross country team.

Find the right mix.

Haley Chiusano ’22, a communication major, was very impressed with the helpful atmosphere at Carlow. “I have learned so much (at Carlow). The professors are so knowledgeable and the coursework is very fair. It pushes me to be a good student, while also allowing me to have time for other things such as volleyball and my job.”

Alternate degree completion options

3-Year Degree

Finish your bachelor’s degree in three years by following a 3-year academic plan. Courses are taken across fall, spring and summer terms with summer courses completely online. When applying, indicate your interest in the 3-Year Degree option.

Accelerated

Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.

FROM OUR BLOG

Invalid RSS feed URL.

Communication faculty

Contact Admissions

If you are interested in this major, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event.

You can prepare for a career in media, public relations, marketing or nonprofit in Carlow University’s English and communications programs. You will learn how to communicate effectively and read literature critically and cultivate highly sought after skills such as creative and critical thinking and interpersonal communication. You can specialize your communications studies with a focus on advocacy and social change, digital media or organizational management.

You can combine your interest in creative arts, humanities and sciences with a minor in Theatre. In this program you will develop your mind, body and imagination with a combination of thinking, doing and creative problem-solving. You can get your hands dirty with everything from building sets to being the star of the show.

Carlow University’s Rosemary Heyl Theatre is a professional space that features programming by the theater program and the University Theatre Group, which is composed of both Carlow students and Pittsburgh community members and has produced shows from William Shakespeare to Tom Stoppard.

This minor is open to any major and can be customized to your interests. A minimum of 18 credits is required.

Required courses include:

  • Introduction to Theatre Arts
  • Acting

© Copyright 2026 Carlow University. All rights reserved.
Carlow University prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator, Jackie smith at jmsmith@carlow.edu or 412-578-6050.