10%+ growth
Our majors lead to career paths with high projected growth over the next 10 years
Affordable, Accessible
We offer thousands of scholarship dollars each year to CCI students
In-Demand Skills
Communication and teamwork are among the most sought-after skills by employers
In-Demand Programs, Emerging Careers
The world runs on communication. From social media and podcasting to viral videos and digital design, the way we receive and share information is constantly changing. Explore the tabs below to learn about our eight undergraduate majors.
Advertising
What it is:
Advertising is a dynamic global industry central to media, corporations, non-profits and government organizations. This major teaches students to select the right audience, uncover consumer insights, develop insight-based strategies, conceptualize and create effective messaging, all with a digital-first mindset.
Do you enjoy?
- Brands and design
- Digital advertising
- Focus groups and consumer insight
Our Distinction
Advertising students regularly participate and place nationally in the Effie Collegiate Brand Challenge, working with brands like Subaru, Bose and more.
Communication Studies
What it is:
Communication skills top the list of what employers say they want from new hires, and this major prepares students to meet these expectations: thinking analytically, reasoning critically, communicating effectively and leading responsibly.
Do you enjoy?
- Person-to-person communication
- Global perspectives and exploration
- Speech and debate
- Writing
- Social media
- Research
Our Distinction
Students choose from applied and general concentrations.
Digital Media Production
What it is:
Producing multimedia stories, broadcasts and documentaries using the latest equipment and software. Students regularly work with students from theatre and dance, game design, science, music, art and fashion, as they produce live events, short films, documentaries and animated works.
Do you enjoy?
- Video and audio producing
- Filmmaking
- Digital storytelling
- Live event streaming and production
Our Distinction
Plenty of opportunities exist on campus to gain experience in the field: working behind the scenes at TV2, our campus news station; live event production, animation and video producing for sports, Commencement ceremonies and more for TeleProductions; participating in Kent State University Independent Films. Students' senior projects have been accepted to national and regional film festivals.
Emerging Media and Technology
What it is:
In this major (new in 2020), discover how things like web/app development and augmented reality fit into our everyday lives and work environments, with space to play, imagine and solve problems. The course core combines skills-based training and problem solving, and you'll be prepared to work in creative coding, web programming, data, human-computer interaction, design and project management.
Do you enjoy?
- Using the latest technology
- Coding and websites
- Working in groups
- Solving technological problems
Our Distinction
By choosing a minor, EMAT students can specialize in applying technology to things like education, design, media, forensics, animation, gaming and more. This major explores how technology has shaped people and changed society.
Journalism
What it is:
Journalists are reporters, watchdogs, storytellers. Gain experience covering real stories with the latest technology and a digital-first mindset to prepare for these roles and for jobs working for online publications, niche and national websites, television stations and more — in the areas of news, features, sports, politics and beyond.
Do you enjoy?
- Writing
- Interviewing
- Video
- Social Media
Our Distinction
Kent State student journalists rank high among their peers in national competitions; our student newspaper and television station have each been named best in the nation in the last three years. Students have been recognized as among the best in the nation and region in sportswriting, photography and in-depth reporting.
Photography
What it is
The B.F.A. in Photography prepares students to become professional photographers in a range of careers including Advertising, Fashion, Architectural, Food, Editorial Photography, Photojournalism, Commercial Photography, Portraiture, Photo and Art Direction, Digital Technical, CGI, Fine Art Photography, among others.
Do you enjoy?
- Taking photos
- Art
- Digital media
Our Distinction
The Wallace J. Hagedorn Photography Scholarship is a competitive merit- and need-based scholarship supporting student tuition costs and enriching, out-of-classroom experiences to help photography students develop strong portfolios. The funds come from the largest single gift ($4.2 million) ever made to Kent State to support only scholarships.
Public Relations
What it is:
Public relations professionals use planning and communication skills to deliver messages over multiple channels: through social media, events, speeches, websites, printed materials, public policy and much more. This major is rooted in professionalism, with a focus on developing writing and presentation skills and building students’ understanding of multimedia storytelling.
Do you enjoy?
- Writing
- Advocacy
- Social media
- Public speaking
Our Distinction
Kent State's pre-professional student organization, PRSSA Kent, has consistently earned Star Chapter recognition, and earned the organizations top national Chapter distinction in 2019. Our program is one of fewer than 40 programs in the world with Certification in Education for Public Relations (CEPR). Furthermore, Kent State is home to the only public relations program in Ohio with certification from both PRSA and ACEJMC (the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication).
Visual Communication Design
What it is:
Students choose from either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Designers find their niche in every sector of life; they address issues of packaging and retail environments, brand development, environmental graphic design, exhibition design and wayfinding. They use their creativity and imagination to solve problems and interpret ideas through infographics, web design, advertising, film and more.
Do you enjoy?
- Graphic Design
- Studio work
- Website design
Our Distinction
VCD is nationally recognized for outstanding quality in design education, with emphases in visual design, illustration and photo-illustration majors and degrees. It is housed in the state-of-the-art, recently renovated Taylor Hall, with a flexible gallery and studio space.
Meet some of our alumni rising stars, who are shaping media and communication messages around the world.
Success Stories
Victoria Humphreys, '13
Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Department of the Interior
Major: Communication Studies
Meghan Caprez, '15, M.A. '17
Communications Manager, Walt Disney World Resort
Major: Public Relations (B.S.), Communication Studies (M.A.)
Aimee Crane, B.F.A '09, M.F.A. '12
Artemis Brand Manager, NASA
Visual Communication Design (B.F.A. and M.F.A.)