Program Requirements

Learning outcomes

Whether students select the crisis communication or digital media communication embedded certificates, students can tailor their curriculum to align with their goals and interests. Upon program completion, students will be able to:

Describe communication theories that are relevant to understanding information exchange (both verbal and nonverbal)
Explain the impact of social and cultural determinants in our communication
Explain how the social/cultural and personal/psychological determinants blend in our communication within organizations
Apply basic methods of applied research

The Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication requires a total of 120 semester hours including general education studies. Many students transfer credits to meet the degree requirements. If you have an associate degree or course credits from a regionally-accredited community or technical college, you may transfer qualifying credits toward a degree at Mercer University. We offer a comprehensive transfer credit policy.

Program plan

Core in Major (21 hours)
COMM 251 Communication and Society
COMM 309 Communication and Information Theory
COMM 330 Elements of Persuasion
COMM 345 Mass Media and Society
COMM 370 Intercultural Communication in a Globalized Society
ORGL 380 Applied Research Methods
COMM 496 Integrated Communication Capstone

Electives in the Major (12 hours) OR Choose an Optional Embedded Certificate (9 hours + 3 hours elective)
COMM 253 Gender Relations
COMM 270 Communication for Business and the Professions
COMM 325 Nonverbal Communication
COMM 340 Public Relations
COMM 341 Public Relations Writing for Traditional and Digital Media
COMM 342 Public Relations Leadership
COMM 344 Crisis Communication: Theory and Cases
COMM 341 Public Relations for Traditional and Digital Media
COMM 343 Health Communication
COMM 350 Organizational Communication
COMM 360 Digital Media & Analytics
INFM 372 Human-Computer Interaction and Design

Optional Certificates (12 hours)
Students who want to earn an optional certificate can organize their elective choices based on the requisite electives for that certificate. Students will complete 9 hours in a certificate and choose an additional communication elective for 3 hours to meet the 12-hour requirement.

Mercer students majoring in another program who meet the prerequisites can also enroll in the embedded certificate. Each certificate program includes an experiential component in which students engage in a theory-to-practice project.

A. Crisis communication certificate
COMM 340 Public Relations
COMM 341 Public Relations Writing for Traditional and Digital Media
COMM 344 Crisis Communication: Theory & Cases

Experiential Project (embedded service learning project)

B. Digital Media Communication
COMM 341 Public Relations Writing for Traditional and Digital Media
COMM 360 Digital Media & Analytics
INFM 372 Human-Computer Interaction and Design
Experiential Project (embedded service learning project)

Total major requirements: 33 hours
General education: 39 hours
Electives: 48 hours
Total degree requirements: 120 hours