The study of communication has long been a popular degree among college students. Communication skills are essential for human development at any level, holding value in one’s academic and professional pursuits as well as one’s personal life.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University offers an online Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication with an Emphasis in Organizational & Strategic Communication. This degree program combines advanced studies in all aspects of effective communication with a broad liberal arts education. The breadth of study this educational model provides helps students learn how to apply communication and critical thinking skills to an array of disciplines and career opportunities after graduation.
What Is Involved in Communication Studies at Southeastern Oklahoma State University?
Southeastern’s online B.A. in communication program helps students understand the nuances of communication in theory and practice as applied to many essential aspects of society, whether political, social or organizational. Core coursework focuses on the fundamentals of communications study.
Students will examine communication in organizational and public settings. They will also delve into the intersection of mass media and society as well as communication theory and research. Organizational and strategic communication courses dive deeper into these areas and focus on general applications to subjects like leadership.
Another perk of the program is students’ ability to select a number of courses based on their interests or career leanings. Organizational communication courses cover subjects like conflict management and intercultural communication. Strategic communication courses focus on applications like argument, advocacy, persuasion and politics.
What Else Will I Study in a Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Program From Southeastern?
General education courses make up over one-third of credit hours required for completion of a B.A. at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. These courses cover a range of liberal arts studies, spanning everything from biology and physical/mental health to intercultural contexts and the fine arts.
This broad study is an integral part of liberal arts education, introducing students to a spectrum of disciplines. The program develops and deepens the essential, transferable skills of communication, critical and analytical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork. Understanding intercultural communication practices as well as the link between effective communication and positive health outcomes equips program graduates to succeed in the workplace.
Students also choose a minor, allowing them to tailor their degree to a particular area of interest. With additional elective courses, students can explore more disciplines in depth.
What Is the Value of a Bachelor of Communication Degree?
The skills developed through communication studies align closely with those employers value. In fact, 52% of employers believe that their employees lack adequate interpersonal skills like effective communication and emotional intelligence, according to Monster’s 2025 Work Watch Report.
This demonstrates the need for more education that fosters advanced competencies in interpersonal and professional communication. Additionally, monster reports that communication, conflict resolution, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership are among the top soft skills sought after by today’s employers.
These findings highlight the job-market worth of the specific areas of skill-development targeted through coursework in Southeastern’s organizational and strategic communication bachelor’s program, along with the transferable skills and knowledge developed through a liberal arts education. Employers clearly value and seek out these skills in new hires.
Who Can Benefit from Earning a B.A. in Communication?
The skills developed through a liberal arts education with an emphasis in communication are attractive to employers and hiring managers from numerous industries filling all types of positions. Students interested in nearly any career field can benefit from the experience and skills gained in a communications degree program. Both traditional communication-focused careers like public relations and non-traditional communication roles like IT management or sales positions rely on the expertise and skills that a B.A. in communication provides.
Clearly, communication is essential to workplace success for 21st-century college graduates. The integration of skill development, theory, knowledge and practice in a quality communication B.A. program like Southeastern’s prepares students to thrive in a wide variety of academic and career pursuits.
Learn more about Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online B.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Organizational and Strategic Communication program.