BUSINESS COMMUNICATION DEGREE PROGRAM

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What Can I Do with a Business Communication Major from Westminster College?

A business communication major gives you the opportunity to pursue a wide range of exciting professional fields. From public relations to marketing to sales, there is a world of possibilities waiting for you. Business communication majors have gone on to enjoy successful careers with corporate businesses, nonprofit companies, educational institutes, and government agencies.

At Westminster College, you will learn communication from a variety of perspectives and will gain the experiential “on-the-job” training you need to excel in the career of your choice.

Develop Business Communication Skills Employers Want

Studies show that communication is the most important job skill employers look for. At Westminster College, you will receive in-depth business and professional communication instruction, focusing on employment communication skills, including resume writing, interviewing, sales speaking, and organizational communication.

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Meet Steven Lee ’08, Aetna Account Executive
Meet Steven Lee ’08, Aetna Account Executive

“The Blue Blazers Investment Committee is one of the most unique organizations you’ll find on any college campus. It gives you practical application – You’re investing real money, not fake.”

Read Steven's Story

Business Communication in the Boardroom and the Classroom

  • At Westminster College, you will have the opportunity to participate in innovative class assignments that allow you to apply your communication skills in real-world settings. Whether you want to conduct an on-campus public relations campaign or write for our newspaper, The Columns, you can gain valuable on-the-job experience employers are looking for.

    Beyond our campus, opportunities abound for you to  learn, grow, and make those connections that are so important as you begin your career.

    • Meet and collaborate with professionals in your intended field.
    • Get involved in service-learning assignments that benefit local, state, national, or international community service organizations.
    • Participate in a business internship that counts toward college credit.

“Here, you develop key relationships with professors, and these relationships allow you to have success in the classroom and in the working world.”

Ryan Clavin, Business Communication and Business Management Class of 2020
Course Requirements

Degree Available

Students will receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Communication.

Core Courses/Competencies:

Business Communication majors must complete seven required courses focused on communication, writing, and marketing. Students must also complete two courses in the following sections: Communication in Context and Core Business as well as one course each in

Organizational Fundamentals, Visual Communication, and Written Communication.

What Our Grads and Interns Do

A business communication major opens up a number of possibilities for you. Our graduates have gone on to enjoy successful careers in a wide range of fields. These include public relations, media relations, advertising, public affairs, teaching, speechwriting, event planning, management, and law enforcement, to name a few.

 

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Business Communication News
In survey after survey, strong oral and written communication skills are what companies look for most in job applicants. While a business communication major on its own will open many professional doors (see #2 below), having it as a major in conjunction with another field of study is a perfect complement to a specific vocational track. A simultaneous major or minor in English, business administration, philosophy, security studies, political science, and history, as examples, can be a perfect pair with business communication.
The short answer is this: virtually anything you want. The long answer is that this major can prepare you by developing skills that are transferable across many professions. Knowing how to speak and write in the most eloquent, persuasive, and appropriate ways and in a multitude of communication situations for specific, strategic outcomes can make you very employable. The classes in this major will put you in a wide variety of communication settings, many of which might be outside your comfort zone. Those earning a bizcom degree from Westminster College have obtained (and attained) careers in law, public relations, management, marketing, banking, law enforcement (including the FBI!), advertising, politics, finance, higher education, real estate, human resources, journalism, and sales (among many, many others).
You’ll take courses in communication theory and application. Public speaking is a primary skill for all bizcom majors, so Introduction to Speech, Public Relations, and Business and Professional Communication head the list of requirements. Since a lot of interaction in the business world is one on one, Interpersonal Communication is also mandatory. A variety of writing classes from the English Department such as Creative Writing, Expository Writing, and Technical Writing will prepare you to compose written concepts, ideas, and proposals in a number of formats. Business classes in management and marketing will provide experiences in how to craft messages in more professional situations. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in on- or off-campus internships, which will provide onsite work experience for academic credit. In any communication case, audience analysis will be critical.
We’re all works in progress. College is designed to provide you with new – and even scary – experiences. Learning about them now will prepare you for a more successful professional future. Our classes in this major anticipate that you will have a lot of room to grow in these areas. Otherwise, why would you be in college in the first place?
For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Professor Keith Hardeman at keith.hardeman@westminster-mo.edu.