Which Schools Offer Communications Degrees in Chicago, IL?

Communications Degree Programs in Chicago

Communications degree programs can prepare you for careers in marketing, public relations, advertising, journalism or media broadcasting. Many of these career fields require a bachelor's degree and on-the-job training. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), individuals in some communications fields, like public relations, may also earn a master's degree.

Career Outlook for Communications Degree Holders

Professionals in public relations are likely to see above-average job growth of 21% from 2010-2020, spurred by an increasing emphasis on community outreach and customer relations for businesses and organizations. Conversely, news reporters and correspondents can expect the number of jobs to shrink by about 8% over the same time period. The number of positions for broadcast news analysts should grow by 10%, which is about average compared to other occupations.

Regional Salary Information

The Chicago-Joliet-Naperville metropolitan area features the third-highest level of employment for broadcast news analysts, behind only the media hubs of New York and Los Angeles. Broadcast news analysts in the Chicago area earned a mean annual salary of about $80,000 as of May 2011, the BLS reports. Chicago also boasts the fifth-highest level of employment for public relations specialists. Those working in the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area earned a mean annual salary of around $61,000 in May 2011.

Bachelor's Degree in Communications Programs in Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

• Program name: Bachelor of Arts in Communication
• Program length: 4-5 years, full-time
• Tuition: For 2010-2011, about $12,000-$16,600 (in-state), or $24,400-$29,000 (out-of-state)
• Prerequisites: 24 credit hours of college coursework with a minimum 2.5 GPA
• School type: 4-year, public; about 17,000 undergraduate students and 8,000 graduate students
• Address: 1007 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60607
• Phone: (312) 996-3187

At the University of Illinois at Chicago, you can earn a B.A. in Communications through a program that includes required courses on communication research statistics, interpersonal communication and cultural communication. Additional course topics may include communication technology, popular culture, interviewing and electronic media writing. To declare a major in communications, you must meet minimum GPA requirements in your general education coursework.

Columbia College - Chicago

• Program name: Bachelor of Arts in Marketing Communication
• Specialization areas: Public relations, marketing and advertising
• Program length: 4 years, full-time
• Tuition: About $20,000 (2011-2012)
• School type: 4-year, private; around 11,400 undergraduates and 500 graduate students for 2011-2012
• Address: 600 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605
• Phone: (312) 663-1600

In addition to program courses, which may include topics such as promotions, branding, public relations writing and advertising campaigns, you'll complete a liberal studies core curriculum at Columbia College - Chicago. The program also offers the opportunity to study film and television publicity in Los Angeles for one semester, and internship placements in both Chicago and Los Angeles are available. Additionally, Columbia features campus branches of the American Marketing Association and the Public Relations Student Society of America.

DePaul University

• Program name: Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media
• Program length: 4 years, full-time
• Specialization areas: Communication studies, public relations and advertising, media studies and journalism
• Tuition: About $31,700 (2012-2013)
• School type: 4-year, private; over 16,000 undergraduates and almost 8,000 grad students
• Address: 14 E. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604
• Phone: (312) 362-8600

In DePaul University's B.A. in Communication and Media program, you can study diverse topics such as cultural media, organizational communication, public relations and advertising. For-credit internship opportunities are available through various Chicago-area businesses and media organizations. As a high-achieving undergraduate student, you may have the opportunity to complete a joint 5-year B.A./M.A. program with a concentration in journalism, organizational and multicultural communication, relational communication or cinema studies.

Master's Degree in Communications Programs in Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

• Program name: Master of Arts in Communication
• Program length: 2 years, full-time
• Tuition: For Fall 2012 and Spring 2013, students taking 12+ credit hours will pay around $5,500 per semester (in-state) and $11,500 per semester (out-of-state)
• Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree with at least 20 hours in communication or a related field
• Requirements: 3.0 minimum GPA in final 60 undergraduate credits and GRE scores
• School type: 4-year, public; about 17,000 undergraduate students and 8,000 graduate students
• Address: 1007 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60607
• Phone: (312) 996-3187

The M.A. in Communication program at the University of Illinois at Chicago is open to bachelor's degree holders from a variety of fields. In your 2-year program, you can study topics such as rhetorical criticism, philosophy of technology in communication and qualitative research methods. You will also have the option of completing either a master's thesis or a comprehensive examination to fulfill your degree program's graduation requirements.

Northeastern Illinois University

• Program name: Master of Arts in Communication, Media and Theatre
• Program length: 2 years, full-time
• Tuition: About $5,000 (in-state) or $10,000 (out-of-state) for 2012-2013
• Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree with at least 15 credits in communication, media or theatre
• Requirements: 2.75 undergraduate GPA overall, 3.0 undergraduate GPA in communications courses, interview with graduate advisor
• School type: 4-year, public; about 9,500 undergraduate students and 2,200 graduate students
• Address: 5500 N. St. Louis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625
• Phone: (773) 442-5950

Northeastern Illinois University offers an M.A. program in communication, media and theatre that's designed to prepare you for jobs in educational institutions and corporations. Program courses cover topics such as organizational communication, new media, performing arts communication and instructional communication. At the conclusion of your program, you'll be required to complete a master's thesis or a comprehensive examination.

Doctoral Degree in Communication Programs in Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

• Program name: Doctor of Philosophy in Communication
• Program length: Usually 4-7 years, full-time
• Tuition: For Fall 2012 and Spring 2013, $5,500 per semester (in-state) and $11,500 per semester (out-of-state) for students taking 12+ credit hours
• Prerequisites: M.A. in Communication
• Requirements: 3.5 graduate GPA and GRE scores
• School type: 4-year, public; about 17,000 undergraduate students and 8,000 graduate students
• Address: 1007 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60607
• Phone: (312) 996-3187

To gain acceptance to the doctoral program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), you must complete a related M.A. program, either at UIC or at another university. You'll take courses in your area of specialization, and you'll also study required topics such as new media and qualitative methods. To graduate, you must complete a dissertation and defend it before a faculty panel.