Skip to main content

Study Civic Communication and Media

Explore creative ways to foster civic engagement and make the most of your potential as a communicator. Learn more about our Civic Communication and Media degree.

Program Snapshot

Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts

Major, Minor

124

4 Years

Salem Campus

Five people engaged in an outdoor filming activity with a camera on a tripod, a boom microphone, and various equipment.

Our Civic Communication and Media Major & Minor

Study how people use media to engage the world, define debates, construct identity, develop arguments, and effect change. Find your voice by analyzing rhetoric and media in civic life. Go beyond the classroom to develop your skills.

Why choose Communication and Media Studies at Willamette?

  • Education goes beyond the classroom. Civic communication and media studies majors can apply their knowledge directly to the real world. Consider the Debate Union, find an internship, or complete a major project through the Senior Seminar.
  • We emphasize civic engagement. Learn how to shape the future through written and oral communication. Located directly across from the Oregon State Capitol, our campus offers a unique opportunity to participate in state government.
  • Supportive and holistic learning environment. We offer small class sizes, our faculty invests in students, and our curriculum embraces other academic fields. Dialogue impacts society in a variety of ways, which is why its concepts extend into other disciplines.

Schedule a Visit

Alumni Stories

From top graduate programs to careers in public policy, law, education, and nonprofit leadership, our alumni find success in a variety of fields. They've created change on a local and national level, turning their knowledge into action. Understand their impact by reading their stories.

  • Brandon Chinn '14

    From the Bearcats to the Blazers and Celtics
    Brandon Chinn '14, now assistant communications manager for the Boston Celtics, credits on-campus opportunities at Willamette University for his successful career in NBA communications.

    Man in a black hoodie walking in an empty sports arena with seats draped with white
  • A young woman in a light purple blouse and blue jeans kneels among pink tulips in a field.

    Claire Pockell Wilson '19

    Interdisciplinary knowledge from CCM major fuels success in People Operations
    Claire Pockell Wilson '19 leverages her Civic Communication and Media major to excel as a Senior Manager of People Operations, effectively managing processes and supporting team growth.

Curriculum

Our degree in communications focuses on public dialogue, discourse, and a variety of other topics. Discuss mass media, market research, and effective mass communication strategies. Our program shows the importance of human connection, preparing students to excel in oral and written communication.

  • CCM 364W Political Communication

    Master the art of campaign communication and uncover how the presidency and media shape political realities. Dive into the power of language as a tool for creating and projecting images and issues.

  • CCM 345 Latina/o/x Communication Studies

    Explore the rich landscape of Latina/o/x media, from historical to modern contexts. Dive into popular culture, social movements, and political rhetoric while creating your own Latina/o/x media projects.

Program Requirements

Our Civic Communication and Media major requires 33-36 semester hours to complete the degree.

Students pursuing a Civic Communication and Media minor will need to complete 21-32 semester hours in Civic Communication and Media.

Students engage in a group discussion around a table with laptops, notebooks, and pens in a classroom with a map and whiteboa
Admissions Information

Our Civic Communication and Media is open to first-year students, transfer students and international students. Learn more about Willamette’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.

Two people in a classroom adjusting a black tripod. One wears a beanie and hoodie while the other wears a checkered jacket.
Financial Aid and Scholarships

Willamette University is dedicated to supporting Civic Communication & Media majors with generous merit scholarships and financial aid. No additional application is needed for consideration. All admitted undergraduate applicants are automatically evaluated for merit-based scholarships, starting at $26,000 per year. These scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, considering cumulative GPA and SAT or ACT scores, if available.

A close up image of hands on a Mac computer

FAQs

Willamette University

Civic Communication and Media