Communication Degree | Eckerd College in Florida

Changing the World–One Message at a Time

Communicate your ideas effectively and decode the increasingly complex world around you

Eckerd College communication students graduate ready to lead—with the oral and written skills needed to succeed professionally and the insight to contribute meaningfully in our connected world. Students analyze verbal and nonverbal communication, extensively study media content and formats, and refine their communication skills. Through hands-on learning and critical inquiry, students become creative producers, strategic users, and thoughtful consumers of media and content in their professional, public, and private lives.

The degree in communication at Eckerd paves the way for both graduate study and professional careers across a large variety of fields. After all, communication is the #1 job skill.

Dive Deeper into Communication

Only@Eckerd

Interactive classrooms

Express your ideas in our dynamic communication classrooms. Engage in highly interactive, student-centered opportunities to present, discuss, explore, create, and exchange.

Cutting-edge curriculum

Our faculty continuously update course content to meet the needs of our rapidly changing media world, from social media to artificial intelligence. Robust media and communication literacies are at the core of our program.

One-on-one mentorship with experts

Every Eckerd professor is available to students for a minimum of 8 hours a week–twice that of most other schools. Our communication faculty are experts in their fields who provide personalized guidance for your academic and professional pursuits.

Young woman wearing lanyard holds a brochure that reads IMOTIONS

In Their Own Words

Professionally, Eckerd instilled in me the ability to adapt, think critically, and embrace new challenges with confidence. The emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and hands-on experiences prepared me to approach problems from multiple perspectives and work collaboratively in diverse environments. Small class sizes and close relationships with professors allowed me to develop strong communication skills and the confidence to engage with mentors and colleagues.

—Jaclyn Sehr ’20
Customer Success Manager, iMotions

Beyond the Classroom

Through semester-abroad programs, Winter Term courses, and independent studies, communication students have explored global media in London, sports media in Australia, media representation in France and Spain, as well as communication and culture in Japan, Austria, and Ireland. They have also created multimedia travel journals while visiting Latin America. Others have researched the role of communication and media at Disney World and the “Disney town” of Celebration.

Study Abroad Pics on Flickr

Communication majors have undertaken internships at a variety of businesses including Fox 13 Tampa Bay, CW Tampa Bay, Clear Channel Communications, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Saint Petersburg Grand Prix, the Clearwater Aquarium , the Clearwater and Saint Petersburg Chambers of Commerce, Kim’s Cat Crusade, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, and The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art.

Looking to build real-world communication experience while at Eckerd? Become a peer consultant at the Rahall Communication Resource Center—where you’ll help fellow students grow as communicators while sharpening your own speaking, listening, and leadership skills in a supportive and professional setting.

Students have conducted media and communication research with our professors and presented their findings at national and international conventions such as the Florida Communication Association, the Popular Culture Association, and the Media Ecology Association.

Eckerd College communication news

Eckerd College Winter Term courses point the way to an increased focus on artificial intelligence - March 10, 2025
Eckerd College journalists land five prestigious Florida Society of News Editors Journalism Contest awards - September 19, 2024
Three Eckerd College students win esteemed journalism awards - May 7, 2024

Popular classes

Media and Society

How do mass, digital, and social media shape the way we think, feel, and act? In this engaging introductory course, students explore the evolution of communication technologies—from print and radio to film, television, and digital platforms—and examine their powerful influence on culture and society. Topics include journalism’s role in democracy, advertising’s impact on consumer behavior, and the rising influence of artificial intelligence across all forms of mediated communication.

Argumentation and Debate

Sharpen your voice through the art of persuasion. This course explores communication as a tool for rational argument and civic engagement. Students develop techniques in research, reasoning, and rebuttal, and put their skills into practice through structured debates on topics ranging from local to global issues.

Facilities

At our Rahall Communication Resource Center, trained peer consultants coach you to hone your public speaking for classroom assignments and beyond. You can even become a student consultant yourself, further strengthening your own skills and amplifying your resume.