Communicate for understanding.
Do you love films? Social media? News? Telling stories? Changing minds—and maybe history? Boston University College of Communication (COM) is for you.
We’ve been educating professional communicators since we offered the world’s first degree in public relations in 1947 and the first master’s and PhD degrees in emerging media studies in 2015. Today, our alumni occupy the highest levels in a multitude of fields. Tomorrow? We’re training the next generation of leaders in advertising, emerging media, film and television, journalism, media science and public relations.
We do this because COM students, faculty and alumni share a simple but powerful belief: communication builds understanding — among people and throughout society.
Storytelling Skills for Career Success
If you’re a student here, you’ll gain the skills, knowledge and opportunities to turn your love of communication and storytelling into a successful career. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the many forms of media. You’ll become proficient in writing, speaking, visual communication and digital media skills. All combined with a solid grounding in the liberal arts that hones your mind and frees your imagination. And you will gain practical, real-world, hands-on experience outside the classroom through our extensive internship programs and COM activities such as AdLab, PRLab, PRSSA, WTBU, BUTV10, BU News Service, Real World Productions and the independent student newspaper The Daily Free Press.
Yes, our faculty teach — but also they also do. They include best-selling authors and Pulitzer-winning journalists. Others are internationally recognized thinkers and researchers in the fields of emerging media, technology and misinformation. And others have written and directed movies and series for every major broadcast network and HBO, as well as for films and documentaries screened at film festivals around the world.
COM alumni have won numerous prizes, awards and citations from Pulitzer to Emmy to Clio. Among them are CEOs, Hollywood directors and screenwriters, stars in television and radio, and White House staffers. In fact, our graduates sit at the top of major companies in all areas of communication. They include Bonnie Hammer, vice chairman at NBCUniversal; David Lubars, chairman/chief creative officer of BBDO; Nancy Dubuc, CEO of VICE; and Kevin Merida, executive editor of the Los Angeles Times. In all, COM has more than 30,000 alumni worldwide with far-reaching connections in every area of communication and beyond.
Our Mission
We build understanding through communication education, practice, and discovery.
We prepare students to lead, to adapt, and to share their voices in a transformational media world.
We generate knowledge through research and theory building.
We integrate professional and academic experiences across communication disciplines.
We nurture a culture rich in diversity, critical thinking, and creative expression.
We champion communication grounded in truth, authenticity, effectiveness, and purpose.