Virginia Communications Degrees

School Level Program Admissions
American University Master Master of Arts in Strategic Communication
Program teaches you to connect creatively and strategically with audiences through targeted campaigns.
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Johns Hopkins University AAP Master MA in Communication
Gain practical and applied knowledge through coursework that explores real-life communication issues.
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University of Delaware Master Master of Arts in Strategic Communication
Specialize in either Public Relations or Digital and Social Media—or choose your own electives to design the program that best matches your career goals.
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Seton Hall University Online MBA Marketing Concentration
AACSB Accredited
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Click to see more online programs that are taking applications for 2024.

There are three different institutions in the state of Virginia that have programs within the field of communications designated by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). While some of the more popular universities have not made the list, there are still a number of discipline options at Hampton University, Norfolk State University, and Washington and Lee University in Lexington.

All programs offer a Bachelor's degree and the most common disciplines among them is Journalism and Stategic Communications. At this time, there are no Master's degrees within digital media and communications throughout the state of Virginia. In total, 117 total institutions have received accreditation from the ACEJMC around the world.

Top Locations for Communications Schools and Job Opportunities in Virginia

Virginia Beach is a resort location that provides plenty of marketing and advertising opportunities in itself, such as various events that take place or attracting visitors from other locations. Chesapeake also provides plenty of opportunities with a population of over 245,000, as does Norfolk and Richmond - the latter being the capital of the city.

The daily newspaper in Richmond is the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and there is an additional weekly publication, Style Weekly. Virginia Living is a more prestigious publication that covers culture and events throughout the state and is distributed on a bi-monthly basis. Radio stations across the state are generally owned by Entercom, SummitMedia, and Urban One.

Public Relations in Virginia

Based in Virginia Beach, Maverick Marketing Advertising and Public Relations develops a client's organization through a number of services. Examples are creating a unique and recognizable brand, implementing a website that matches the personality and style of the client, event planning in order to promote an organization, and how to get information across digitally to attract either a specific audience or pull in other groups.

Digital services includes email promotional activity, utilizing search engine optimization, and creating attractive graphics for interaction. Ultimately, the PR firm wants to improve an organization's bottom line to receive more revenue.

School Level Program Admissions
Maryville University Bachelor Bachelor of Arts in Communication
The online BA in Communication from Maryville University will equip you with effective communication, media analysis, and writing skills. Choose from two concentrations. No SAT or ACT scores required.
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Maryville University Master Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Leadership
Earn your Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Leadership online — with built-in prep for industry certifications — from Maryville University. Analyze today’s trends and anticipate tomorrow’s.
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University of West Alabama Bachelor Bachelor of Arts/Science Integrated Marketing Communications
Gain hands-on multimedia experience in several areas as you study web design, social media, news writing, photography, graphic and interior design, video, and event planning.
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University of West Alabama Master Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications
Graduates of this program are prepared for management-level work with clients in advertising and communications settings.
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University of Texas Permian Basin Bachelor Online BA in Communication
Multiple tracks: Communication Studies, Strategic Messaging, Professional Communication, Sports Media.
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Click to for more online communications degrees that are taking applications for 2024.

Campus-based and online Communications programs in Virginia

Hampton University

  • B.A. Journalism and Strategic Communication

Norfolk State University

  • B.S. Mass Communications (General Broadcast or Journalism)

Washington and Lee University

  • B.A. Journalism; B.A. Strategic Communications

Virginia Journalism and Communications Careers, Salaries, and Associations

Reporters and correspondents in Virginia are paid slightly below the national average according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The annual mean wage is estimated at $49,530, which is on par or higher with other states in their location with the exception of Maryland.

There is plenty of employment opportunity in the state with over 740 positions accounted for. Charlottesville has the seventh-highest job concentration nationwide and is below the statewide salary average at $44,090.

Public relations in the state of Virginia sees massive employment with over 7,300 workers according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the Richmond metropolitan area alone, there are over 1,360 workers with an annual mean wage of $68,730.

The Virginia Beach and Norfolk metro area, which stretches into North Carolina, features an additional 900 workers. When looking at the entire state overall, there is an annual mean salary of $77,210, and is the highest overall paying state furthest southeast for public relations professionals in the United States.

Public Relations Society of America – Richmond Chapter

There are multiple chapters of the Public Relations Society of America in Virginia, including the Richmond group. Events included in membership include luncheon programs take place on the last Wednesday of nine different months (excluding July, August, and December) to give PR professionals networking opportunities and to build communication skills with other leaders in the industry.

Further networking opportunities include happy hour meetups at various bars and restaurants an undisclosed amount of times per year. Award categories for the recognition of top talent in the location include revolutionary campaigns, tactics that helped a campaign take off, experienced PR specialists, and up-and-coming top workers that have been in the field for less than five years.