James W. Hikins, Ph.D.

The Department of Communication offers BA and BS degrees in both communication and public relations, as well as a minor in communication.

Our nineteen faculty members provide instruction and mentorship to students with a wide variety of educational and professional goals.  We prepare students for careers in education, law, government, business, and entrepreneurship.

Some of our graduates continue their education, earning the Masters and PhD degrees.  These students go on to careers in higher education and research.  Others attend law school.  Many graduates join the private sector as public relations specialists, advertising campaign advisers, sports publicists, communication consultants, and media specialists.  Others enter politics as political analysts, campaign directors, speech writers, and speech instructors. These are but a few of the exciting and rewarding career paths available to students in the Department.

In addition to the Department’s academic programs, students can supplement their studies and gain invaluable experience for their future careers in many ways. Students may be inducted into our chapter of the national communication honors society, ΛΠΗ (Lambda Pi Eta), twice recognized as the ΛΠΗ national chapter of the year. Internships give students a head start in their chosen profession.  Students may also join the UCA chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America or compete as members of UCA’s award winning forensics team.

While “finding a job” is important to every student, we believe that the best career preparation is an education that teaches you not what to think but how to think. Our graduates are well prepared to participate in society as citizen-scholars, armed with both theoretical and practical knowledge. Our courses focus on topics such as critical analysis of argumentation, media law and ethics, public relations techniques, crisis communication, persuasion, leadership, and communication in organizations. I invite you to join the ever-increasing number of students who find one of our degree programs the first step toward a successful and rewarding career.

To learn more about our department, please call, contact us by email, or stop by our offices on the second floor of Thompson Hall on the UCA campus in Conway.  To support the Department with a monetary gift, please click on the "Support" button in the left column of this page.

Sincerely,

James W. Hikins, Ph.D.,  Professor and Chair