The mission of Loyola University Chicago calls for all of its members “to make a difference as ‘persons for others.’” The public communication and advocacy major helps students prepare for the fulfillment of that mission, not only while at the university, but also as they move into the rest of their lives.
The program’s coursework and faculty help students understand everything from community organizing to lobbying to political campaigns, preparing them for a number of possible career paths. Students will explore and reflect on how to promote social justice in coursework, but also through engagement outside of the classroom.
Recent graduates have found employment with media literacy groups, domestic and international service organizations, Internet start-ups, and government officials, and gone on to pursue graduate and professional degrees.
For students admitted before Fall 2026, this program was previously called Advocacy and Social Change (BA). More information can be found here.
Related Programs
Curriculum
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| COMM 100 | SOC Career Prep Seminar | 1 |
| COMM 175 | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| COMM 200 | Digital Communication and Society | 3 |
| COMM 215 | Ethics & Communication | 3 |
| or COMM 360 | Digital Media Ethics |
| COMM 227 | Social Justice & Public Communication | 3 |
| COMM 268 | Persuasion | 3 |
| Media Theory and Criticism | |
| Introduction to Rhetoric | |
| Public Interest Communication | |
| Intercultural Communication | |
| COMM 101 | Public Speaking & Critical Thinking | 3 |
| COMM 230 | Argumentation & Advocacy | 3 |
| COMM 231 | Conflict Management and Communication | 3 |
| COMM 300 | Persuasive Campaigns | 3 |
| COMM 306 | Environmental Communication & Advocacy | 3 |
| 3 |
| Rhetorical Criticism 1 | |
| Ethnographic Research Methods in Communication 2 | |
| Communication Research Design | |
| Designing Media for Social Change | |
| 3 |
| Intro to Audio Production | |
| Intro to Video Production | |
| Web Design and Usability | |
| Total Hours | 43 |
Suggested Sequence of Courses
Plan of Study Grid
| First Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| COMM 175 |
Introduction to Communication |
3 |
| | Hours | 3 |
| Spring |
|---|
| COMM 101 |
Public Speaking & Critical Thinking |
3 |
| COMM 200 |
Digital Communication and Society |
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
COMM 215
|
Ethics & Communication
or Digital Media Ethics |
3 |
| COMM 227 |
Social Justice and Public Communication |
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| Spring |
|---|
| COMM 268 |
Persuasion |
3 |
COMM 130
|
Intro to Audio Production
or Intro to Video Production
or Web Design and Usability |
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| COMM 100 |
SOC Career Prep Seminar |
1 |
| COMM 230 |
Argumentation & Advocacy |
3 |
| COMM 231 |
Conflict Management and Communication |
3 |
| | Hours | 7 |
| Spring |
|---|
| COMM 300 |
Persuasive Campaigns |
3 |
COMM 201
|
Media Theory and Criticism
or Introduction to Rhetoric
or Public Interest Communication
or Intercultural Communication |
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall |
|---|
| COMM 306 |
Environmental Communication & Advocacy |
3 |
COMM 367
|
Rhetorical Criticism
or Ethnographic Research Methods in Communication
or Communication Research Design |
3 |
| | Hours | 6 |
| Spring |
|---|
| COMM 309 |
Designing Media for Social Change |
3 |
| | Hours | 3 |
| | Total Hours | 43 |
School of Communication Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students in the School of Communication are required to take two Writing Intensive courses (6 credit hours) as well as complete a foreign language requirement at 102-level or higher (3 credit hours) or a language competency test. More information can be found here.
Additional Undergraduate Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students are required to complete the University Core, at least one Engaged Learning course, and UNIV 101. SCPS students are not required to take UNIV 101. Nursing students in the Accelerated BSN program are not required to take core or UNIV 101. You can find more information in the University Requirements area.
