A Communication and Media degree from OBU prepares students for a career in the exciting and ever-changing world of communications. While the field continues to grow and expand, OBU offers core classes designed to give all students a thorough understanding of the field as well as what employers are looking for in candidates. Students are able to select an emphasis which best represents the specific area they enjoy. A Communication and Media degree allows multiple opportunities for hands-on experience from their first day on campus. Students work to build a comprehensive portfolio ready for job applications and future employment and are equipped with a variety of skills needed in the field.
Five Areas of Emphasis
Communication Studies
With an OBU communication studies degree, you learn how to deal with conflict effectively, analyze messages and collect data as you make and communicate professional decisions. These skills will not only prepare you to meet your career goals, but also are beneficial in building successful relationships in any profession.
Strategic Communication
With an OBU strategic communication degree, you learn how to analyze an audience, prepare and create pertinent messages, and deliver those messages through multiple communication channels, including traditional media, social media, graphics, and content creation. These skills will not only prepare you to meet your career goals, but also are beneficial in building successful relationships in any profession. The courses combine business marketing and communication which readies students to launch their careers.
Sports Communication
With the rapid growth in popularity and participation in the sports industry, there is a significant need for professionals who can convey engaging and accurate information through writing, streaming, video, and promotion of sports on the recreational, youth, collegiate, and professional levels. OBU’s sports communication degree meets this need through a robust program that offers instruction and hands-on training. It will prepare you to communicate, inform, educate, and engage the wide range of audiences affiliated with sports.
Journalism
Oklahoma Baptist University’s Journalism Studies program offers a faith-driven curriculum designed to equip students with practical skills in reporting, photography, editing, and digital media. The program fosters professional and spiritual growth through mentorship, and prepares graduates for diverse roles in news, public relations, and content creation.
Film
The Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) Film program prepares students to become storytellers and technicians through hands-on training with professional-grade equipment, including Canon and Blackmagic cameras. The curriculum integrates technical skills in cinematography and post-production with a faith-driven perspective, utilizing dedicated Mac labs and production studios.
Incredible Education, Affordable Cost
At OBU, we believe finances shouldn’t stand in the way of your purpose. With generous scholarships and 100% of students receiving aid, your future is within reach.
To get an estimate of what your cost to attend OBU might be,please check out our Net Price Calculator. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how affordable an OBU education really is, especially considering the incredible academic quality, personal mentor relationships with faculty and staff, and strong Christian commitment you will experience at OBU. You won’t find an experience like this anywhere else!
Scholarships and Grants$60,000
minimum university scholarship per student
over four years
100%
of on-campus undergraduate students receive financial aid$24,000
average annual financial award
based on 2022-23 IPEDS data
Program Information
Experiential Learning
Gain industry-aligned skills from day one at Oklahoma Baptist University. Our experiential learning, featuring on-campus micro-internships, bridges traditional communication with modern media.
On-Campus Micro-Internships
These are designed to be high-impact, short-term projects that fit between classes.
- OBU Marketing and Communication: Work directly with the university's brand team on professional campaigns.
- Bison Athletics: Gain sports media experience through one of the most active departments on campus.
- Student Studio Production: Get hands-on with professional-grade broadcast and film equipment.
Student-Led Media Outlets
Consistent, semester-long roles that build a deep, traditional portfolio.
- Student Newspaper Production: Master the "integrity of a traditional degree" through reporting and editing.
- Student Yearbook Production: Combine photography, layout, and project management skills.
External Professional Internships
- Communication and Media Internship: Specialized placements with external partners tailored to your career goals or graduate school path.
Research
You will study interpersonal relationships and public communication acts in the context of politics, media and public relations. You will have the opportunity to present original research at national communication conferences.
Small Class Size
Our small class sizes allow you to build relationships with your classmates and professors that will last long after you graduate from Bison Hill. Our faculty seek to not only invest in your academic journey, but are eager to help you realize your full potential personally and professionally. Your experiences will be enriched by the individual instruction and mentoring they provide.
Faith Integration
The courses in sports communication are taught from a Christian worldview with professors who serve as personal mentors, supporting both your intellectual and spiritual development. Our faculty instill a solid foundation of faith and biblical perspective through their instruction and personal lives. Our mission is to invest in you as a person who will exemplify Christian principles and practices.
Diverse Curriculum
OBU’s communication and media program prepares you to navigate the fast-moving media landscape through a blend of modern strategy and traditional foundations. You will gain expertise in media relations, community engagement, and digital storytelling while exploring the ethical and cultural issues shaping today’s global audiences. Our curriculum balances specialized courses in social media, advertising, and public speaking with essential training in governance, conflict management, and professional ethics, ensuring you graduate with a versatile degree ready for a multitude of careers or advanced graduate study.
Broad Spectrum of Faculty
A unique aspect of our communication program is the opportunity to collaborate with world-class faculty from a wide range of academic disciplines. You will learn from experts in journalism, digital media, film, strategic storytelling, and organizational leadership. Their combined professional experiences deepen your understanding of the industry and provide a comprehensive, multi-dimensional look into the various elements of the modern communication field.
World-Class Faculty
OBU faculty are experts in their fields and will be with you every step of the way.
Frank W. Patterson Professor of Communications
Professor of Communication Studies
Chair, Division of Art and Design
Chair, Division of Communication Arts
Associate Professor of Animation and Media Production
Associate Professor of Art
Assistant Professor of Journalism
Ruth Jay Odom Professor of Fine Arts
Professor of Graphic Design
Assistant Professor of Communication Studies
Chair, Division of Exercise Science, Sports and Recreation
Associate Professor of Exercise Science, Sports and Recreation
Faculty Athletics Representative
Professor of Media Production
Program Options
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Communication and Media
Minor
- Minor in Film
- Minor in Film Studies
- Minor in Journalism
- Minor in Comuunication Studies