EOU expands communication program to online students

Published 7:30 am Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Students at Eastern Oregon University will now have the opportunity to enroll in a new online degree program.

The college has announced its plans to offer their existing communication studies program to online students starting this fall. The expansion increases the potential number of students who could be served.

“Students can get personal attention in our small classes and study online from almost anywhere on a schedule that works for them,” said Kevin Roy, associate professor and faculty chair of the program.

Students enrolled online can take courses taught by faculty in-person during weekend seminars held around the state.

Ashley Butler graduated from EOU’s on-campus program in March and landed a job in her area of interest right away.

“I always assumed that after college I would struggle to find a career I enjoyed,” she said. “However, I have come to realize that the opportunities for students in this field are vast and growing immensely.”

Butler recently became the production manager and communications director for an independent book publishing company where she started out as an intern. Her job includes corresponding with authors and editors to ensure publication deadlines are met. She also promotes books once they are published.

“The passion I have for the work, as well as the knowledge I gained here at EOU, helped me to excel at the job,” Butler added. “I could not be happier with the career path I have chosen and the opportunities that became available to me due to the excellent education I received.”

While Butler completed her degree on campus, EOU’s curriculum is designed to ensure students enrolling online have an equal experience.

“The attention our students receive is second to none, and the innovative platforms and techniques we use to build online learning communities is leading-edge,” Roy said. “The very technologies we’re learning about are what we’re also using to interact with in class.”

These tools include YouTube, Google and other applications like Canvas, a learning management system enabling students to view their current courses, take quizzes and tests and see upcoming assignments. Students can complete coursework on a smartphone and receive one-on-one interaction with professors, academic advisers and eTutors.

Students in EOU’s program choose from three tracks or primary areas of interests: business, media and teaching.

The business track focuses on marketing, public relations, human resources and related fields.

Media covers broadcasting, journalism, new media, computer science and other digital technologies.

The teaching track prepares future educators to enter graduate school.

As an academic major, communication studies is gaining popularity at schools across the nation, in part because it can be paired easily with other fields of study.

Psychology, history and public administration are a few of the programs EOU students often integrate with communication studies.

“Communication skills are necessary and desirable in nearly every setting,” Roy said. “Our program is an innovative and interdisciplinary experience that prepares students for career success.”

“We want them to have the widest opportunities available, now and later when they are building their careers,” Roy said.