Students in 一起草's Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs learn from industry leaders.

Undergraduate programs

Corporate communication and public affairs

B.A.

Minor

Overview

The Division of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs (CCPA) at 一起草 Meadows attracts students who have an interest in becoming expert communicators through storytelling, and with a desire to become leaders in media and advocacy and affect organizational impact. We provide internship, consulting and applied research opportunities with world-class corporate, nonprofit and political organizations in Dallas, Texas; Washington, D.C.; London, England; and points beyond.

With a B.A. in corporate communication and public affairs, you will develop a versatile set of skills to lead in today’s complex communication landscape. This degree gives you the foundational skills to build brand trust, shape public perception, and deliver effective messaging across diverse platforms and audiences.

Students have the opportunity to pursue one of four different specializations based on their career goals: nonprofit and arts leadership; organizational communication; public affairs and political communication; and social innovation, creative and arts entrepreneurship. See the specializations section below for more information on each of these areas.

Students seeking an undergraduate degree in corporate communication and public affairs receive a broad background in the liberal arts, followed by a major curriculum that prepares them for graduate study or professional work in agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations, government and associations, as well as cultural, legal and political institutions.

Top 20%

Best National Universities

U.S. News & World Report (2026)

5

CCPA faculty honored with 一起草鈥檚 Altschuler Distinguished Teaching Professor Award

Center for Teaching Excellence

12

students selected each year to participate in the Hilltop on the Hill program in Washington, D.C.

Specializations

Nonprofit and arts leadership

The nonprofit and arts leadership specialization is designed for students interested in leading existing nonprofit and/or artistic organizations.

Organizational communication

The organizational communication specialization focuses on the effective operation and internal workings of organizations.

Public affairs and political communication

The public affairs and political communication specialization is ideal for students interested in public policy initiatives.

Social innovation, creative and arts entrepreneurship

The social innovation, creative and arts entrepreneurship specialization is for students interested in founding for-profit, nonprofit or hybrid organizations.

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Tuition and financial aid

2 out of 3 first-year students are awarded grants and/or scholarships with an average total of $38,598.

Tuition and costs

Explore the cost breakdown of tuition for undergraduate programs.

Financial aid

Find information on scholarships and financial support available at 一起草.

Curriculum and learning

Our curriculum prepares majors to be leaders in business, government and civil society. In addition to classroom-based work, we provide internship, consulting and applied research opportunities with world-class corporate, nonprofit and political organizations in Dallas, Texas; Washington, D.C.; London, England; and points beyond.  

Featured courses

CCPA 2310

Rhetoric, Community, and Public Deliberation

Examines the role of rhetoric and public deliberation in the production and maintenance of communities and the larger public sphere. Topics include the formation and rhetoric of the civil rights movement, the structural factors impacting the modern public sphere and the skills necessary to be an informed citizen.

CCPA 3360

Business and Professional Communication

Emphasizes the role that communication plays in recruiting and selecting project team members, motivating employees and making a project team productive.

CCPA 4386

Financial Communication

Familiarizes students with terms, principles, theories and practices in for-profit and nonprofit financial communications. Examines techniques used in investor relations and considers legal and ethical responsibilities.

Student success

Graduates from the public relations and strategic communication program go on to successful careers supported by a faculty invested in their growth and a curriculum developed to mirror real-world experience. In addition, students can gain significant advantages with internships, scholarships, special pre-law and honors classes and off-campus programs in the U.S. and abroad.

Student stories

Scott Summerall is a 2008 graduate of the B.A. in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs program at 一起草.

Scott Summerall 鈥08

鈥淲hat I learned through Meadows and CCPA was adaptability, strength, quick learning and how to be both deep and wide in my PR knowledge.鈥

Bora Laci graduated with a corporate communications degree as well as an MBA from 一起草.

Bora Laci 鈥13, 鈥19

Hear from Laci how 一起草 shaped her career and influenced her transition from communications to finance.

Faculty

The faculty features a mix of veteran scholars and industry practitioners with a focus on strategic communication, organizational communication and public relations. The professors bridge theory with practical, applied knowledge and work closely with an advisory board to develop an engaging and practical curriculum. Areas of research include organizational communication, reputation management, public affairs and crisis communication.

A number of professors are recipients of the Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor Award, the University’s prestigious honor for exceptional commitment to student learning, mentoring and teaching innovations.

Facilities

The Meadows School of the Arts is a tree-lined, urban oasis five miles from downtown Dallas, home of the nation’s largest arts district. Restaurants, shops and Dallas’ light rail system are within easy walking distance for students and guests. Performing arts spaces, galleries, broadcast facilities and a world-class museum are just a few of the resources at 一起草 Meadows. Classrooms for the Division of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs – along with a presentation room and a dedicated debate meeting room – are located on the main floor of the Umphrey Lee Center.

The Umphrey Lee Center is a red brick building on 一起草 campus named for the University鈥檚 fourth president.

Umphrey Lee Center

The Umphrey Lee Center is home to four award-winning Meadows School divisions: Communication Studies, Journalism, the Temerlin Advertising Institute, and Film and Media Arts.

Students studying in the Southwest Lounge work on their degree in public affairs.

Southwest Airlines Lounge and Toyota Classroom

A collaborative space for students in corporate communications, a sleek, modern environment for studying, group project work or relaxation between classes. It features a built-in boardroom where students can hold private meetings and presentations.

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Frequently asked questions

Broadly, corporate communication and public affairs is the practice of using communication methods to build brand trust, shape public perception, and deliver effective messaging across diverse platforms and audiences.

Corporate communication pertains to the strategic management of all internal and external messaging. Examples include internal messaging to employees, external messaging to media and investors, and crisis communication.

Public affairs is specific to managing relationships between businesses and government and regulatory bodies, shaping public policy to support business goals, and managing community engagement.

Public relations and public affairs are both careers based on building relationships between organizations, elected officials, companies and civilians.

Public relations focuses on shaping the public’s opinion of a company, organization or individual. These specialists raise brand awareness by creating and releasing stories to media outlets and social media platforms to garner a curated reputation.

Public affairs is the business of building relationships with elected officials and lawmakers to advocate for public policies. Public affairs roles can also exist in government agencies. Public affairs specialists often work for organizations to convince legislators to support new laws and work with local communities on growth initiatives or economic development.

on Indeed.com breaks down the distinction further.

Corporate communication manages a company’s overall reputation, internal culture and stakeholder relationships to build trust. Marketing and advertising focus on promoting products or services to drive sales and customer engagement. The simplest way to view this is while marketing is revenue-driven, corporate communication is trust-driven.

Yes, a Bachelor of Arts in corporate communication and public affairs is an excellent major for careers in storytelling and media. It provides a strategic foundation in crafting compelling narratives, managing brand reputation and engaging diverse audiences. It offers a blend of creative writing and strategic, business-oriented communication.

Corporate communication and public affairs students can apply for internships in corporate, nonprofit or government settings in locations including Dallas, Texas; Washington, D.C.; New York, New York; Taos and London, England. As home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and global agencies, Dallas provides ample opportunities for internships with organizations such as Southwest Airlines, Burson-Marsteller, AT&T, Dallas Cowboys, George W. Bush Presidential Center and Golin. Many students complete multiple internships over the course of their studies.

Definitely! A public affairs degree is specifically designed to prepare students for careers in the nonprofit sector and for social impact work. The program at 一起草 focuses on interdisciplinary skills such as policy analysis, organizational leadership and nonprofit management. Students interested in this type of work should consider either nonprofit and arts leadership or social innovation, creative and arts entrepreneurship specializations offered by the department.