When it comes to offering an affordable online undergraduate degree in communications, not many do it better than the University of Houston-Victoria.

That was the conclusion of the website Affordable Schools. UHV ranked third nationally on the site’s list of Top 20 Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Communications and Public Relations.

Jeffrey Di Leo

“I’m pleased that we’ve been recognized for serving online students seeking careers in communications fields,” said Jeffrey Di Leo, dean of the UHV School of Arts & Sciences. “We have developed high-quality, affordable programs that get students prepared for the real world or to go obtain an advanced degree.”

UHV’s communications programs are designed to teach students skills for becoming more effective communicators and increase their understanding of the human communication process. The rise in computer technology has created a greater demand for people with writing, speaking, desktop publishing and intercultural communication skills, said Andrew Baerg, chair of UHV School of Arts & Sciences Humanities Division and an associate professor of communication.

“The biggest advantage of a communications degree is the diversity of skills students develop,” Baerg said. “It’s an interdisciplinary degree, which is valuable in today’s age. You are not locked into one specific topic area. It opens up a lot of different doors.”

Andrew Baerg

Communication graduates can be found in a variety of occupations such as speech writers, lobbyists, recruiters, personnel directors and public relations specialists. The UHV program also provides a background for those who plan to pursue a master’s degree

UHV offers both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in communications. The difference is that the Bachelor of Arts requires foreign language courses, while the Bachelor of Science requires five additional hours of natural science courses and labs. UHV also has a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences with a concentration in communications for students who have associate degrees in Applied Arts & Sciences or who have completed technical college courses.

Affordable Schools is a college rankings site centering on unique and affordable academic programs. The site used data from the National Center for Education Statistics to select the top 20 programs based on affordability and online course offerings. UHV and the University of Texas at Permian Basin were the only two Texas schools ranked.

Baerg said two strengths of UHV’s communication programs are accessibility and having talented faculty members. Students have the option to meet virtually with faculty members on Skype or Adobe Connect if they have questions or need guidance.

“The ranking speaks to the quality of our program, especially given the cost,” Baerg said. “It speaks highly of who we are and what we are doing.”

For more information about UHV’s communications degree programs, visit www.uhv.edu/arts-and-sciences/undergraduate-programs/communication.