Career Outlook

After earning your Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Digital Media, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:

• Television, Radio and Online Media
• News Networks, Newspapers and Magazines
• Social Media
• Sports and Entertainment
• Film and Theater
• Public Relations
• Marketing and Advertising
• Speech writing
• Law, Government and Politics
• Business and Trade Organizations
• Nonprofit and Social Services Organizations

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in communication and digital media are expected to grow steadily, increasing 4% by 2028. The average salary for the communications industry is between $71,940 and $154,470.

Application Instructions

Through a rolling admission process, prospective students may apply to Alvernia at any time. Multiple start dates throughout the year allow accepted students to begin a program of study at an accommodating time. We continually review applications and accept students for each of the six term starts (August, October, February, March, May, and July).

Keeping on track is important throughout the process. We encourage you to work with an admission team member to submit all materials and meet all deadlines. Our dedicated team will work directly with you to identify the best options that work for you and your unique situation. Once your application is complete, you will not have to wait long for a decision. We continually review applications and notify students as soon as a decision has been made.

To get started, visit our undergraduate admissions page for a list of instructions and documents needed.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Alvernia's Communication and Digital Media program is located within the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne in the heart of downtown Reading. The state-of-the-art facility allows Alvernia students to expand multimedia content creation, including YouTube videos and podcasts. New studio and lab spaces enable student to learn how to use the latest technologies to prepare for the needs of the 21st-century marketplace. Students also can get hands-on experience at a television station located in CollegeTowne. Berks Community Television (BCTV), one of the country's oldest, consistently active cable access managers, offers students the opportunity to take classes, intern, volunteer or produce content.

Partnerships

Partnerships with non-profit organizations including Opportunity House, 18th Ward Business Alliance, Safe Berks, and the United Way, as well as newly developed partnerships with both non-profit and for-profit organizations are available for student participation.

Community News Lab

Alvernia’s Community News Lab gives students hands-on experience in local journalism while highlighting arts and culture stories from the surrounding community. In partnership with Berks Community Television (BCTV), WEEU AM, and Spotlight PA, students work alongside faculty and community media partners to report, write, and produce stories across platforms. Rooted in Alvernia’s commitment to service, civic engagement, and community connection, the News Lab offers a valuable opportunity for communication majors and students across all disciplines to build real-world storytelling skills while strengthening ties between the university and the region it serves.

Internships

Alvernia students can spend a semester living and working in Washington, D.C., through a special partnership that places students in internship positions at various non-profit organizations and government agencies. In addition, Alvernia students have completed recent internships with:

• BCTV
• Camden Riversharks
• Citizens Bank
• DaBrian Marketing Group
• Habitat for Humanity
• Herr Foods Inc.
• FOX 29
• LedgeRock Golf Club
• Morgan Stanley
• Olivet Boys & Girls Club
• Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Reading Public Museum
• Reading Royals
• Santander Bank
• Tower Health System
• Walt Disney World
• WFMZ
   

Opportunities for Majors

Community News Lab

Alvernia’s Community News Lab gives students hands-on experience in local journalism while highlighting arts and culture stories from the surrounding community. In partnership with Berks Community Television (BCTV), WEEU AM, and Spotlight PA, students work alongside faculty and community media partners to report, write, and produce stories across platforms. Rooted in Alvernia’s commitment to service, civic engagement, and community connection, the News Lab offers a valuable opportunity for communication majors and students across all disciplines to build real-world storytelling skills while strengthening ties between the university and the region it serves.

The Washington Center Experience

Alvernia students have an opportunity to earn college credit by spending a semester or summer in Washington, D.C. where they serve as interns in a congressional office, government agency, major corporation, newspaper or news network, or agencies devoted to legal affairs, international relations, or business and economics. They also may intern with one of several non-profit groups dealing with the environment, women’s issues, the arts, education, science, or labor relations among others. Participants are customarily juniors or seniors who have achieved grade point averages of 2.5 or better and who have the endorsement of the appropriate academic area. In addition to their internship, students select one seminar dealing with the arts and humanities, communication, public policy, the legal system, business, and government. Interested students should see their academic advisor.

The Alvernian

Alvernia's college newspaper provides information and entertainment to the community, covering issues on campus and in the local communities. The Alvernian provides an open forum for ideas and opinions through editorials, letters-to-the-editor, news stories, features, interviews and reviews and gives Alvernia students the opportunity to gain practical journalistic experience. Contact Dr. Ryan Lange for information at ryan.lange@alvernia.edu or 610-568-1557.

Wolfpack Media Club

Wolfpack Media is the club for the Communication and Digital Marketing Department. It is open to all students who have an interest in this field. This club creates opportunities for students to experience the world of communications as it relates to career goals through events, informational sessions and further activities. Students explore and learn about relevant topics such as podcasting, filmmaking, and social media marketing. They also have the opportunity to network and develop leadership skills.

The Wolf's Howl

The Wolf’s Howl publishes information and projects from the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Alvernia's Communication and Digital Media Department. Its content ranges from light-hearted to intellectual.

Alvernia College Theatre Club

This club provides Alvernia University with a drama program; the area with a source of entertainment; the students with an activity and somewhere to express themselves; and as another way for the University to give back to the community. All of the members of the Alvernia community are invited to participate.

Accreditation Statements

Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. 

Get to Know Your Faculty

For more information about Alvernia’s Communication and Digital Media program contact the Admissions Office at 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu. Or reach out directly to Ryan Lange at 484-254-2114 or ryan.lange@alvernia.edu.