Department of Communication at Appalachian State University

What Department of Communication at Appalachian State University does

The Department of Communication at Appalachian State University is an academic unit within the University of North Carolina System, headquartered in Walker Hall on the Boone, North Carolina campus. It delivers five undergraduate majors — Advertising, Communication Studies, Digital Journalism, Electronic Media/Broadcasting, and Public Relations — alongside two asynchronous online degree programs in Advertising and Communication Studies distributed via App State Online. The department serves traditional on-campus students within a 21,570-student university and distance learners, with alumni placed across advertising, media production, journalism, radio, public relations, nonprofit communications, internal communications, sales, and law.

The department's core instructional infrastructure is anchored by the George G. Beasley Media Complex, opened in 2013, which houses two state-of-the-art video production studios, the student-run WASU-FM 90.5 radio station, the AppTV television station, multiple editing suites, an equipment lending cage, and a mobile TV studio acquired from a Hollywood movie set. Six student-run media organizations — AppTV, 90.5 WASU-FM, The Appalachian (newspaper, est. 1934), Second Story Media (a pro bono student agency), The Peel (literary arts publication), and PRSSA — provide hands-on production, reporting, and client-service experience.

The department operates as a publicly funded academic unit: revenue is derived from tuition (approximately $7,500–$8,000/year for NC residents; $20,000–$22,000/year out-of-state) and state appropriations through the UNC System, supplemented by alumni donations. Its go-to-market is community-led academic recruitment through university admissions, social media (@Appstatecomdept), student-organization outreach, and community service-learning partnerships with regional media outlets and nonprofits. AppTV's designation as Boone's community access channel since 2018 and 2026 Digital Journalism partnerships with Mountain Times Publications and High Country Radio extend the department's operational footprint into local news and civic coverage.

Name

Department of Communication at Appalachian State University

Legal name

Department of Communication at Appalachian State University

Website

https://communication.appstate.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Department of Communication at Appalachian State University offers five undergraduate majors and two online degree programs in advertising, journalism, broadcasting, and public relations, delivered through award-winning student-run media outlets and the Beasley Media Complex facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Communication Studies

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPABACAH

University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Broadcasting (TV & Radio)/Local Broadcast Stations & Affiliates (TV & Radio)

SECONDARYMPABADAH

Educational/Instructional Public Media Services (Schools, Distance Learning)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Broadcasting (TV & Radio)/Public/Nonprofit Broadcasting (PBS/NPR-style)

Keywords

• Communication education
• Media production programs
• Journalism degrees
• Advertising programs
• Public relations education

Headquarters

HQ city

Boone

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Tuition and State Funding: As a public university department within the University of North Carolina System, the department is funded primarily through student tuition and state appropriations. The university enrolls nearly 21,570 students.
2. Donations and Alumni Giving: Department receives donations through the university's giving programs. Alumni contributions support scholarships and program development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Department of Communication at Appalachian State University is an academic unit that delivers undergraduate degree programs in five majors (Advertising, Communication Studies, Digital Journalism, Electronic Media/Broadcasting, and Public Relations) plus two asynchronous online degree programs (Advertising and Communication Studies). Instruction is delivered on-campus and online, with hands-on applied learning through award-winning student media organizations including AppTV, 90.5 WASU-FM, The Appalachian student newspaper, Second Story Media agency, The Peel literary publication, and PRSSA.

Product overview

The Department of Communication at Appalachian State University is an academic department offering five undergraduate majors (Advertising, Communication Studies, Digital Journalism, Electronic Media/Broadcasting, and Public Relations) along with two online degree programs. The department provides hands-on learning through award-winning student media organizations including AppTV (student television station), 90.5 WASU-FM (college radio), The Appalachian (student newspaper), Second Story Media (student communication agency), and The Peel (literary arts publication). Students gain practical experience through these media organizations and facilities like the Beasley Media Complex and George G. Beasley Media Complex, which house production studios, editing suites, and equipment cages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AppTV: Student-staffed television station offering news, entertainment, and sports programming for the university and surrounding community.
• WASU 90.5-FM
• The Appalachian
• Second Story Media
• The Peel

Products and services

• Advertising Major Undergraduate major preparing students for careers in advertising, covering strategic communication, creative development, and media planning.
• Communication Studies Major Undergraduate major focusing on versatile and adaptable communication skills across professional contexts including organizational communication, ethics, and persuasion.
• Digital Journalism Major Undergraduate major training students in journalism practices for print and broadcast media, including news writing, reporting, and multimedia storytelling, with a capstone service-learning component addressing local news deserts.
• Electronic Media/Broadcasting Major Undergraduate major in electronic media production and broadcasting, preparing students for television and radio production careers through the Beasley Media Complex.
• Public Relations Major Undergraduate major focused on strategic communication, reputation management, and public relations practices.
• Advertising (Online) Asynchronous online version of the Advertising bachelor's degree for distance learners.
• Communication Studies (Online) Asynchronous online version of the Communication Studies bachelor's degree for distance learners.
• AppTV Award-winning student-staffed television station providing news, entertainment, and sports programming for the university and surrounding communities, operating as Boone's community access channel.
• 90.5 WASU-FM Student-run college radio station operating from the Beasley Media Complex, providing broadcasting experience and programming since 1972.
• The Appalachian Independent student-run news publication since 1934, publishing monthly print issues and twice-weekly email newsletters; recipient of ACP Pacemaker Award and CMA Pinnacle Award.
• Second Story Media Student-run communication agency partnering with university and community nonprofit clients to provide pro bono communication materials including brand development, web design, social media strategies, and event planning.
• The Peel Student-run literature and arts publication cultivating creative expression in the student body and local community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 21 national college media awards at ACP/CMA Fall National College Media Convention (2021)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Arthur Elliott Advertising AgencyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 July 2026Creative advertising agency hosting Communication Studies major Ava Castillo as Marketing Intern for summer 2026. Student works on client projects including NAPA Auto Parts job posting audits and content creation.
• Mountain Times PublicationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Digital Journalism capstone course partnered with Mountain Times Publications to strengthen community news coverage in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties. Students produce and publish community news stories as part of service-learning model addressing local news deserts.
• High Country RadiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Digital Journalism students partnered with High Country Radio to produce multimedia content including a new radio segment called 'Campus of Connection.' Partnership addresses news desert crisis in the High Country region.
• Baldwin& AgencyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 21 November 2019Students from Second Story Media visited Baldwin& agency in Raleigh to learn about careers in agency environment. Meeting set up by Appalachian State Communication alumna working at agency.
• McKinney Advertising AgencyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 21 November 2019Students visited McKinney agency in Durham to learn about agency careers and graduate studies at VCU Brandcenter. Students met with recruiter and alumni working at agency.
• High Country Breast Cancer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 November 2019Second Story Media provides pro bono communication materials including social media content, electronic communications, advertisements, and campaign design for foundation's fourth annual 5K High Country Walk/Run for Breast Cancer 2020 event.
• Carolina West WirelessminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 October 2019Carolina West Wireless (and Skyline/Skybest) provided AppTV students with logoed polo shirts to support station branding and professional development.
• CreateAthoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2019National nonprofit organization that delivers free marketing and communication services to nonprofits. Second Story Media hosted a 24-hour CreateAthon marathon to develop pro bono materials for local nonprofits including App State Child Development Center, Blue Ridge Conservancy, Hub for Autism and Neurodiversity, and Girls on the Run.
• Clean AgencyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 October 2019Student Events Network hosted information session with Clean agency President Jeremy Holden. Former student (Care Toebbe) now Creative Content Manager at agency. Students encouraged to apply for agency's 'boot camp' simulation strategy session.
• Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 October 2019PRSSA is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations. Chapter hosts meetings, networking events, and national/regional conferences. Students gain professional development and networking opportunities.
• Town of BoonecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2018Partnership between Appalachian and Town of Boone for sustainability campaign to make Boone sustainable by 2050. Students created graphics and written materials as part of coursework.
• Town of Boone (Community Access Channel)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018AppTV became Boone's community access channel in summer 2018, expanding opportunities for broadcasting students to cover local government and community events.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Department of Communication, Wake Forest University: In-state North Carolina department with overlapping communication curriculum and a similar small-department footprint; competes with App State for NC-resident students considering private vs public options.
• School of Media Arts and Design, James Madison University: Mid-sized public university with strong student broadcasting (Breeze TV, WMRA radio) and similar mission to combine liberal arts with hands-on media production, often cited in the same college-media award circles.
• Hussman School of Journalism and Media, UNC Chapel Hill: UNC system's flagship journalism and media program; comparable public-university setting with similar communication/media majors, student media outlets, and the same state funding dynamic.
• Department of Communication, Virginia Tech: Land-grant public university communication department covering similar concentrations (advertising, PR, journalism, broadcasting) with comparable emphasis on practical media training.
• School of Communications, Elon University: North Carolina private university with comparable programs in journalism, broadcasting, and strategic communications, plus strong student media (Elon News Network, WSOE) — direct competitor for NC students.

Broad incumbents

• Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia: Larger, more established peer-competitor in the same regional conference of top public communication programs; sets the benchmark for what 'award-winning student media' looks like at scale.
• S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University: Nationally elite private communication school whose professional model and alumni outcomes are the aspirational benchmark for programs like App State's broadcasting and journalism tracks.
• Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, Penn State: Large public-university communications college with extensive student media operations and similar land-grant institutional DNA, often compared in enrollment and program scale benchmarks.

Regional players

• School of Communication, Media and the Arts, Western Carolina University: Nearby western NC public university with similar mountain-region student base and communication program offerings, making it a close geographic competitor for in-state applicants.
• College of Communication and Fine Arts, University of North Carolina Wilmington: UNC-system peer with overlapping programs in communication, film studies, and theatre — competes for in-state NC students within the same public university system.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Appstatecomdept
• YouTubevimeo.com/asucomnarratives
• Facebookfacebook.com/Appstatecomdept
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/appstatecomdept
• Instagraminstagram.com/appstatecomdept

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Department of Communication at Appalachian State University