TL;DR: AB Communication (BA Communication) is a four-year CHED-regulated degree under CMO No. 35, series of 2017, covering how humans communicate across media platforms, with most schools offering Journalism, Broadcast Communication, or a Speech/PR concentration in the later years. A published curriculum from the University of the Philippines Baguio runs 135 units: 30 General Education, 18 core communication courses, 18 major-track courses, and a 12-unit minor, plus a required practicum. AB Communication has no PRC board exam. Jobstreet's Philippine data shows PR officers averaging ₱33,000–₱43,000 per month and content writers ₱23,000–₱33,000, while entry-level media and newsroom pay commonly starts lower and grows with a strong portfolio.
AB Communication (sometimes labeled BA Communication) is one of the most-searched arts degrees in the Philippines, and one of the least standardized in the public mind: a "communication" major could end up in a newsroom, a PR agency, a broadcast studio, or a content team, and the coursework looks different depending on which of those a student is aiming for. This guide breaks down AB Communication's CHED-mandated curriculum, its concentration tracks, the internship and portfolio expectations employers actually check, tuition, and real pay data for media and communication roles. If you're weighing this against senior high tracks first, see our HUMSS strand guide, since HUMSS is the direct on-ramp into this degree.
What Is AB Communication?
AB Communication is a four-year undergraduate degree governed by CHED Memorandum Order No. 35, series of 2017, "Revised Policies, Standards, and Guidelines for Bachelor of Arts in Communication (BA Comm) Program." CHED's own framing describes the field as covering "the various ways by which humans communicate," focusing on how verbal and non-verbal messages create meaning across different contexts and media platforms.
Like CHED's other outcomes-based PSGs, the CMO sets a minimum set of graduate competencies rather than a single fixed subject list, giving private HEIs, SUCs, and LUCs latitude to design their own specific curriculum and concentration tracks as long as students hit the required outcomes.
Disclaimer: curriculum specifics, concentration names, and unit counts vary by school under CHED's outcomes-based framework. Always confirm the current curriculum with your target school's communication department.
AB Communication Curriculum: What Subjects Will You Take?
The University of the Philippines Baguio publishes a full 135-unit BA Communication curriculum built under CMO No. 35, s. 2017, which is a useful real-world reference point for what the degree actually covers.
| Curriculum Component | Units |
|---|---|
| General Education (24 required + 6 electives) | 30 |
| Core Communication Courses | 18 |
| Major/Concentration Courses (e.g., Journalism) | 18 |
| Minor Courses (e.g., Speech Communication) | 12 |
| Physical Education | 4 |
| NSTP | 6 |
| Rizal course (PI 100) | 3 |
| Electives (remainder to reach total) | — |
| Total | 135 |
The core communication courses common to every concentration include Introduction to Communication, Laws on Communication and Media, Communication Theory, Communication Ethics, a two-part Research Methods and Thesis Proposal sequence, and a culminating Thesis. Journalism-track students then add courses like newswriting, editing, feature writing, and investigative reporting, plus Photojournalism, Online Journalism, and a required Journalism Internship.
What Concentrations Does AB Communication Offer?
Schools organize concentrations differently, but three tracks recur across most Philippine AB Communication programs: Journalism (news, feature, and investigative writing, editing, photojournalism, online journalism), Broadcast Communication (radio/TV production and on-air work), and a Speech Communication or Advertising and Public Relations track. At Ateneo de Manila, for example, the Advertising and Public Relations track requires two communication electives, Advertising Principles and Practices and Public Relations, while an Image and Sound Production track requires Basic Video/TV Production and Elements of Screen Arts.
| Concentration | Focus | Typical Entry Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Journalism | News, feature, and investigative writing; editing; photojournalism | Reporter, editorial assistant, online journalist |
| Broadcast Communication | Radio/TV production, on-air and production work | Broadcast production assistant, segment producer |
| Advertising / Public Relations | Campaign strategy, media relations, brand messaging | PR/communications associate, account executive |
| Speech Communication | Rhetoric, interpersonal and organizational communication | Corporate communications, training and development |
Because CHED allows real variation in how these tracks are named and structured, confirm the exact concentration options and required courses with your target school's communication department rather than assuming every "AB Communication" program offers the same three tracks. If you're still weighing this against other options, see our what course to take in college and in-demand courses in the Philippines guides.
Does AB Communication Have a Board Exam?
No. AB Communication does not appear on the Professional Regulation Commission's list of regulated professions, so there is no PRC licensure exam tied to journalism, broadcasting, public relations, or content work in the Philippines. This is a deliberate policy position as much as an administrative fact: Philippine press freedom advocates have historically and consistently opposed proposals to require journalists to hold a government-issued license, arguing it would give the state leverage over who is allowed to report.
What's the Portfolio Expectation for AB Communication Graduates?
Media, PR, advertising, and content employers in the Philippines routinely weigh a graduate's actual published or produced work, clips, campaign materials, broadcast segments, writing samples, as heavily as or more heavily than GPA when hiring for entry-level roles. AB Communication programs are built around this expectation: journalism tracks require published bylines through student publications or internships, broadcast tracks require produced segments, and PR/advertising tracks require campaign work, all of which become a graduate's actual hiring portfolio.
Most programs also include a required practicum or internship, commonly completed in the intersession before a student's final year, that places students in a real newsroom, PR agency, broadcast station, or communications department, adding professional-context work to that portfolio before graduation.
Disclaimer: exact internship timing, hours, and placement partners vary by school. Confirm the current practicum requirement with your target school before enrolling.
How Much Does AB Communication Tuition Cost?
AB Communication is a lecture- and studio-based program, generally more affordable than lab-heavy science or engineering degrees, though broadcast-focused programs with production facilities can run higher.
| School Tier | Approx. Annual Tuition (AB Comm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Budget private school | ₱20,000–₱45,000 | Large classes, limited production equipment |
| Mid-range to premium private university | ₱60,000–₱150,000+ | Stronger media labs, broadcast studios, industry ties |
| State university or college (SUC) | Free under RA 10931 | Subject to admission and retention requirements |
Disclaimer: tuition figures are approximate ranges and change by school year. Confirm the current rate directly with the admissions office of your target school. See our average cost of college in the Philippines guide for the fuller picture.
What Jobs Can AB Communication Graduates Get?
AB Communication graduates spread across media, public relations, advertising, corporate communications, and content roles, with pay varying widely by specialization and employer.
| Role | Approx. Monthly Pay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Officer | ₱33,000–₱43,000 | Jobstreet Philippines |
| Public Relations Specialist | ₱29,000–₱38,000 | Jobstreet Philippines |
| Content Writer | ₱23,000–₱33,000 | Jobstreet Philippines |
| Communications Specialist | ₱26,937 (average) | Indeed Philippines |
Newsroom and broadcast entry-level pay is not separately tracked by these aggregators and commonly starts below the PR/content figures above, especially at smaller regional outlets, though it can rise quickly for reporters who build a strong byline record or move into digital-first newsrooms.
Disclaimer: wage figures are averages and ranges from job listing aggregates, not guaranteed starting pay for any individual graduate. Actual offers vary by company size, industry, location, and portfolio strength.
Which Schools Offer AB Communication?
AB Communication and its closely related programs (BA Broadcast Communication, BA Journalism) are offered at universities nationwide, including Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines Diliman's College of Mass Communication, and Polytechnic University of the Philippines, each with different concentration strengths, so compare specific track offerings and production facilities rather than assuming the program is identical school to school.
How to Decide If AB Communication Is Right for You
Before committing to AB Communication, weigh these questions:
- Do you know which concentration you want? Journalism, broadcast, and PR/advertising point toward genuinely different day-to-day work, so research your target school's specific track offerings before enrolling.
- Are you prepared to build a portfolio throughout the degree, not just at graduation? Employers in this field hire on demonstrated work more than almost any other course, so treat every class project, internship, and student-publication byline as portfolio material from year one.
- Have you confirmed the practicum placement your target school arranges? Since employers weigh internship experience heavily, a school with strong media or agency partnerships is a real advantage.
- Have you checked your target school's admission requirements? Some AB Communication programs require a writing sample or portfolio piece as part of admission, not just after enrollment.
- What strand did you take in senior high? HUMSS graduates usually have the most direct preparation; see our HUMSS strand guide and HUMSS strand courses for how that pathway lines up.
Ready to find the right school? Browse schools or compare tuition and programs across hundreds of Philippine schools on SchoolFinderPH.
Sources
- CHED CMO No. 35, s. 2017 — Revised PSGs for BA Communication (official PDF, via UP Cebu)
- University of the Philippines Baguio — BA Communication (Journalism major) curriculum
- Ateneo de Manila University — AB Communication, Department of Communication
- Jobstreet Philippines — Public Relations Officer Salary
- Jobstreet Philippines — Public Relations Specialist Salary
- Jobstreet Philippines — Content Writer Salary
- Indeed Philippines — Communication Specialist Salary
- SchoolFinderPH — HUMSS Strand Guide
- SchoolFinderPH — HUMSS Strand Courses
