Communication Studies

Our Communication Studies mission is to promote competent, ethical, and responsible production and consumption of symbolic messages in professional, social, interpersonal, and intercultural relations. We accomplish this by providing an environment that cultivates the lifelong teaching and learning of expressive and receptive abilities that individuals employ when they organize, make decisions, manage conflict, exert influence, create aesthetic experience, coordinate actions, and relate personally. 

We offer the premiere small college experience with large university opportunities. As the nexus within our discipline and among disciplines in the Arts and Sciences, we endeavor to integrate diverse components of the communication discipline, as well as maintain a strong and unique commitment to supporting general education. Communication Studies adopts a scholarly approach to teaching and learning, and distinctively balances and integrates research and theory with practice. We embrace diversity in epistemological and theoretical perspectives and value interdisciplinary scholarship. 

We pursue the leading edge in teaching and learning content and methods and strive to be responsive to changes in individual needs, societal trends, and market characteristics. 

About

Our most traditional and liberal arts oriented program is Communication Studies, formerly known as Speech Communication. We changed this program's name recently to more accurately reflect the types of activities and careers related to Communication. 

Communication Studies students discover the many strategies of how to effectively communicate with different groups of people in varying situations. Coverage includes person-to-person communication such as in counseling, peer advising, personnel management and other business and corporate positions. 

Students may also study persuasion and message construction strategies that are helpful in sales and management areas. Students desiring careers in training, development, fund-raising and similar fields may wish to major in Communication Studies. 

Major courses include: Interpersonal communication, small group communication, organizational communication, persuasion, research methodologies and other courses dealing with message design. 

 

Student Activities

• Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
• Communication Opportunities for Majors and Minors
• Lambda Pi Eta
• Forensics Union

For more information on these activites, visit our Student Organizations page.

Sequences

The Communication Studies degree provides three sequences or areas of specialization.

Interpersonal Communication

This program focuses on communication interaction between individuals and the impact each has on the other. The program provides a grounding in the power of communication to affect outcomes and relations across a variety of settings. Often, coursework may examine relationship development in families, social settings, and work. Typical careers include social services, human relations, interpersonal consulting, affirmative actions, sales, and counseling.

Organizational and Leadership Communication

This program enhances communication knowledge, understanding, and skills for enhancing organizational relationships. The goal of this sequence is to equip the student to use communication successfully as a tool to enhance organizational outcomes. Students will gain an understanding of how communication processes can be used to manage behaviors in an organizational context while becoming competent communicators. Typical careers include community relations, convention planning, training specialist, entry-level and executive management, corporate communication.

Political Communication

Political Communication is concerned with being actively engaged with local, regional, state, national, and international issues and how the power of information, persuasion, and strategic message design can be used to understand and affect outcomes at those levels, particularly in the area of governance and governmental and societal behavior. Students become knowledgeable and skilled in the use of political messages to promote causes, candidates, campaigns, etc. Typical careers include politics and political consulting, persuasion design, media analysis, educational support, speech writing, strategic/campaign message design.

Careers in Communication Studies

  • Communication Consultant
  • English Language Arts Teacher
  • Sales Manager
  • Communication Researcher
  • Marketing Communication Manager
  • Political Activist
  • Corporate Executive
  • Corporate Management 
  • Military Officer
  • Community Relations
  • Speech Writer
  • Advertising Director
  • Director of Corporate Communication
  • Speech and Debate Director
  • Corporate Communication Analyst
  • Legislative Assistant
  • Human Resource Manager
  • Employment Interviewer
  • Human Rights Officer
  • Training Specialist
  • Politician
  • Youth Minister
  • Sports Communication Manager
  • Tourism Manager