Communication Studies
Communication is much more than the study of speech; we examine the ability to influence others, and how humans create, alter, and maintain meaning through symbols.
The mission of the Department of Communication Studies: Through a generalist approach grounded in the belief that the core of all human communication is social influence, the Communication Studies department seeks to provide an education of enduring worth by combining knowledge of communication theory and understanding of the contexts for communication with critical thinking and essential communication skills.
Our approach—while generalist—is not generic. We start with fundamental concepts and theories all students in communication need to understand and then we allow for individuals to tailor the major to suit their individual interests with a choice of elective courses. So all students are prepared to think, discover and interact well in a variety of contexts after they graduate.
The Department of Communication Studies houses both liberal arts and a pre-professional majors, offering three courses of study:
- Communication—This major or minor prepares students for both professional and graduate work. It also serves as an excellent second major in combination with business, economics, English, government, journalism, and more.
- Communication Business—This interdisciplinary major combines work in both the Communication and Business departments. It is more applied social influence.
Are you a driven, self-starter? Would you like to be an outgoing active leader in the community? Come learn the powerful tools that are the fundamentals of human interaction. Any vocation is informed by the nature, pitfalls, and promise of communication. In this rapidly changing world, a grounding in social influence allows one to adapt and change as well as grow and serve. All facets of one’s life are well served by having a background in communication studies.
