The mission of the Department of Communication Studies is to examine human symbolic activity as it shapes and is shaped by relationships, institutions, and societies. This work concerns how, why, and with what effects people communicate through verbal and nonverbal messages. Through research, teaching, and service, the Department devotes particular attention to understanding the ways in which communication erodes and sustains collaboration within and among local, national, and global communities.
Majors in Communication Studies will be able to:

• Develop the core competencies to advocate, negotiate, and relate across communicative contexts.

• Proficiently create, organize, convey, and evaluate messages.

• Understand and apply theories and methods of symbolic activity.

• Demonstrate an ability to recognize and develop a critical framework for making ethical choices surrounding communication.

• Showcase awareness of the complex nature of multiple communication contexts (such as public, interpersonal, group, organizational, intercultural).

• Recognize how message channels influence the communication process.

• Understand human diversity and the influence of diversity on communication.

• Demonstrate an ability to understand and critically evaluate historical, current and future social issues through a communicative perspective.