Students examine the theory and practice of communication in a variety of contexts, including business and nonprofit organizations, small groups, the mass media, and video- and computer-based media. Under the auspices of the department, students acquire the knowledge base and analytical skills necessary to become effective communicators within an increasingly intercultural business and public environment. Courses are intended to serve the general student population as well as those students who have selected the corporate communication specialization of the business communication major.
Communication Studies is a strategic and practical choice for undergraduate and graduate students alike. Currently, our department is home to 542 majors in Corporate Communication, and 657 minors in Communication Studies. We teach Public Speaking to more than 2500 students annually and enroll 70 graduate students in our growing master’s program in Corporate Communication.
Communication Studies (CS) focuses on how people use messages to generate meaning through the use of channels (e.g., nonverbal, verbal, visual), media (e.g., print, television, computers), and contexts. Reflecting these contexts, students can choose between four concentrations:
- Interpersonal and Group Communication
- Intercultural and International Communication
- Rhetoric and Public Advocacy
- Digital Communication and Culture
