Communication is a fundamental part of being human. It’s how we learn about self, other and society. It is the constructive force that enables us to form relationships, to develop creative ideas and products, to share experience with others. The Communication Studies major and minor offer students breadth and depth in exploring this central and complex part of the human condition. As a communicati
on studies student, you will engage in challenging, yet intellectually rewarding examinations of two central elements of human communication: relationships and messages.
*What will I learn as a Communication Studies major or minor?*
The Communication Studies major or minor offers flexibility in the topics students choose to study, which is well suited to today’s challenging economy, as well as to a generation that is well-known for its wide-ranging interests and abilities. Because Communication Studies offers a diverse spectrum of courses, students are only limited by their imagination and motivation to pursue careers that are fulfilling personally, intellectually and financially. You will examine communication processes, messages, behaviors, and effects. The core courses in the curriculum ensure that our majors have a solid foundation in the shared knowledge of the field. Through this core course sequence, you will learn how to think critically, and to apply knowledge to lived experience. You will learn how to analyze knowledge, as well as how to produce original scholarship of your own. Beyond the core curriculum, you choose to specialize in one of two areas: 1) interpersonal and organizational communication, or 2) rhetoric and cultural criticism. Within each of these areas, you will find various options for depth of study in an area that helps you achieve your personal, professional and civic goals. Some students study the rhetorical processes involved in the production of communication artifacts (for example speeches, online communication, movies, music, or political campaigns). Others look at interpersonal communication artifacts (for example family communication, small group communication, communication in friendship, online relationships, or communication in romance). Still others examine communication in organizational settings (for example superior-subordinate communication, sexual harassment, organizational networks, or organizational socialization processes). Finally, some communication scholars consider issues that might include multiple areas (for example argumentation, persuasion, gender socialization and representation, communication ethics, health communication, or intercultural communication). In this way, students are encouraged and expected to study the communication process from various perspectives and engage the "hard truth" that there is no one best way to communicate or to understand communication.
*What do I do with a Communication Studies degree?*
Great question. There isn’t a job called “Communication Studies,” so we understand that career options are not always obvious. A personalized advisor will work with you to help you find the right bundle of courses to achieve your aspirations. For example, if you are considering a career in public health, health care or social services, you may choose to “bundle” courses in interpersonal, small group, organizational and health communication to create a specialized area of study that will help you achieve your goals. But, health and social services isn’t the only career option available—indeed, the question might be better phrased as, “What can’t I do with a degree in Communication Studies.” Our students have pursued a wide variety of internships and careers in various industries, including fashion, theater, social media, consulting, speech writing, publishing, corporate communication, public affairs, health—to name just a few! Indeed, we hear frequently that the flexibility and diversity of the curriculum is one of the primary values of a Communication Studies degree. For those of you who wish to pursue educational opportunities beyond the bachelor’s degree, our students have also been overwhelmingly successful in earning admission to some of the nation’s finest graduate and law schools, many with funding support, such as Villanova University, University of Illinois, University of Southern Florida, Pennsylvania State University, Towson University, and Indiana University.
*How do I sign up?*
The first step in becoming a Communication Studies major or minor is declaring. After you declare your major, you will be assigned to an advisor who will help you make decisions about courses and other opportunities.
