Department of Communication

Chair
Mark Brewin

Professor
Joli Jensen

Applied Professor
David L. Moncrief

Associate Professors
Mark Brewin
John M. Coward

Assistant Professor
Benjamin J. Peters

The communication program’s strong liberal arts orientation equips students for a variety of professional opportunities in communication as well as graduate study in communication, law, business administration, and other areas. With appropriately chosen electives, students can prepare themselves for careers in media studies, public relations, advertising, journalism studies, visual studies, and related fields.

Students pursuing a major in communication typically choose the B.A. degree. Communication majors who wish to choose the B.S. degree must petition the faculty chair for permission.

The three core courses in the major provide a strong background in communication, covering topics ranging from symbolic processes and systems to theories and philosophy of communication research. Majors also choose three of the four foundation courses that emphasize the larger social consequences of communication. Working with their advisors, communication majors develop an 18-hour emphasis in a particular area of the discipline. Communication majors may, with the approval of their advisor, develop their own individualized emphasis in communication.

Learning Objectives

Students who complete the undergraduate program in communication are expected to be able to:

Evaluate and critique the central theoretical concepts in the study of communication;
Use and understand basic social science methodologies;
Effectively use writing to convey their ideas;
Demonstrate a basic competence in oral communication;
Critically engage with the world of visual and digital communication; and
Fully realize both their rights and their responsibilities as citizens within a modern world.

Programs

Major

Minor

Communication Minor

Courses

Communication

Common Questions

Colleges

Department of Communication

Learning Objectives

Programs

Courses