Spicer (Chairperson), Backus, Carter, Cumings, Jasko, Kale, McGukin, Milford, Sholar, Yochum

Students majoring in Communication Studies have three academic program options:

The Speech Communication concentration focuses on developing skill in the invention, arrangement, style and delivery of arguments. Students also gain a keen appreciation of the process of persuasion and how attitudes and beliefs are formed sustained and challenged. Students in this concentration are well prepared for careers in law, politics, public relations, corporate and organizational communication, customer relations, travel, tourism, hospitality and a host of other professional paths that require skill at persuasion and sensitivity to image.

The Radio/Television concentration emphasizes the application of mass communication theory to the production of messages—particularly in audio and video formats. Students are given solid instruction in basic skills in production and post-production work. Other courses emphasize professional preparation in media writing in various forms (commercial, drama and news writing), methods of media criticism and film analysis, broadcast management, and sports and media relations. The department houses an on-campus television studio and radio station, which provides students with hands-on production experience in the electronic media.

The Public Relations concentration seeks to create graduates who understand how public opinion emerges and changes and the role that effective public relations plays in this process. Courses are designed to create professionals with a strong academic background as well as specific career preparation. Students learn the fundamentals of public relations, cultivate skill in writing, grow to understand the role of research, learn to create messages to target particular audiences and practice presentational skills to “pitch” PR campaigns to clients.

In addition to the three options identified above, students majoring in any other program on campus may minor in one of three minor concentrations available in communication studies: Public Communication, Public Relations and Television Production.

Students majoring in Communication Studies have three academic program options:

The Speech Communication concentration focuses on developing skill in the invention, arrangement, style and delivery of arguments. Students also gain a keen appreciation of the process of persuasion and how attitidues and beliefs are formed sustained and challenged. Students in this concentration are well prepared for careers in law, politics, public relations, coporate and organizational communication, customer relations, travel, tourism, hospitality and a host of other professional paths that require skill at persuasion and sensitivity to image.

The department has a chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the national communication honor society that recognizes outstandingachievement by undergraduates majoring in communication studies. We also have a chapter of Pi Kappa Delta is thehonor society for intercollegiate debaters, individual events competitors and teachers ofcommunication. Our department has a long and storied history with successful competition in speech and debate.

Aside from the obvious careers in broadcast journalism or public relations, graduates canobtain positions in management training programs, and as speech writers and salespeople.

An undergraduate major or minor in communication studies is an asset for careers in law, religion, education, labor relations, politics, marketing and human resource development.

Employers continue to rank “communication skills” at the very top of desirable traits for employees.