Welcome to Our Undergraduate Program We offer a major and a minor in Communication Studies and a Double Dawgs BS/MA. Professor Lessl teaching class As a liberal art, communication studies offers a broad understanding of the world beyond specific skills. You will become a more conscientious consumer of the information that confronts us daily. Courses in the major approach a variety of communication environments and how they function, from public to personal. In survey after survey, personnel officers and business leaders identify communication skills as the most important attributes they seek when they hire new employees. This may explain why graduates of the Communication Studies department have a consistently higher job placement rate than the university average. These facts point to a much broader principle: communication is central to the activities that most define our humanity. Communication competency plays the central role in our family lives, in establishing and maintaining friendships, in our religious activities, in our mediated understanding of the world, in our participation as citizens, and in all life pursuits. A major in Communication Studies means gaining these skills as well as a broader understanding of how communication drives our world.An education in communication studies offers powerful skill sets that go far beyond polishing one's presentation style. These include negotiating conflict, crafting effective arguments and persuasive messages, working constructively within the groups, navigating cultural divides, creating effective publicity campaigns, building satisfying personal relationships, and recognizing the channels of communication available to resolve problems. How do roommates or diplomats resolve disagreements? What communication strategies do people use when testifying before a government subcommittee or interviewing for a job? Communication Studies builds these and related, high-demand skills.As a liberal art, communication studies offers a broad understanding of the world beyond specific skills. You will become a more conscientious consumer of the information that bombards us daily. Courses in the major approach a variety of communication environments and how they function, from public to personal. You may learn about the workings of political campaigns or patterns of talk between doctors and patients. You may learn to dissect Malcolm X's speech on "The Ballot or the Bullet" or dig deep into why women and men sometimes talk past one another. You may gain insight into the dynamics that drive communication patterns in dysfunctional families, or you may learn how the system of advertising invades and shapes our daily lives. These are knowledges that do not have immediate and obvious applications, but they contribute to a well rounded education that is increasingly valued in our specialized world. Program Information and Resources Degrees & ProgramsDetailed information about our major & minor degrees Double Dawgs Did you know you may be able to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in Communication Studies in five years? Undergraduate Courses & Course SchedulesSee all course descriptions and up to date course schedules AdvisingAnswers to frequently asked questions about advising in Communications Studies. Policies, Procedures & FormsLearn more about grade appeals, graduation and find access to important forms Study Abroad ProgramsExplore our study abroad opportunities Research OpportunitiesLearn more about the many research opportunities for undergraduates within the department Funding OpportunitiesExplore scholarship and other funding Graduation COMM Dawgs & Lambda Pi EtaLearn more about this student organization open to any communication studies major or minor SyllabiAccess syllabi for current and past Communication Studies' courses CareersLearn more about careers in Communication Studies
