Updated 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog | 20255

The mission of the Communication Studies program is “to teach communication skills for career readiness.”

Our vision is to “prepare students to effectively examine how oral and written communication practices influence the lives of individuals, relationships, communities, and organizations in our ever-changing society.”

The program offers a BA, a BS, and a minor in Communication Studies. The Communication Studies curriculum has an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and community engagement, providing students with the opportunity to connect with others from various backgrounds.

One key advantage to a Communication Studies degree is that graduates develop the knowledge, and skills employers need. As noted by the National Association of Colleges and Employees Job Outlook surveys, employers identify the ability to verbally communicate with others inside and outside the organization, solve problems, work in teams, create and edit documents, foster relationships, and network as the top skills they seek when hiring new college graduates.

From academic honors to service-learning opportunities in the community, our graduates bring these critical skills to the workplace. Students demonstrate strong verbal, nonverbal, and written communication; they show considerable expertise in in speaking well in front of small and large audiences.

Students in the communication studies program gain skills and opportunities to:  

STRENGTHEN personal relationships
PREPARE for professional careers
ENHANCE academic skills
ENGAGE with the community

The Communication Studies Program also offers leadership opportunities for students through two active student groups: Communication Scholars Society and Alpha Zeta Chi, the academic honorary society.

The dual degrees provide flexibility for students to double major with other BA and BS programs and tailor their academic program to their career path. Communication Studies pairs well with programs where strong communication skills are critical: Business, English, Criminal Justice, Integrated Media, Nursing, Political Science, Psychology, Project Management, Sociology, among others.