The study of communication is at once very old and very new. Its origins date back to ancient Greece where philosophers like Plato and Aristotle discussed the importance of rhetoric to public life; more recent work on communication considers how forms of expression influence public policy, impact how organizations function, or shape our experience of personal relationships. The communication degree provides depth of understanding about how symbols bring individuals and groups together for social action, how communication within organizations affects work and life experiences, and how public discussion influences decisions about who will govern or how we will allocate resources.

Communication students learn how messages and interaction processes shape our experience of the social world. They learn to create, analyze, and critique the use of messages, and they learn how technology impacts communication processes. The importance of communication in all aspects of human life and the explosion of communication technologies during the twenty-first century make the formal study of communication a relevant, versatile, and timely endeavor.

Students majoring in Communication complete courses that provide grounding in theories of communication and courses that examine specific communication contexts such as organizations, personal relationships, or public institutions.

For Communication Major Requirements and Prerequisites, follow the Prospective Students link on the left.

For information on upper division courses, advising, internships, honors, or studying abroad, please follow the Current Students link on the left.