The Field

Communication is a fundamental social and cultural process, one that’s essential to our survival as a species and as a polity. In illuminating its multifaceted role, our faculty emphasize theory, methods of inquiry, and critical thinking. As a Communication major you will develop analytical abilities that help you understand how communication works, whether in an argument between friends, a political speech, an interaction between people from different cultures, or a children’s television program. You’ll develop your curiosity, your focus, and your ability to find out—to pose a question creatively and answer it rigorously.

 Many choose the field because it plays a pivotal role in sustaining participatory democracy and a vibrant world of art, culture, and criticism. It helps us recognize and deepen our connections across borders, be they community or national, and it makes us thoughtful, accountable critics.   We offer breadth and depth in the field, the chance to study with leading researchers, and personal attention to each student’s development as a writer, speaker, and scholar.

Our students go on to a range of professions and opportunities in media, government, education, and the corporate and nonprofit worlds, or they head to graduate school in the social sciences and humanities, public policy, law, and education. 

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