Communication Studies

We use communication to craft ideas, connect ourselves with others, and to create personal identities and shared cultures. The methods and practices involved in communicative processes are gleaned from a long interdisciplinary tradition that values diversity in both knowledge and practice. The mission of the Communication Studies program at AU is to help students prepare for their futures by providing a foundation that teaches them to construct, evaluate, and distribute messages within and for an increasingly interconnected and globalized society. 

The core courses examine elements of the process of communication in a program which is grounded in the humanistic tradition and contemporary social science. This plan of study is designed not only for students planning to pursue careers as leaders in fields such as public relations, journalism, and advertising, but also for those who wish to acquire an awareness of general communication principles applicable to many careers. Moreover, since many Communication Studies courses investigate the impact of communication upon society, the major also provides a solid foundation for graduate study in Communication and related disciplines including Law, Business, and the Social Sciences. 

As a supplement to their classroom work, students are encouraged to work with the University’s FM stereo radio station, WALF, the student newspaper, Fiat Lux, or the campus television station, AUTV, as well as complete an internship. 

Upon completion of this program a student is able to:

1. Identify different forms of communication and the purposes, strategies, and processes that underpin them.
   1. Recognize that communication draws from both the humanities and social sciences in its expressive, analytical and critical dimensions.
   2. Understand the roles of the components of Communication (Senders, Messages, Channels, and Receivers) as conceptualized by various models of communication.
   3. Articulate the rhetorical impact of communication in how language "creates reality."
   4. Understand the impact of communication technologies on personal, social and cultural levels.
2. Construct and deliver messages to defined and identifiable audiences.
   1. Articulate and organize written and oral messages effectively and tailor them to the mode of communication.
   2. Demonstrate an understanding of various forms of mass media and communication technologies.
   3. Analyze interpersonal, group, organizational, public, and mass-mediated messages.
   4. Understand the importance of audience adaptation when communicating messages.
   5. Construct and critique persuasive arguments.
3. Analyze and evaluate the purposes and impacts of human communication within and across various social contexts.
   1. Recognize the interconnectedness of interpersonal, organizational, and intercultural relationships.
   2. Articulate the role of communication in the construction of culture.
   3. Recognize how culture affects the ways in which we communicate.
   4. Understand the ethical issues in communication.
4. Apply knowledge and skills via practical experiences.
   1. Explore at least one academic discipline beyond Communication.
   2. Earn experience via experiential learning opportunities or internships.
   3. Illustrate knowledge and skills via creative and/or academic research.