Department of Communication

Faculty: Associate Professor Davis, Chair; Assistant Professor McAlister, Associate Chair; Professors Bachman, Kennedy, Plays; Associate Professor Emeritus Giancola; Associate Professor Paine; Assistant Professors Eschenfelder, Garrett, Hillier, Long, Perkins, Scremin, Tripp; Visiting Assistant Professor Cohen; Visiting Instructor Whelihan. Instructional staff: Lecturers George, Piercy.

The mission of the Department of Communication is to advance the knowledge and understanding of the communication processes that occur among individuals, groups, organizations and societies. The program emphasizes the theoretical and applied dimensions of human communication. The curriculum provides knowledge of a range of scientific and aesthetic theories, research methods and practical tools enabling students to confront major communication challenges facing society. Courses emphasize human values, appropriate uses of communication media, historical perspectives and critical thinking.

The goals of the Department of Communication are to: 1) educate students to become critical thinkers and humane communicators capable of using traditional and emerging technologies effectively, 2) innovate programs of study and methods of instruction within the department and in partnership with others across the university in response to the continually changing theories, technologies and practices of communication, 3) advance communication as an interdisciplinary field that enriches the scholarly, critical and creative life of students, faculty and the greater community, 4) ensure, by regular evaluation, that the department’s programs, as well as any university programs with which the department is affiliated, remain relevant to the field of communication and the mission of the department, and 5) contribute to the intellectual life of the university and encourage students and faculty to share scholarly and creative activities with the university and greater community.

There are three majors within the department: communication, advertising and public relations, and film and media arts. The Department of Communication also participates in the New Media Production interdisciplinary program that focuses on designing and creating applications for interactive media, mobile platforms and the Internet for both commercial and artistic intent.