There are two areas within the Department of Communication: Communication Studies and Telecommunication Studies.
The Communication Studies program deals with people talking in
a setting that is usually face-to-face, but that is increasingly becoming mediated (such as computer-mediated). Interpersonal communication,
group communication, organizational communication, computer-mediated communication, and
public
speaking are some of the areas students examine here. Courses may
touch on matters like social movements relating to tuition increases,
the process of legislation, or new media communication.
Telecommunication Studies address human communication that passes
through some medium such as radio, or television, or perhaps the Internet. For example, in this area, students may study how the
Internet impacts traditional forms of broadcast media such as radio and television. A student may learn about early stages of the field dating
back to sports broadcasting, as well as contemporary combinations
of telecasting through the Internet.
