The Communication Studies major teaches a variety of skills that are essential to successfully navigating your personal, professional, and public lives. These include "resilient skills" that are highly valued across different careers even when technical expertise is lacking. As such, Communication Studies differs greatly from profession-specific majors where what is learned may become less relevant as the profession evolves.
Communication Matters
Communication Studies MA Program
Our program is one of the top communication studies Master’s programs in the country & offers a comprehensive degree using empirical & rhetorical methods.
Getting Involved Is Easy
Communication Studies boasts an impressive array of student led and instructor proctored organizations. Our students make a difference in the everyday lives of people in the community and across campus. Below are two of our departments most prestigious organizations whose mission is to increase student involvement and instill skills to better understand and adapt to a whole host of situations and events.
“The beauty of the Communication Studies degree is that it gives you the skills to determine how to best position yourself in any job situation. My training helps me adapt my communication to different stakeholders, manage conflict, and advance in my career, an unending return on my investment.”
Shanna Schultz
Global Communications Specialist at HP Enterprise | Communication Studies Alumni
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Communication Studies Matters
The Communication Studies major teaches essential skills for success in personal, professional, and public life. These “resilient skills,” including communication, teamwork, problem solving, and leadership, are highly valued across all careers, even as industries and technologies evolve. Unlike profession specific majors, the skills you gain in Communication Studies remain relevant throughout your career.
Employers consistently rank communication as the most important “human skill” for workplace success. Effective communicators stand out, adapt to different audiences, and thrive in diverse professional settings. According to Fast Company, communication appears in job postings more than 35 times as often as other skills, highlighting its critical role in career growth.
Our faculty combine award winning teaching with cutting edge research. Active in national and international associations, publishing in professional and academic outlets, and securing funding for innovative projects, they guide students in connecting classroom learning to real world challenges.
In short, Communication Studies equips students with versatile, high demand skills that prepare them to lead, solve problems, and succeed in any career.
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Why Choose Communication Studies?
Gain relevant and resilient skills: The Communication Studies major teaches a variety of skills that are essential to successfully navigating your personal, professional, and public lives. These include "resilient skills" that are highly valued across different careers, even when technical expertise is lacking. As such, Communication Studies differs greatly from profession-specific majors where what is learned may become less relevant as the profession evolves. Studies consistently rank communication skills as some of the most important and highly sought after "human" skills for all employment. Our alumni excel in diverse professional settings as influential leaders, solution-oriented collaborators, highly-trained researchers, talented writers, skilled trainers, and engaging speakers.
Learn from dedicated and decorated faculty and staff: The key to our students' success is our dedicated faculty and staff—a cohesive team that draws from their unified expertise to help students understand the vital connections between research and teaching inside and outside the classroom. Our faculty members are active in national and international associations, publish their research in books, as well as in professionaland academic journals, secure funding to support cutting-edge research, create podcasts, win awards for teaching and research, and serve their communities.
Choose from optional specializations: While everyone who majors in Communication Studies will take a diverse set of courses that familiarize students with the variety our discipline has to offer, some students may wish to focus on a particular aspect of communication. These concentrations are listed below for your convenience.
Study Abroad
Ever want to experience something beyond the pale? See or dive head first into new cultures and ideas? Our innovative world is your classroom approach gives you the freedom to explore the world and form relationships and memories that last a lifetime. Study COMM 1310, MU 2313, & Honors courses in London & Paris or Rome & Vienna.
