BA Communication Studies

Communication Studies is both theoretical and practical. Students are expected to understand a set of interlocking concerns: how institutions shape the message and how people interpret the message; the possibilities and the limits of particular media; the influence of culture upon communication technologies; and the effects of technological change upon society as a whole. Additionally, students are expected to manage the tools of their discipline: computers, video, radio, print, and spoken discourse.The program in Communication Studies is open to any student with an interest in the discipline. A distinctive feature of Communication Studies is its preceptor/preceptee collaboration. Students' cognate choices are the result of a careful negotiation between students and preceptors. Students wishing to major in the program are encouraged to declare their intentions no later than the beginning of their junior year. Intended majors must consult with a Communication Studies faculty member, who will explain the nature of the program and its specific requirements.