Communication Studies
What is Communication Studies?
LMU's Communication Studies major helps students understand and appreciate the role that communication plays in building local and global communities based on fairness and equity. The overall goal of the program, which is informed by critical and philosophical perspectives, is to help students become effective communicators who use their knowledge and skills to enjoy satisfying personal and professional lives while helping to make a more socially just world.
The Communication Studies environment emphasizes close interaction with professors, as well as a balance between theoretical inquiry, research, and practical application. Students develop a solid grounding in this field of study through advanced courses in organizational communication, rhetoric, forensics (the College of Communication and Fine Arts has a first-rate debate team), intercultural communication, legal communication, political communication, and communication between women and men.
What do Communication Studies majors do?
Majors examine interpersonal, small group, and social influence phenomena. Students learn basic communication theories, principles, and methodological strategies, as well as the significance of cultural differences in communication practices.
Communication Studies majors learn to write and speak effectively, and critically analyze, assess, and interpret scholarly and everyday discourse. Students are encouraged to value diversity in communication, and to gain a broad understanding of the relationships among communication, social justice, and ethics.
Some students participate in the Communication Studies Department's Visiting Lecturers Series, and some are members of the Upsilon Phi Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, a national honor society.
Is this major right for you?
You might be a Communication Studies major if you:
- Like to write
- Are an orator
- Have in interest in debate and discourse
- Are philosophical
- Take interest in social justice issues
About our faculty
Our faculty members are actively committed to research that is engaged with important contemporary social and political issues, and informed by an interest in social justice. Faculty members present their cutting edge work in professional journals and other communication studies outlets.
About our students and graduates
Our students complete an individual research project that culminates in an undergraduate thesis. Many students enrich their LMU experience by studying abroad, participating in student organizations, and doing internships for academic credit.
LMU students majoring or minoring in Communication Studies are prepared to distinguish themselves in a variety of professions, such as education, law, social advocacy, politics, and nonprofit and corporate communication. The department's goal, however, transcends professional achievement. It is to offer students and faculty the tools to make the world a more equitable and just place to live and work.
Representative courses
Our courses have included:
- Introduction to Public Speaking
- Interpersonal and Small Group Communication
- Argumentation and Debate
- Foundations of Communication Theory
- Business and Professional Communication
- Critical Thinking and Communication
- Gender Communication
- Contemporary Rhetorical Theory
- Theories of Organizational Communication
- Rhetoric of Social Movements
- Communication and Legal Practice
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Communication and Consulting
- Political Communication
- Independent Studies