Department of Communication Studies

Communication Studies offers students a solid liberal arts grounding in theory, history, structures, process and functions of human communication as they relate to individuals, groups, communities, local and global cultures.

Welcome to the Department of Communication Studies at Bridgewater State College. And thank you for visiting the site and for your interest in the Communication Studies major. The department offers a BA in Communication Studies.

Communication Studies, unlike most majors, bridges two vital disciplines; humanities (English and Philosophy) and social sciences (Anthropology, sociology, psychology and political science.)  Communication Studies offers students a solid liberal arts grounding in theory, history, structures, process and functions of human communication as they relate to individuals, groups, communities, local and global cultures. It also provides students with the competencies required for effective communication. As you will discover the Communication Studies major offers more than just programs and courses. it strives to do the following:

• Foster the student's ability to integrate critical, theoretical, and ethical perspectives in the field of communication and apply them to their professional, personal and civic lives.
• Enable students to do analytical work and critical thinking in oral exposition and argument, in the literature of communication, and in the research that supports it.
• Prepare students for careers in communication and media studies, for work in other fields for which communication is pivotal for success, and for advanced study in the communication field.
• Train students in the areas of public speaking,  interpersonal communication, group communication, organizational communication, public relations, media studies,  radio, video, film appreciation, and journalism.
• Focus on human communication skills, communication and media research and critical studies, communication technology, and  legal and ethical issues.

Majors in communication studies can choose one of three concentrations, or, if a student would like to explore the potential of more than one concentration, he or she may customize a cross-concentration with the approval of the adviser and the chairperson of the department. These concentrations are:

• Media Studies and Communication Technologies "video, journalism, film studies, and media critical studies."
• Speech Communication "group and interpersonal communication, rhetoric, and intercultural communication"
• Corporate Communication "public relations and organizational communication."
• Individualized Program " a cross-concentration under departmental advisement."

Last Modified: September 11, 2009