Department of Communication Studies, 225 Ford Hall, 224 Church Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-624-5800; fax: 612-624-6544)

Communication studies focuses on the study of communicative dimensions of human experience using humanistic and social scientific methods. This program prepares students to become researchers and teachers, offering three concentrations: interpersonal communication, rhetorical studies, and critical media studies. Coursework in rhetoric and public discourse studies emphasizes humanistic methods and includes argumentation and persuasion, ethics, rhetorical theory and criticism, and political rhetoric. Students may also pursue special interests in rhetorical philosophies, movements and campaigns, or popular culture and critical theory. The program should be supplemented by coursework outside the department. An understanding of history, political science, sociology, or cultural studies is recommended. Coursework in interpersonal communication has a social scientific orientation. Most students focus on a subarea such as small group, intercultural, interpersonal communication, or problems (e.g., decision making, conflict resolution). Coursework outside the department is usually concentrated in one or more of the behavioral sciences. Students are expected to develop a command of research techniques and a thorough knowledge of statistics. Coursework in critical media studies emphasizes qualitative, historical, critical, and empirical methods and includes television studies, feminist media studies, ethnic and racial minorities in media, critical media literacy, political economy of media, popular culture, environmental communication, and music. Coursework outside the department is usually in the fields of American studies, political science, cultural studies, mass communication, or women's studies.