Communication Studies

Introduction

We teach communication studies that nurture inclusive civil discourse, critical thinking, and cooperative solutions in a diverse global community. We offer opportunities to develop strong communication skills within a challenging liberal arts program.

Our major program prepares students to speak and write proficiently, think critically, apply communication concepts competently, work cooperatively in small groups, and reflect on ethical dimensions of their actions. We focus on interactive learning in a high quality communication studies curriculum. We assist planning so that students effectively manage time to graduation. We emphasize carefully guided, performance-based learning characterized by a low student-to-faculty ratio in the classroom. And we offer the opportunity to participate in a nationally recognized forensics program. Faculty and staff encourage a sense of community. We engage with students to support their wellbeing and success. Through the talents, intellectual curiosity, and versatility of our diverse faculty we have established a strong intercultural and global orientation. We provide General Education Requirement courses that are crucial to the university’s undergraduate communication education, and our communication theory and applications courses also instruct other majors. We are committed to community partnerships for strong service-learning and internships, and we serve the citizens of Washington in progressive communication instruction.

Communication Studies

The Department of Communication Studies offers a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with courses in interpersonal and small group communication, organizational communication, mass communication, intercultural communication, communication technologies, research methods, ethics, rhetoric, persuasion, public speaking, and debate.

Communication Studies Education

Education students may choose a communication major designed for the elementary level.

Faculty

MICHAEL KARLBERG (1997) Chair and Professor. BA, University of California; MA, PhD, Simon Fraser University.
JAMES FORTNEY (2013) Assistant Professor. BA, Saint Louis University; MA, DePaul University; PhD, University of Colorado Boulder.
EE LIN LEE (2005) Associate Professor. BA, MA, Western Michigan University; PhD, University of New Mexico.
HELEN MORGAN PARMETT (2012) Assistant Professor. BA University of Vermont; MA, University of Pittsburgh; PhD, University of Minnesota.
TARA PERRY (2005) Associate Professor. BA, Western Washington University; MA, PhD, Washington State University.
KAREN ROHRBAUCK STOUT (2000) Professor. BA, University of Puget Sound; MA, University of Montana; PhD, University of Utah.
RAE LYNN SCHWARTZ-DUPRE (2006) Associate Professor. BA, University of Vermont; MA, Wake Forest University; PhD, University of Iowa.
JIANGLONG WANG (1989) Professor. BA, Fudan University; MA, PhD, Northwestern University.
STEVEN G. WOODS (2001) Associate Professor. BS, MA, Kansas State University; PhD, Florida State University.

Affiliated Faculty

CARMEN WERDER (1984). BA, MA English, Western Washington University; PhD, English, University of British Columbia.

Becoming a Communication Studies Major

Students wishing to declare a major in Communication Studies must complete the pre-requisites and then apply to become a major by submitting a portfolio to the department. Details regarding the pre-requisites and application process can be found on the Communication Studies, BA page.

Mid-Program Checkpoint

A student seeking to complete a BA degree with a Communication Studies major within a four-year time span should plan to complete the following courses by the start of his/her junior year:

Either (a) COMM 101 and LIBR 201, or (b) COMM 235
COMM 220
Two or more 200 or 300-level communication courses that are open to all undergraduates:
JOUR 190
(Intro to Mass Media) will also count toward a COMM major and can be taken at this stage.
Substantial progress in General University Requirements (GURs), including courses with substantial writing components (Two collegiate writing samples are needed for the application portfolio, including at least one research paper).
COMM 398
(Research Methods in Communication) should be taken by the student as soon as possible once the student is accepted into the department.

Programs

Undergraduate Major

Undergraduate Minor

Communication Minor

Courses

Communication Studies

Courses numbered X37; X97; 300, 400 are described in the University Academic Policies section of this catalog.