Communication Studies
Communicating in all the right ways
Government, non-profit, corporate and small business are all consistent when asked what they need to succeed: Leaders and organizers who can communicate effectively. Our program focuses on those key “soft” skills of how humans interact and how they make meaning of the words and symbols that bombard them all day, every day. These are skills that transcend fields and go to core ideals of what moves society forward.
What Will I Learn?
All students in the School of Media and Communication begin their journeys with a small set of core courses. These are COM110, a one-hour class that discusses the careers and opportunities available in Media and Communication; COM210, a two-hour skills class centered on Digital Skills, and COM310, Social and Digital Media, which introduces students to analyzing and creating social media. Communication Studies students then take courses that show how communication works in health, legal, political, organizational and social settings or courses that enhance skills in interviewing, argumentation and public speaking. We also offer classes that focus on such topics as crisis communication, humor, deception, and persuasion. Majors can study gender issues, social movements, political campaigns, race relations, and interpersonal conflict.
All students in the school are highly encouraged to do at least one internship during their college career. We know that internships are among the best indicators of successful placement after graduation. Student are encouraged to attend one of the regular internship meetings each semester to learn how internships work and how the school can assist in acquiring one. Recent graduates have interned in Washington, D.C., on various political staffs, with Amnesty International, with nonprofit organizations in the state, in on-campus university offices, and many situations.
The school offers several scholarships to majors. The Siltanen-Hosman scholarship and the Elliott and Bonnie Pood Communication Studies Scholarship are awarded to students who are outstanding students and involved in leadership activities.
The University Speaking Center is directed by one of our faculty members, Dr. Laura Stengrim. This nationally-recognized center focuses on helping students create strong presentations. Although the peer-tutors come from various majors, Communication Studies majors have traditionally made up the majority of the team. These tutoring positions not only provide you with the opportunity to help other students, but also test your understanding of various communication concepts continually.
Our faculty take the time to get to know students.
Whether we are working with students on class projects or honors theses, team projects or student groups, advising or chatting when we run into you on campus, we take the time to get to know our majors. All of the faculty in the department are active in research projects, balancing disciplinary leadership positions, and serving the university in important ways, but we’ll always find the time to help students.
Because all of our faculty are research active, it is not unusual for undergraduates to have the opportunity to work with our faculty on projects. Students have aided in collecting data in the field, have helped code data, have collected texts for analysis, and have helped with literature reviews. Additionally, several faculty work with students on Honors Theses and McNair Scholar projects, as well as student papers that are submitted to conferences for consideration.
Availability
| Degree Plan | Availability |
|---|---|
| Communication Studies BA | Hattiesburg |
| Communication Studies BS | Hattiesburg |
| Communication Studies Minor |
- Sales and Management
- Nonprofit Work
- Human Relations
- Politics
- Law School
- Katie Jack, 2003
Senior Advisor, Office of the Chief of Protocol, U.S. Department of State - Paige LeBlanc, 2012
Admissions Counselor, University of Memphis Office of Admissions and Orientation
- Ed Pittman, 2011
Human Resources Manager, Hudson’s Bay Company - Stacy Ahua, 2010
Program Coordinator, Extra Table (Mississippi nonprofit that raises money for food pantries)
- Tyrone Thomas, 2013
Program Analyst, Environmental Protection Agency - Owen Terry, 2014
Associate Attorney, Thomas Law