There are stories to be told, and we want our majors to be the ones to tell them—through reporting, through research, and even through promoting the stories of others.
That is the focus of the Department of Mass Communication. Our department prides itself on having one of the most popular majors on campus with more students enrolled than in most other departments. But because of our small class sizes, you won’t feel overwhelmed by the number of students in a class. A degree from our department prepares students for a variety of careers and for continued personal, civic, and professional development.
Our goal is to define the future of the field of mass communication and for our graduates to bring their perspectives to the field. Our vision is to have a department with graduates who have an understanding of the ethical, practical, and theoretical foundations in the field, a command of emerging technologies, and an understanding of and appreciation for cultural diversity. Our responsibility is to guide our students in an educational environment that focuses on the highest ethical standards, with students who are focused, engaged, and empowered by the knowledge that they can develop their own ideas and can use their expertise to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, as well as inform, enlighten, and interest our audiences.
Our task is never-ending, for there are stories everywhere. The challenge—and promise—of our major is to find them, report them, and share them in all the ways that technology and the human capacity for learning will allow. We welcome those who wish to take on the challenge and to help us define the future of mass communication.
– Calvin L. Hall, Chair
As one of the newest departments of its type in the nation, the Department of Mass Communication prepares students for careers and study in mass communication by offering engaged learning, student media and research experiences, and connections to professional practice opportunities. Besides developing writing, editing, audio, video, and multimedia production skills, students in the major learn the transferable skills of meeting deadlines, managing time, and learning to speak, write, and think clearly and fluently.