The student who majors in communication examines the role of verbal and nonverbal communication in human relationships. Since the process of communication is profoundly affected by contexts, modes, and media, as well as by personal characteristics, the major requires a broad range of courses from both within and outside the division. A broad, liberal arts education is crucial to an understanding of human communication. Communication skills are important in work and leisure, profession and home, politics and religion, and in many other areas.
Many careers require a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of communication.
Specific sequences within this major permit students to develop programs with particular emphasis. Because of our commitment to the liberal arts, and because of the interdisciplinary nature of communication theory and inquiry, students in this major take course work in speech communication, in mass communication, and in allied areas outside of the division such as psychology, sociology, or political science. The Intercultural Communication sequence is concerned with the communication behavior which occurs when people from different cultures come together and interact with one another. Students interested in careers in which an understanding of cultural adaptation is important will find this sequence beneficial. Students who select the Intercultural Communication sequence must complete an outside concentration of twelve to sixteen upper-division units from another academic discipline.