The department's faculty is active in the areas of research, presentation, and publication. Four of the department's five faculty hold doctoral degrees. Each participates in regional and national professional organizations. Department members regularly publish in academic journals, present papers, projects, and programs, and are frequently in demand as consultants to various businesses, industries, and government agencies. The Communication Studies Department strives to bring in prominent speakers in communications.
Students find themselves involved with their major in many different ways.
Within the last four years, selected students have begun attending regional and national meetings with faculty, including the national Speech Communication Association, Association of Collegiate Presses, College Media Advisers, Radio-Television News Directors Association, Society of Professional Journalists, and the National Association of Broadcasters. Student research has received national recognition. For example, one student's research paper was competitively selected for the DePauw University Undergraduate Honors Conference, and another student's research was selected for presentation in the student division of a national professional organization. They also have access to seven Super-VHS cameras and VCR equipment for field recording. Advanced students use a Media 100 non-linear editor and video special effects.