Department of Communication
Dr. Marsha Matthews, Interim Chair
The Department of Communication offers bachelor degrees in mass communication and communication studies, elective courses in mass communication and communication studies, and supplementary programs for undergraduates in other disciplines.
The study of communication has assumed fundamental significance as society accelerates into the information age and has implications for all fields of study. For that reason, a minor in communication is an excellent choice for students in any field. It is especially valuable for students undecided on a major since knowledge, skills, and abilities in the communication process will be useful wherever people interact.
The Department of Communication attempts to produce students who have an appreciation for all aspects of communication, as well as a broad understanding of the process by which shared meanings are created. The department’s goal is to prepare students with specific skills as communicators within the broader context of a liberal arts tradition.
Each specific degree program is tailored to the individual student’s interests and abilities. For mass communication and communication studies students, the department offers the student an opportunity to develop effective communication skills through courses in rhetoric and public address, interpersonal and small group communication, organizational communication, public relations, photography, layout/design, and multimedia journalism.
Students are encouraged to participate in departmental and university programs such as the University Debate Team, the UT Tyler Patriot Talon campus newspaper, and the national honorary forensics society Pi Kappa Delta.