Communication

Over the last ten years, there have been dramatic changes in communication: the rise of the Internet, social media, electronic publishing, multimedia, and interactive technology. The goal of the Lewis University Communication Department is to prepare skilled, knowledgeable, and ethical communication professionals to actively engage and lead in this new diverse, global, and technological world by providing coursework and experiences in a participatory learning environment.

To achieve this goal, the department prepares students to work in today’s changing human interaction and new media environment through participation in five departmental majors:
• Interactive Media
• Journalism
• Organizational Communication
• Public Relations/Advertising
• Radio/TV Broadcasting

The Interactive Media, Journalism, Public Relations/Advertising, and Radio/TV Broadcasting majors prepare students for careers in media and communication technology. Each major provides students with the writing, production, ethical, and liberal arts foundation that all media careers require, as well as specialized knowledge and training pertinent to each field of study. Students also have the opportunity to work in campus media and participate in the department internship program. Specialized minors are also available.

The Organizational Communication major prepares students for careers that demand an understanding of human interaction and relationships, small group dynamics, organizational communication, and cultural differences. This major focuses the student’s education on specialization in the multiple contexts of human communications. A minor in Organizational Communication is also available. Each student will be assigned an appropriate departmental advisor after consultation with the department chairperson to plan a program of study to meet his or her educational and career goals.

Students in Communication majors may pursue a second major in any discipline provided that 4 upper-division courses (or the equivalent of 12 credit hours) differentiate the two majors (that is, are not simultaneously applied to both majors).

Communication minors may pursue another minor in Communication or in other disciplines provided that a different set of courses (the equivalent of 9 credit hours including 6 hours of upper-division coursework and 3 additional hours) applies to the second minor.