The faculty of the Department of Communication Studies is a dynamic mix of researchers, teachers, thinkers and practitioners. We make communication theory come alive for students in our classrooms as we discuss the implications of exciting research about human communication that is conducted in our discipline, and through the use of cases and discussions grabbed from the headlines and our own experiences.
The communication studies degree at Chapman University begins with a survey course that introduces students to the study of communication. Some topics covered in this course include rhetorical studies and criticism; the study of human communication in interpersonal, group, organizational, and intercultural/global contexts; mass media, and public speaking. Early in the major, our students complete an introductory course in communication research methods which prepares them for required and elective courses in the major. From then on, an exciting curriculum of courses with contemporary and historical significance is offered every semester – from Issues in Mass Communication to Gender and Communication, to Conflict, Negotiation, and Power. Your experience culminates with a capstone course in which students design and conduct their own original research project on a topic of their choice under the guidance of a professor/mentor.
Outside of the classroom, we give students plenty of opportunities to apply what they learn in real-world performance and professional settings. Some of these activities include the Speech Team, Chapman Radio, Lambda Pi Eta (Communication Studies Honors Society), and our internship program. Our faculty is committed to working with students to design independent study opportunities to create a personalized education experience. Independent study allows our students, to acquire knowledge and experience in any of our faculty’s areas of specialization, including communication and relationships, organizational communication, communication on the global business stage, mass media, and culture.
The mission of the Department of Comm Studies is to educate and train our students to be effective communicators and ethical advocates prepared to address local, national and global issues. Our goal is to prepare students to effectively negotiate the complex communication processes occurring in our global society.
