Program Overview
The Communication Studies and Practices program empowers students to become effective and ethical communicators in various contexts. It offers concentrations in Communication Studies and Strategic Communication, providing a foundation in communication theory and hands-on experience through internships. Graduates develop skills in writing, speaking, research, and strategic communication, preparing them for careers in advertising, public relations, journalism, and other communication fields.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Communication Studies and Practices empowers students to become successful and mindful global citizens by engaging in effective and ethical communication. Communication Studies provides knowledge and skills that are critical for success and enrichment in our personal, professional and civic lives. The discipline of Communication focuses on how people use messages to generate and share meanings across various contexts, cultures, and media. Today, the study and applications of communication embraces the Internet, e-commerce, mobile communications, global diplomacy, advertising, public relations, journalism, broadcasting, intercultural and interpersonal communication, as well as public speaking, digital mechanisms and media studies.
Outline:
Concentration in Communication Studies
In the Communication Studies concentration, an emphasis on effective communication techniques, media technology, and culture is built on a foundation of communication theory and research.
Concentration in Strategic Communication
The concentration in Strategic Communication combines the areas of Advertising, Public Relations, Media and Marketing Communication to reflect today’s converging industries and job opportunities. Required classes focus on integration of Advertising, Public Relations, Media and Marketing Communications while providing students the flexibility to tailor their degree to fit their career interests.
Hands-On Experience
The Department of Communication (DOC) Internship program is one of the flagship areas of the department, where students can apply what they learn in the classroom to actual problems faced by real organizations and businesses.
Careers:
The program provides a rigorous curriculum in a stimulating environment that addresses the history, theories, mechanisms and techniques of communication. Students who major in Communication Studies and Practices will:
Students who major in Communication Studies and Practices will:
- Demonstrate proficient academic writing skill, including careful control of Standard Written English and the ability to effectively, clearly, and persuasively communicate perspective and analysis.
- Demonstrate oral communication competency in a variety of contexts.
- Be able to both identify and articulate information needs, and to deploy the most appropriate materials and strategies to ethically address those needs
- Demonstrate skills in quantitative analyses, being able to interpret, compute, and utilize statistics.
Students who major in Communication Studies & Practices with a concentration in Communication Studies will also
- Demonstrate understanding of Communication theories and the ability to apply them to communication situations and media artifacts.
Students who major in Communication Studies & Practices with a concentration in Strategic Communication will also be able to:
- Build integrated strategic communication programs in business, professional, and social environments, including; research and planning, rationale, and campaign implementation techniques.
- Produce a professional, entry-level Strategic Communication portfolio.
- Apply First Amendment, copyright, and contract laws in Strategic Communication situations.
- Build a foundation for lifelong learning and advanced education in Strategic Communication Students have found careers and internships with a wide variety of companies and organizations both in Hawai‘i and around the globe. Students studying in Hawai‘i are uniquely posed to examine emerging and flourishing Asian markets.
