Department of Communication

The CSN Department of Communication consists of Journalism/Media Studies and Communication.

James McCoy, Chair, Department of Communication

Mission Statement

Communication functions as the central component in all forms of social interaction. The mission of the Department of Communication is to provide students with a foundation in communication theory and practice that prepare them with effective communication skills to enhance their academic, personal and professional lives. Students are encouraged to focus on either a Communication or a Journalism/Media Studies emphasis. The faculty of the Department of Communication is comprised of individuals with diverse professional and academic experiences. They reflect various disciplinary and scholarly interests and utilize a wide range of instructional pedagogy that facilitates students’ various learning styles.

The Department of Communication seeks to strengthen student understanding and competence across five areas:

• Oral Communication: Students learn to speak, listen and analyze effectively the role of communication in their academic and professional lives.
• Critical Thinking: Through research, organization and analytical/argumentative development, students sharpen the critical thinking abilities.
• Diversity: Unitizing audience analysis, classroom interactions and contemporary curriculum, students develop the skills to communicate effectively in a diverse world.
• Life Enhancement: Communicating theoretical concepts into practical application. Examples include Interpersonal skills, conflict management, leadership styles and public speaking.
• Technology: Students became familiar with electronically mediated communication that is essential in today’s society.