Lisbeth Lipari
Jamie S. Haidet
As you journey through the communication major curriculum, you are introduced to topics and ways of thinking about communication in the world, explore theory and research, and grow your knowledge and capacity.
Denison Magazine
Learn how communication shapes our world and our identities.
Build Relationships
Build close relationships with faculty through discussion-oriented classes and one-on-one mentoring.
What You’ll Study
Three intradisciplinary focus areas in Denison’s bachelor’s in communication program give you a broad and rich understanding of the field.
Rhetoric
Rhetoric explores argumentation and persuasion. Study presidential addresses, gendered communication in sport, citizenship, and many more subjects.
Relational Communication
Relational communication examines various forms of communication: interpersonal, organizational, environmental, cross-cultural and more.
Media Studies
Media studies questions how film, television, radio, video games, and digital technologies shape and are shaped by our social, cultural, and global realities.
Hands-on Learning
Opportunities
Harness your curiosity while drawing knowledge from real-world issues, writing publication-ready articles, and learning from guest experts. Your knowledge culminates in a senior research project that highlights your talents to employers and graduate programs.
In-Class Activities
Hone your public speaking and argumentation skills through in-class activities, games, and debates.
Discussion
Engage in other points of view through small group discussions.
Exploration
Explore issues and topics relevant to the course and to the modern public sphere with your classmates.
Research Projects
Generate new knowledge through in-depth research projects.
Real-World Experience Outside the Classroom
Internships
Take an internship (or two!) to explore careers related to communication. Communication students have interned with NBC News, Deloitte, Bank of New York Mellon, and the Amateur Athletic Union.
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Research
Conduct research alongside faculty mentors during the academic year.
Summer Scholars Program
Delve into independent research through our paid summer scholar program. All Summer Scholars receive a stipend and a housing allowance plus supplemental funds for research expenses. Off-Campus Summer Scholars also receive travel funding.
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Study Abroad
Study communication in another country and globalize your education. Conduct research on a traditional semester abroad or take a summer internship in another country.
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How do I find a career in communication?
Communication is vital to all industries, so you have the flexibility to find the organization, location, or product that best matches your professional interests. If you are a storyteller, goal-setter, problem-solver, news-breaker, or communicator, you have multiple career opportunities for professional development and success.
Denison’s Marketing, Sales, and Communication career community helps you achieve your career goals. You’ll learn how to apply your academic knowledge to interviews and career, find meaningful internship and research opportunities, and build your network.
Build your bridge from the classroom to careers at Denison Edge. Located nearby in downtown Columbus, industry experts help you acquire specialized skills, and certifications to launch into your preferred career. Classes are free to Denison students and are offered at a 50% discount for Denison alumni.
Alumni Success
of alumni are satisfied with how well Denison prepared them for professional success.
94%
Fulfilling Life
of alumni say Denison increased their ability to lead a rich and fulfilling life.
89%
Internship reflection:
"Much of my work required me to edit and write articles — my writing skills came in handy. For example, I had to create messaging for social media and develop concise messages to attract audiences."
Awards and Scholarships for Communication Students
Denison’s communication program offers multiple opportunities for you to achieve awards and scholarships that recognize the excellence of your work.
Rhetoric, media, and relational communication are the core of Denison’s communication major. As a communication major, you’ll take classes in each of these areas to understand the role communication plays in how knowledge is built in our ever-changing society and world. You’ll also learn to critically analyze and evaluate communicative processes, relationships, and systems.
Every job requires communication! Communication majors develop their understanding of relational, cross-cultural, written, oral, and visual communication, which gives them a broad range of post-graduate options. You can find Denison communication alumni working as web managers, media executives, editors, publishers, journalists, attorneys, production assistants, community organizers, speechwriters, sports managers, human relations officers, content creators, and advertising and marketing accountants.
We study communication to make us more humane, to create a community of understanding, and to develop imagination and creativity for directly applying our learning to everyday life. At Denison, communication majors can expect academically rigorous classes, opportunities to work closely with professors on research, creative teaching and service learning, research colloquia, guest speakers, a national honorary society, and more.
