Course description
From the Greek Paideia, through the Renaissance studia humanitas, to the modern university, the study of rhetoric and communication, has played a vital role in the education of students of higher learning. But whether the goal was to prepare students to debate in the polis, deliver sermons from a pulpit, engage in a republic’s civic life, advocate on behalf of a cause, or address a mass audience, the study of communication has always maintained its commitment to principles of a liberal arts education. By majoring in Communication Studies, students can develop their fundamental thinking and speaking skills and learn to apply these skills within various media of communication, study the effect various modes and mediums of communication have on society, and recognize the moral and social implications of they way they communicate in their workplace, home, and communities.
Like most majors in the humanities, a communication studies major prepares students for a variety of employment opportunities in the fields of communication, business, and government services. Through a combination of working with the Career Services Department, guidance from the faculty, and gaining work experience through the department’s internship program, our graduates have been quite successful in finding employment in the areas of television broadcasting, public relations, advertising, student services, human resource management, sales, and public advocacy. Others have continued their academic careers by pursuing either a masters or doctorate degree in the field of communication.
Along with the description of our curriculum, we invite you to explore the opportunities available to students through our internship program and such extra-curricular organizations as the Furman Debate Team and WFTV that the department sponsors. If you have any questions about the department, set an appointment with either the department chair or one of the department’s faculty members or visit them in Furman Hall 102.
