Communication

Students in the Communication major develop a truly effective skill set that enables them to work collaboratively, negotiate differences, build consensus and solve problems.

Graduates apply these skills to their chosen fields to improve policy and decision making while also promoting organizational and social change in an ethical and culturally sensitive way.

It might seem obvious that, as a Communications student, one of the key skills developed is that of communication itself. The specifics of those skills, however, are far more nuanced. Because one of the major challenges behind almost every human interaction is communication, the ability to do so effectively has become all that more important – especially as we become more heavily dependent on such a variety of ways to communicate, many of which are digital and remote in this increasingly global society.

Simply put, communicating is more complex than ever. Therefore, Paul Smith’s Communication students will not only be apt at traditional forms of speaking, writing, presenting, and debating, but also understanding communication as a critical aspect of the human experience.

Key Facts
  • B.S. Degree
Career Options
  • Public Relations
  • Community Organizer
  • Internal Corporate Communications Officer
  • Technical Writing
  • Social Media Manager
  • Sales & Marketing
  • Grant & Report Writing
  • Media Relations
Courses & Objectives

At the end of the program students will be able to:

  • Communicate organized and informed ideas persuasively to diverse audiences, orally and in writing.
  • Work collaboratively to negotiate, build consensus, and develop solutions to complex problems.
  • Apply strategic communication techniques in organizational settings.
  • Create active, interested and knowledgeable audiences to meet organizational goals.
  • Promote organizational and social change in an ethical and culturally-sensitive manner.
  • Improve policy and decision-making through evidence-based research, analysis and application.

Sample courses:

  • Introduction to Communication & Leadership
  • Principles of Marketing
  • Interpersonal Communications
  • Creating & Communicating Value
  • Advertising & Promotion
  • Change Management
  • Technical Communications
  • Social Research
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Project Management
  • Communication Exploration Capstone
  • New Media Tools
  • Photography
  • Survey of Art
  • Diversity & Inclusion by Design
  • Cultural Anthropology
  • Gerontology
  • Shattering Gender Stereotypes
  • Six Glasses that Changed the World

More program information and a full course list can be found in the College Catalog. For program planning sheets, click here.

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