What We Do in Communication Studies

The Department of Communication Studies at Christopher Newport University provides a broad, liberal arts education encompassing all elements of communication. Our research and teaching are interdisciplinary, emphasizing the systems of belief, knowledge, culture, and behavior that influence human communication. Along with faculty mentors, students actively engage in the exploration and discovery of these systems of influence.

Students choosing Communication Studies as their major will acquire an understanding of the relationship between the study of communication and the communities in which they live, as well as gain an appreciation for the connections between theory and everyday life experiences.

For example, a student in our department might study how businesses successfully incorporate communication concepts; another student might study identity as portrayed in the media. Thus, students of Communication Studies will achieve an understanding of the role communication plays in the generation of knowledge and structuring of society, develop critical and analytical skills, and acquire an appreciation for the complex and delicate interrelationship of practice and ethics. In today's challenging world, we provide a springboard for success.