Departmental Brochure

How do human beings understand and use the abundance of information that comes to them daily in social, political, and business contexts, or even in their families? How can they become more effective as producers and consumers of communication in today's information-based society? You can explore these and other related questions as a communication major at Fairfield University, where you will develop both breadth and depth of knowledge about human communication processes in a variety of contexts. All students select a specialized concentration in organizational communication, media studies, or communication and the human condition.

Practical experience in communication is gained through independent research and internships. Fairfield is situated in a region where many national and international business and media corporations, as well as social service agencies, are headquartered. Many of them provide internships for students who demonstrate the strengths of a strong liberal education, sharpened by an analytic approach to understanding the challenges of human communication and media technologies in a global context. Often these internships lead to postgraduate employment.

Real-World Education

We live in a world where the average citizen absorbs hundreds of messages each day through a wide variety of media. As a result, gaining knowledge about communication and developing skills in using it are widely recognized and valued in many fields of endeavor. With today's proliferation of information networks, that appreciation is likely to increase.

Coursework in communication enhances knowledge about public speaking, interpersonal interaction, group dynamics, issues concerning international and intercultural communication, the complexities of organizations, media analysis, and the sociocultural implications of communication technologies.

In addition, classroom learning in this discipline is complemented by the many opportunities for practical application of your theoretical education, particularly through internships.

Course of Study

As a communication major, you will complete a 30-credit program (normally 10 courses). All communication majors take five foundation courses in theory and analysis, and select one of three concentrations: organizational communication, media studies, or communication and the human condition.

Within each area of concentration, all majors complete at least three courses in communication, and two additional applied or theoretical communication or related courses. The courses are chosen from an approved list of interdisciplinary offerings in departments such as English (journalism, professional writing), management, marketing, politics, sociology, and new media.

In the Organizational Communication Concentration students take the following courses:

• Introduction to Organizational Communication (required) and at least one of the following:
• Small Group Communication
• Communication Processes in Organizations: Negotiation
• Communication Management: Training and Consulting
• Special Topics in Organizational Communication

(plus three additional communication or related interdisciplinary courses)

In the Media Studies Concentration students take at least two of the following courses:

• Communication and Popular Culture
• Women and Mass Media
• Globalization, Media, and Culture
• Technoculture and Information Society
• Special Topics in Media Studies

(plus three additional communication or related interdisciplinary courses)

In the Communication and the Human Condition Concentration students take at least two of the following courses:

• Persuasion
• Health Communication
• Intercultural Communication
• Special Topics: Constructing Social Identities

(plus three additional communication or related interdisciplinary courses)

A minor program in communication is also offered, requiring completion of 15 credits (including four specific courses).

The Faculty

The Department of Communication's faculty members are active in research and publication. They are complemented by faculty members in other departments who have expertise in areas related to communication and who offer cross-listed courses through departments and programs such as English writing, management, marketing, new media, politics, psychology, sociology, women's studies. The communication faculty and their areas of expertise are:

Robbin D. Crabtree
Ph.D., University of Minnesota
Globalization media, intercultural communication, feminist and critical theories, communication and social justice

Gisela Gil-Egui
Ph.D., Temple University
Telecommunications institutions and policy, comparative media systems, distance education and communication technology

David J. Gudelunas
Ph.D., The Annenberg School for Communication, The University of Pennsylvania
Media industries and audiences, history of mass communication, popular and consumer culture

James Keenan
Ph.D., Columbia University
Organizational communication and management, cross-cultural communication, human-technology communication

Michael Pagano
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. University of Oklahoma
Organization communication, health communication

M. Sallyanne Ryan
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Interpersonal communication; social uses of the mass media, gender, and language

Maggie Wills
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Organizational communication, health issues and the communication of social support

Qin Zhang
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of New Mexico
Intercultural communication, organizational communication, research design and methodologies, instructional communication

Internships and Research

Each semester, approximately 25 upper-level communication majors intern in a variety of communication-related fields such as public relations, advertising, broadcast news, event planning, marketing, publishing, journalism, television production and programming, sports broadcasting, public opinion polling, and corporate communications. In recent years, Fairfield students have interned at the Today Show, Good Morning America, New Yorker magazine, ESPN, SONY Music, and Connecticut Audubon society.

Students are encouraged to pursue their interests through an independent research project.

Since 1994, communication majors have presented original research at the Undergraduate Honors Conference in Communication. This prestigious conference selects only a small percentage of papers submitted by communication majors around the country. Fairfield students design and conduct their research as part of the required capstone course.

Life after Fairfield

Our graduates are attractive to many employers who identify communication skills as the most important factor in hiring and promotion decisions. Employers also value our students' intensive coursework in the communication specialty, the experience gained from the internship, and the broad liberal education that all Fairfield students receive. Fairfield alumni have found employment in advertising, public relations, social service agencies, and the mass media.

Others have gone on to graduate school to study law, communication, business, education, and journalism at schools including Columbia University, Boston College, and the University of North Carolina.

Profile

Jodie Pfau
Communication and Theatre double major

"Good communication skills are valuable in any field in which you're working with people. If you can communicate your ideas well to just about anyone, you won't be misunderstood or misconstrued - and you can really go places. In the Argument and Advocacy course last semester, we focused on techniques for delivering persuasive speeches for various audiences, how to speak from the heart, and the differences in male and female communication. The skills I learned have already helped me become a more effective speaker and feel more confident in how I present myself. After graduation, I'd like to pursue a career in public relations. Fairfield University is so close to New York City, so I'm looking into a job with one of the major networks based there."