Communication Studies

As a communication studies major or minor, you’ll learn how communication works in many contexts. You'll demonstrate skills in writing, speaking and multimedia. An Augustana liberal arts education will give you a strong foundation for developing communication and problem-solving skills.

Depending on your goals, you’ll choose a direction such as interpersonal and intercultural communication, health communication and public relations, propaganda and persuasion, or listening and leadership.

The faculty specializes in media studies, rhetoric, interpersonal communication, health communication, public speaking, professional and organizational communication. You’ll find close mentors for your specific career path.

The department also has a related major and minor in multimedia journalism and mass communication (MJMC). A major for teaching speech communication-language arts is housed in the Department of Education.

Distinctions

• The Department of Communication Studies, with the communication studies major and MJMC major, is one of Augustana's top five departments by size. The department's 15 faculty members offer an array of experiences, including a photojournalist who's covered the Olympics and the NFL; a legislative analyst for the state of North Carolina; an archaeologist trained at the University of Cambridge; a research scientist; and an actor. One has taught on five continents. All are published scholars.

• Based on the strength of an Augustana education, more than 98% of communication studies majors applying to graduate school are accepted — nearly all with full scholarships or fellowships! Our graduates also pursue careers in business and industry, education and non-profit organizations.

• Communication studies majors have had internships in non-profit, for-profit and governmental organizations, including the Girl Scouts, Unity Regional Healthcare, Walt Disney World, Congress and the White House, and many more. Students also conduct research, and many present their projects at conventions of the National and/or Central States Communication Association.

• With its extensive media market and a strong public relations network, the Quad Cities is an excellent location for communication studies. Sports teams, public relations offices and non-profit organizations seek out Augustana students as interns. Other students intern abroad, most recently in Australia, England, Japan and Spain. $2,000 with Augie Choice supports each student’s internship, research project or study abroad.

• On-campus resources include a multimedia lab; student-run radio station WAUG; the award-winning student newspaper The Observer; Fresh Films, a professional film studio; and WVIK–FM, Augustana Public Radio, broadcasting in western Illinois and eastern Iowa.

Recent graduates 

Genesis Li ’21 is in the Masters in Public Administration program at Cornell University, College of Human Ecology, in Ithaca, N.Y.

Sandra Camarillo '20 is the sports media assistant at Soccer Management Institute in Rome, Italy.

Haley DeGreve '20 is a communications specialist at John Deere in Moline, Ill., and founder of The Gray Matters Collective.

Evan Sammons ’20 is an alumni engagement and fundraising specialist at Augustana College.

Emily Graziano ’19 is the human resources coordinator at Mediafly in Chicago.

Duy (Tyler) Pham '19 earned an M.A. at Illinois State University and is a doctoral student at Michigan State University.

Huyen Le '18 returned from Vietnam to earn an M.A. at Illinois State University and is a digital reporter at WCIA (CBS affiliate) in Urbana-Champaign, Ill.

Rachel Reiter ’18 is a senior associate with Educare Marketing and Communications at Start Early in Chicago.

Nicolette Hampton '18 is the diversity and communications coordinator with Chapman and Cutler LLP in Chicago.

Tawanda Mberikwazvo ’17 is a multimedia professional and instructional designer with DIS-Visual Services at John Deere, Moline, Ill.