School of Communication Studies

Lori L. Britt, Interim Director
Lee Mayfield, Interim Assistant Director

Phone: (540) 568-6228
Email: brittll@jmu.edu
Location: Harrison Hall, Room 1276
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/commstudies

Professors
M. Alemán, T. Ball, L. Britt, P. Bsumek, E. Fife, C. Hickerson, S. Mazzarella, L. Nelson, S. Richards, D. Schill, T. Whitfield, C. Woo

Associate Professors
C. Alemán, A. Bodkin, M. Brigham, M. Broderick, L. Harvell-Bowman, K. Hobson, L. Kristiansen, A. Martinez Gonzalez, S. Meganck, T. Reynolds-Tylus, J. Rosier

Assistant Professors
R. Cortés, K. Dillard, M. Ittefaq, P. Mabrey, M. Marsh, K. Okamoto, S. Qin, M. Souders

Senior Lecturers
E. Armstrong, A. Dupal, L. Mayfield

Lecturers/Instructors
M. Ala-Uddiin, K. Báez, A. Barnes, N. Barnes, V. Bertram, C. Bright, J. Gochenour, K. Hopkinson, T. Johnson, J. Krauklis, R. Mitchell, N. Selove

Mission

We are a community engaged in teaching, researching and practicing communication as central to cultivating ethical, productive and meaningful lives and relationships.

Goals

As the school offers courses and programs in communication studies, the school seeks to fulfill the following goals:

To prepare all JMU students who take a communication studies course to use oral communication skills effectively.
To prepare students with a major or minor in communication studies for graduate and professional study as well as for careers in communication and communication-related professions.
To provide co-curricular opportunities which enhance and reinforce communication competencies for all JMU students.

Career Opportunities and Marketable Skills

Students of communication studies develop skill competencies required for effective interaction and leadership in communities, workplaces and groups. Some of these skills include:

Presentational Speaking
Empathic listening
Interacting in small groups
Using nonverbal communication skills such as use of space, voice, gaze and facial expressions
Constructing persuasive messages and campaigns
Conducting research that leads to insights about human communication patterns
Presenting information digitally
Analyzing communication at all levels including interpersonal, small group, organizational and public
Advocating successfully
Using language effectively
Writing effectively
Understanding and applying communications research and theory
Mediating and resolving conflicts
Collaborative problem solving

These skills support careers in such fields as:

Public Relations
Strategic Communication
Consulting
Entertainment
Branding and Digital/Social Media
Hospitality
Management
Human Resources
Politics
Sales
Teaching
Corporate Communication and Public Affairs
Grassroots and Non-Profit Advocacy

Study in communication studies also serves as valuable pre-professional preparation for graduate and professional studies in the following fields:

Communication
Counseling
Law
Management
Ministry

Co-curricular Activities and Organizations

To enhance courses and programs in communication studies, the school offers a variety of co-curricular activities and organizations. Involvement in some of these activities can earn students practicum credit.

Activities and Organizations

Debate Team: Affords all JMU students interested in debating intercollegiate tournament competition and local audience experiences.
Individual Events Team: Intercollegiate tournament competition and local audience experiences for all JMU students interested in public speaking and the oral interpretation of literature can be acquired through individual events team participation.
Annual Communication Studies Conference: Annual program highlighting undergraduate scholarship in which students deliver professional presentations to the JMU community on a variety of topics that reflect the diverse research methodologies and areas of study in the School of Communication Studies.
Lambda Pi Eta: A chapter of a national honorary organization for students interested in communication.
Public Relations Student Society Association: An award-winning student organization for students pursuing careers in public relations.
Bluestone Communications: An award-winning student run Public Relations firm that works with real clients in strategic PR planning, primary market research, social media counseling, creative work, media relations and special event planning.
Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue: Students taking coursework in facilitation and group communication can work with the institute in designing and facilitating group processes and gain practicum credit.