Department of Communication

Welcome to the Department of Communication, one of three departments in the School of Media and Communication within the College of Arts and Sciences. We are located in West Hall, on the southwest corner of the BGSU campus. 

Communication is pervasive in our lives. It produces and expresses our identities and relationships, shapes our interpersonal conversations and professional performances, influences our interpretations of political and social issues, and evolves with innovations in media and technology. Our ability to interpret, evaluate, and improve upon various types of human communication is imperative in an increasingly complex and global culture. Thus, the study of communication at BGSU equips students to cultivate critical thinking, intellectual and professional leadership, critical consumption of information, and ethical communication practices that foster social responsibility. 

The department provides opportunities for students to gain experience in public speaking, to develop skills in argumentation, facilitation, negotiation, and conflict resolution, to engage similarities and differences in communication patterns among diverse ethnic, racial, religious, and gendered identities, to enhance leadership skills, to become critical consumers of mediated and political discourses, and to produce social change through local, national, and global outreach. 

We are very proud of our department’s students and faculty. Some of the reasons to consider a major in Communication include:

• A broad and flexible curriculum designed to cultivate critical thinking skills
• Nationally and internationally recognized faculty research that enriches curriculum in global, interpersonal, intercultural, organizational, political, and rhetorical communication
• Departmental areas of emphasis that help students prepare for careers in areas such as community service, international affairs, law, marketing communications, and politics, or for continued student in graduate or professional schools
• Collaborative initiatives between faculty and students that include research projects, service learning, and international study
• Active student organizations, including the Lambda Pi Eta honorary society, the Communication Organization student group, the Women in Communications organization, and the nationally competitive Falcon Forensics & Debate team