School of Communication Studies

302 West Hall, 419-372-8349

The mission of the School of Communication Studies is to promote and extend the study of communication processes ranging from personal transactions to mass-mediated communication. The School endeavors to create a premier learning community for our 1000 undergraduate majors through collaborative teaching, campus-based and external internships, and opportunities to conduct original research. With a tradition of excellence in undergraduate education since the 1930s, the School of Communication Studies looks forward to contributing to today's new environment of communication education and practice.

The School of Communication Studies includes three departments: Interpersonal Communication (IPC), Journalism (JOUR), and Telecommunications (TCOM).

Department of Interpersonal Communication
302 West Hall, 419-372-8349

Department of Journalism
302 West Hall, 419-372-8349

Department of Telecommunications
302 West Hall, 419-372-8349

The Department of Interpersonal Communication's mission is to generate and to share knowledge about human communication in a variety of social contexts and to teach applications for ethical and effective interaction in personal and professional settings. IPC offers two degrees for majors and a minor. See the departmental description for the specific requirements for the B.A., B.A.C., and minor.

The Department of Journalism is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). Journalism offers a major and a minor. Journalism offers three different specializations: print journalism (includes newspaper and magazine journalism), broadcast journalism (includes radio, television and electronic media) and public relations (includes corporate or non-profit). The specializations build on core journalism skills to prepare students for work in specialized media. See the departmental description for the specific requirements for the B.S.J. in each specialization and the minor.

A central mission of the Department of Telecommunications is to produce well-rounded graduates to be future decision-makers in the electronic media and allied professions. Graduates obtain such positions as television producer, radio or television programmer, script writer, radio announcer, audio and video editor, web page designer, and media researcher. Career opportunities are available in public and commercial radio and television, cable television, telephone, multimedia, advertising and education. See the departmental description for the specific requirements for the B.A., B.A.C., and minor.

Campus media
Participation in campus media is not limited to Interpersonal Communication, Journalism, and Telecommunications majors.

Students interested in television news are encouraged to work for BG24 News (419-372-2997). Broadcast daily from the studios in West Hall, this campus-community television station offers students experience in producing, writing and on-air newscasting.

The BG News, the five-times weekly campus newspaper (214 West Hall, 419-372-2601), provides opportunities to gain experience in reporting, editing, advertising and management. In addition students have the opportunity to work on The Key, BGSU's yearbook (28 West Hall, 419-372-8086). Other publications include a student magazine, Miscellany, The Obsidian and The Gavel, newspapers aimed at readers with special interests. All these publications are under the supervision of a board of student publications.

Students interested in gaining professional radio experience while studying at Bowling Green State University have two stations at their disposal, WBGU-FM and WFAL, a commercial AM radio station.

Located on the south side of campus, the Tucker Telecommunications Center contains public television station WBGU-TV and closed-circuit instructional television production and distribution facilities. The center’s staff of 30 full-time professional broadcasters is assisted by graduate assistants, doctoral fellows and more than 50 undergraduate employees.

Facilities
The school provides access to a variety of specialized facilities. These include a lab with Media 100 computers for video and digital editing, a complete television studio with video-editing facilities, and computer writing laboratories.

Student organizations
The school supports local chapters of several national organizations dedicated to professional interest in mass communication fields: Society of Professional Journalists, Public Relations Student Society of America, Society of Newspaper Design and Association for Women in Communication.

The Department of Interpersonal Communication has a student-run IPC Club, and Journalism has a chapter of Kappa Tau Alpha, the national journalism honorary society.

The Great Lakes Interscholastic Press Association (GLIPA), which serves junior and senior high school publications in Ohio and portions of Indiana and Michigan, is housed in the school.