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Communication studies

"Communication research" redirects here. For the academic journal, see Communication Research (journal).

Communication studies or communication sciences is an academic discipline that deals with processes of human communication. There are three types of communication:verbal, involving listening to a person to understand the meaning of a message;written, in which a message is read; andnonverbal communication involving observing a person and inferring meaning.^[1] The discipline encompasses a range of topics, from face-to-face conversation to mass media outlets such as television broadcasting.

Communication studies, in line with Cultural Studies, also examines how messages are interpreted through the political, cultural, economic, semiotic, hermeneutic, and social dimensions of their contexts. Communication studies, in line with Political Economics, also examines how the politics of ownership structures effects content. Statistics, as a quantitative approach to communication science, has also been incorporated into research on communication science in order to help substantiate claims.^[2]

HistoryEdit

Main article: History of communication studies

Communication science began in earnest when students of Wilbur Schramm—the founder of the Institute for Communications Research at the University of Illinois—namely David Berlo, came to Michigan State University and founded the first General Communication Arts department in the early 1950s.^[3] Though there are other communication sciences departments elsewhere, Michigan State was the first department in the US that was dedicated solely to the study of communication sciences using a quantitative approach. It is still one of Michigan State's strongest programs and nationally ranked in the study of human communication.

Other namesEdit

Communication studies programs at universities are given various names, including "communication", "communication studies", "speech communication", "rhetorical studies", "media studies", "communication arts", "media ecology", "communication research", and "communication and media science". The curriculum varies based upon concentration.^{[clarification needed]}

ScopeEdit

Communication studies integrates aspects of both social sciences and the humanities. Much of the work being done in the field is academic in nature. As a social science, the discipline often overlaps with sociology, psychology, anthropology, biology, political science, economics, and public policy, amongst others.^[4] From a humanities perspective, communication is concerned with rhetoric and persuasion (traditional graduate programs in communication studies trace their history to the rhetoricians of Ancient Greece).

A focus on research development sets communication studies apart from general communication degrees. Many of the students that chose the field do so in order to pursue doctoral level ambitions.^{[citation needed]}Requirements for undergraduate degrees focus on preparing students to ask questions concerning the nature of communication in society and the development of communication as a specific field.^[5]

In the United States, the National Communication Association (NCA) recognizes nine distinct but often overlapping sub-disciplines within the broader communication discipline: technology, critical-cultural, health, intercultural,interpersonal-small group, mass communication, organizational, politicalrhetorical, and environmental communication. Students take courses in these subject areas. Other programs and courses often integrated in communication programs includejournalism, film criticism, theatre, public relations, political science (e.g., political campaign strategies, public speaking, effects of media on elections), as well as radio,television, and film production. More recently,computer-mediated communication and the implications of new media for communication have drawn new research and courses.

FlexibilityEdit

Part of what makes communication studies popular is its reputation for being flexible.^[6]Graduates of formal communication studies programs take many different career paths, including university professors, marketingresearchers, media editors and designers,journalists, advertising executives, actors,human resources managers, corporate trainers, professional athletes, public relationspractitioners, media managers, andconsultants, amongst many other professions.

Professional associationsEdit

• Association for Business Communication(ABC)
• Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
• Association for Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW)
• Broadcast Education Association (BEA)
• Central States Communication Association(CSCA)
• European Association for the Teaching of Academic Writing (EATAW), the main European association for writing studies.
• European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA), the main European association for communication studies.
• IEEE Professional Communication Society(PCS)
• International Association for Media and Communications Research (IAMCR), a large international association for communication studies.
• International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
• International Communication Association is the main international association for communication studies, which combines an older focus on quantitatively based social science studies with newer critical and cultural studies of communicative phenomena.
• National Communication Association(NCA): The main national professional organization covering many of the areas of communication studies in the U.S.
• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
• Society for Cinema and Media Studies is the main organization for film studies oriented communication research.
• Society for Technical Communication (STC)
• University Film and Video Association is the principle organization for the study of motion picture production.
• Western States Communication Association (WSCA)