Department of Communication

Our Mission

Our ideal graduate is one adept at organizing, and whose competence is central to building a strong and vibrant learning organization.

Communication is the Core of Organization

The question of Communication goes back to ancient Greek thought, when philosophers such as Aristotle established many of the key concepts we use in the discipline to this day. The term communication shares its meaning with that of the word community. We think of conversation, messages, interaction and other essentially human activities as one with the term communication. Philosophers such as Martin Buber see communication – and especially dialogue – as essential to being and becoming human. Therefore, to take communication for granted is to give little thought to the most important element of both our humanity and our capacity for community.

The study of communication provides insight into numerous areas of social existence. It is, for instance, the engine and constitution of all organizing and organization. There was a time when we considered organizations to be like a container within which members speak, listen, write and do any of the activities we consider to be communication. But that view assumes minimal views of both communication and organization. We have more recently come to understand an organization to be synonymous with communication, as being more like a living, evolving being than a dead object. When we think of the communicative constitution of organization, the significance of dialogue once again becomes clear.

Whether a student reads for a Bachelor’s degree in Arts or Social Science, or even takes the structured undergraduate degree, it is clear that a study of Communication will provide him or her with a good knowledge and grooming to make a difference in any organization to which he or she belongs.