Communication
Studying communication at Denison
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GAINING A DEEPER INSIGHT into how communication shapes the world around us, a communication major may be for you. Courses in the Department of Communication examine the process by which meanings are developed, shaped and shared in interpersonal, speaker-audience and mass media contexts.
Associate Professor John Arthos teaches his Communication 122 course, 'Argumentation,' in which students explore the art of inquiry and advocacy known as argumentation, while considering the nature, the building blocks and the practice of argument in public debate.
In the classroom, faculty and students study the characteristics of messages that affect the ways people perceive them, assign meaning to them and respond to them in different circumstances. Communication is one of the largest and most popular academic departments on campus. We have approximately 260 majors and 50 minors.
Our faculty offer at least 30 courses each year, with an average class size of about 22.
The communication major
The Department of Communication requires a major to complete a minimum of 36 semester hours, including two introductory core courses and advanced course work and seminars.
The flexible curriculum reflects the myriad interests of students in media, interpersonal, intercultural and rhetorical studies.
A student minoring in communication must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours, including two introductory core courses and advanced course work and a seminar.
You can find our recent majors in graduate programs and law schools at American University, UCLA, Harvard University, Northwestern University, Purdue University, Penn State University, Case Western Reserve and Ohio State University.
What do communication majors do after Denison?
The careers and postgraduate study of communication majors indicate a wide range of possibilities.
Our former students hold prominent positions across the country as community organizers, educators, speechwriters, web managers, programming executives, editors, publishers, journalists, attorneys, production assistants, sports managers, human relations officers, and advertising and marketing accountants.
Professor Suzanne Condray teaches Communication 404, 'Media and the Presidency,' a seminar examining the relationship between the media and the American presidency from both a historical and contemporary perspective.
Communication faculty work with students to produce research of exceptional quality. Students have presented papers at the DePauw University Undergraduate Honors Conference, the conference on Ethnicity and Family Communication, the National Communication Association and at the Eastern States Communication Association.
Denison maintains an active chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, a national communication honorary.
Opportunities for student research
Our students discover ways to apply their knowledge and skills in a range of extracurricular activities.
Communication majors often staff Denison's student-operated radio station, WDUB-FM, or the university's newspaper, The Denisonian.
Others may elect off-campus study, an internship, or a semester-long opportunity through the Great Lakes College Association programs in New York and Philadelphia.
Whether conducting original research for Honors Projects, investing in a 10-week intense Summer Scholars Program or writing papers for advanced courses and seminars, Communication majors find a wealth of opportunities to extend their learning beyond the classroom.
Who are our professors?
For more information about the department and curriculum, go to:
or contact:
Jeffrey Kurtz, Chair
Department of Communication
Higley Hall, Room 301
Denison University
Granville, Ohio 43023
Phone: (740) 587-6699
Fax: (740) 587-6743
E-mail: Jeffrey Kurtz