Communication Studies

As a communication studies major or minor, you’ll learn how communication works in many contexts. You'll demonstrate skills in writing, speaking and multimedia. An Augustana liberal arts education will give you a strong foundation for developing communication and problem-solving skills.

You will study in areas such as interpersonal and intercultural communication, health communication and public relations, rhetoric and public address, or listening and leadership.

The faculty specializes in media studies, rhetoric, interpersonal communication, health communication, public speaking, professional and organizational communication. You’ll find close mentors for your specific career path.

The department also has a related major and minor in multimedia journalism and mass communication (MJMC). A major for teaching speech communication-language arts is housed in the Department of Education.

Distinctions

• The Department of Communication Studies, with the communication studies major and MJMC major, is one of Augustana's top five departments by size. The department's 12 faculty members offer an array of experiences, including a photojournalist who's covered the Olympics and the NFL; a legislative analyst for the state of North Carolina; an archaeologist trained at the University of Cambridge; a multi-book author; a research scientist; and an actor. One has taught on five continents. All are published scholars.
• Based on the strength of an Augustana education, more than 98% of communication studies majors applying to graduate school are accepted — nearly all with full scholarships or fellowships! Our graduates also pursue careers in business and industry, education and non-profit organizations.
• Communication studies majors have had internships in non-profit, for-profit and governmental organizations, including the Girl Scouts, UnityPoint Health, Walt Disney World, Congress and the White House, and many more. Students also conduct research, and many present their projects at conventions of the National and/or Central States Communication Association.
• With its extensive media market and a strong public relations network, the Quad Cities is an excellent location for communication studies. Sports teams, public relations offices and non-profit organizations seek out Augustana students as interns. Other students intern abroad, most recently in Australia, England, Japan and Spain. $2,000 with Augie Choice supports each student’s internship, research project or study abroad.
• On-campus resources include a multimedia lab; student-run radio station WAUG; the award-winning student news organization The Observer; and WVIK–FM, Augustana Public Radio, broadcasting in western Illinois and eastern Iowa.

Recent graduates 

Brianna Ebenroth '24 is pursing a master's in counseling psychology at DePaul University in Chicago.

Fernanda Rubi '24 is a communications associate at Briya Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.

Nadia DeCastris '23 is pursuing a Master of Public Administration at George Washington University's Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.

Joe Marcucci '23 attends the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Nick Dispensa '22 is a senior analyst – external reporting at Aon in Chicago.

Olivia Doak '22 is a reporter for the Boulder Daily Camera in Boulder, Colo.

Genesis Li  ’21 is the alumni engagement coordinator at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass.

Annie Wheeler '21 is a senior UX/UI designer at Spark DSG, based in Doylestown, Pa.

Jacob Washington '21 is an Emmy-nominated news producer at CBS News Baltimore.

Haley DeGreve '20 is the manager, cropping systems communications, at John Deere in Moline, Ill., and co-founder of The Gray Matters Collective.

Tawanda Mberikwazvo ’17 is a multimedia professional and instructional designer in DIS-Visual Services at John Deere, Moline, Ill.