Communication

Communication is more than a skill to be mastered. It’s shaping democratic and professional possibilities and constructing social realities.

And the Public Communication and Culture Studies (PCCS) program’s unique approach will give you the expertise needed to be a productive influencer through your actions and words.

Studying three interrelated areas of communication inquiry and cultural influence — public relations and organizational cultures, public advocacy and democratic cultures, and intercultural and international communication and global cultures — you will learn the practical elements in written and oral communication skills and interpersonal awareness. You will also gain perspective on why words mean what they do: The PCCS degree emphasizes the intellectual, historical, and critical perspectives emerging from the intersections between and among these three larger areas of communication inquiry.

You have a variety of career avenues through a PCCS degree. Those include community affairs, government relations, news reporting, public relations and more.

What Will I Learn?

  • Writing effective audience-oriented texts within multiple communication contexts
  • Speaking effectively within multiple rhetorical contexts
  • Understanding critically the histories and institutional contexts of communication practices
  • Understanding critically the research traditions and tools within the field of communication
  • Using organizational, civic and global perspectives to analyze media content and institutions
  • Integrating the theory and practice of communication in multiple contexts

Full list of Communication program goals can be found on the Hub for Teaching and Learning site.

 

Visit the University Catalog:

Learn about degree requirements and coursework for the Communication major, minor, and concentration.

Learn about degree requirements and coursework for the Public Relations Certificate.

Learn which Dearborn Discovery Core requirements are fulfilled by taking Communication courses.

 

Making the Most of Your Major

There are opportunities to develop skills and connect with others interested in Public Communication and Culture Studies beyond the classroom. Check out the Communication Major Map to get a more detailed, year-by-year view of how you can learn, engage, network and transform your community and prepare for life after graduation.

Get Involved

Join the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter on campus. Present your research at the Meeting of Minds or the CASL Research Showcase. Become a peer tutor in the CASL Writing Center. Explore UM-Dearborn student organizations on VictorsLink.

Get Real World Experience

On-the-job experience gained through an internship or co-op is invaluable for students in any major. Because of this, all Communication students are required to participate in an internship or senior thesis. (The senior thesis is for students who have prior communication industry experience and would like to relate their experience to the theory and practice of communication.)

Plan for Life After Graduation

Communication prepares students with the skills necessary in the modern workplace.  Career Services offers assistance with job searching, resumes, interviews or graduate school applications.

General Program Information

Hear what Communication majors have to say about the degree