Department of Communication Studies

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Charles H. Tardy, Chair
118 College Drive, Box 5131
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4271

Atkins-Sayre, Conville, Erickson, Hosman, Jung, Maugh, Meyer, Saunders, Siltanen, Venette

The Department of Communication Studies is dedicated to teaching students how communication fosters success in personal relationships, business settings and society. Focusing primarily on oral, face-to-face human interaction, our courses teach students how to persuade, manage conflicts, lead groups, interview and interpret nonverbal messages. Though our primary goal is to prepare students for life, we also enable students to find suitable employment in business, government and nonprofit organizations. This major also prepares students for careers as teachers, lawyers and clergy. Many surveys of employers indicate that the ability to communicate well with other people is the number-one quality sought in job applicants. The speech communication major offers undergraduate students an exciting, involving and evolving field of study. A graduate program awarding both master’s and doctoral degrees contributes to a stimulating intellectual environment for all students.

Degree Requirements

Students are required to complete 40 hours of communication studies courses, including eight required courses: CMS 101 , CMS 111 , CMS 201 , CMS 305 , CMS 310 , CMS 311 , CMS 330  and CMS 493 . Students select the remaining hours in conjunction with their major adviser.

Students are required to take two writing-intensive courses: CMS 310  and a department capstone course. Students should check with their adviser or the department chair to identify departmental courses that fulfill the university’s capstone experience requirement.

Students interested in an organizational communication (business) orientation are advised to take CMS 312 , CMS 315 , CMS 350 , CMS 410  and CMS 430 . Complementary minors in such areas as journalism/public relations, marketing and management may be arranged in consultation with the major and minor adviser.

Programs

• Communication Studies, B.A.

• Communication Studies, B.S.

• Communication Studies Minor

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