Communication Studies Department

Jill Tyler, Chairperson
Beacom 217
(605) 677-8476
Jill.Tyler@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/commstudies

FACULTY

Associate Professors:

Kelly McKay-Semmler, Intercultural and Intergroup Communication, Research Methods
Shane Semmler, Media Studies, Political Communication, Research Methods
Jill Tyler, Interpersonal and Relational Communication, Health Communication

Assistant Professors:

Leah Seurer, Family Communication, Qualitative Methods

Lecturer:

Mark DeLaurier, Environmental Communication, Critical Rhetoric

Instructors:

Nicole Ackman, Organizational Communication, Business and Professional Communication
Aimee Sorenson, Basic Course Director, Communication Pedagogy

MAJOR:

Communication Studies, B.A., B.S.

MINOR:

Communication Studies

The study of communication is the study of meaning-making - how humans use symbols to create and influence the world in which we live. Through our dynamic curriculum, the Department of Communication Studies addresses the many ways communication functions to create, maintain, and transform personal life, social relations, political institutions, media channels, organizations, and cultural conventions in society. Further, our education programs promote skills required for competence in mediated and non-mediated communication, and develop intellectual habits for analyzing, interpreting and critiquing communication problems and questions.

Our program prepares students for professional careers in a variety of fields - business, education, politics, social and human services, health care, administration, sales and marketing, technology, public administration, and arts and entertainment. Many of our majors go on to post-graduate education in law, medicine, business, education, and social and natural sciences.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Communication Studies Scholarship Fund (Communication Studies Majors)
Norman Watson Memorial (Communication Studies Majors)
Frieberg Forensic Scholarship (Debate)
Dr. Harold M. Jordan (Incoming first-year students interested in debate)

Programs

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