About Us
Welcome from the Chair
Welcome to the University of Delaware’s Department of Communication! Our programs approach communication from a social science perspective, helping students understand communication processes and their impact on individuals, groups and society. Students also develop the skills to apply that knowledge as they create thoughtful, effective messages of their own.
What makes the Department of Communication distinctive is its combination of theory and practice. Students explore communication through a social and behavioral science lens while developing the skills to become thoughtful, effective communicators in their careers and communities.
Undergraduate Programs
Undergraduate students who major in Communication can choose from three concentrations:
- Interpersonal and Organizational Leadership: Students develop effective interpersonal and leadership communication skills while building expertise in persuasion. These skills apply to relationships in the workplace, in organizations and in everyday life.
- Media Communication: Students learn to create mediated messages appropriate for specific audiences, purposes and contexts. They also develop the ability to critically analyze communication messages and consider their potential effects on audiences.
- Public Relations: Students develop skills in writing, media relations, public speaking and social media management while learning about the ethical principles and legal considerations that guide public relations professionals.
Students can also declare the Journalism minor, an interdisciplinary program that develops information-gathering, writing and production skills across print, broadcast and digital platforms.
Communication majors learn both inside and outside the classroom through internships, experiential learning opportunities on and off campus and connections with UD’s alumni network. These experiences help students build practical, adaptable skills for a variety of career paths.
Graduate Programs
The Department of Communication offers several pathways for graduate study. Students pursuing an M.A. in Communication or a Ph.D. in Communication build a strong foundation in communication theory and quantitative research methods while developing individualized areas of study in fields such as health communication, political communication and computer-mediated communication.
Research and teaching are important parts of the graduate experience. Students can join research teams, pursue their own research questions and work closely with faculty mentors. Funded graduate students also gain teaching experience as teaching assistants and instructors of record for the department’s basic communication course.
Students may also choose the entirely online Strategic Communication M.A. program, which develops skills in persuasive messaging, digital content creation and emerging media. Undergraduate communication majors may apply during their junior year to the 4+1 program, which allows students to earn both a B.A. in communication and an M.A. in strategic communication in five years.
Explore the Department of Communication website to learn more about our academic programs and opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. You can also meet our award-winning faculty and learn about their research and teaching in the Our People section.
Visitor Information
The University of Delaware campus is located in Newark, Delaware, which is about 20 minutes away from Wilmington, an hour from either Philadelphia or Baltimore, two hours from Washington D.C., and two and a half hours from New York City.
Our Mission
UD's Department of Communication is committed to the study and practice of human communication in a wide variety of contexts, including interpersonal communication, media communication and public relations. With a social and behavioral science orientation toward the study of communication, our faculty and students are dedicated to generating new knowledge and disseminating that knowledge widely and publicly.
Research and Scholarship
We aim to increase knowledge about communication processes and their impact on society and to increase knowledge about how to improve communication skills and competencies. Given the significance of communication processes and practices across a variety of fields and knowledge domains, we are also committed to innovative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research that pushes the boundaries of the discipline.
Teaching
We provide rigorous and comprehensive instruction to undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students to prepare them as competent communicators in their personal, civic, and professional roles. Bringing innovative, excellent, and learner-centered pedagogy into the classroom, our faculty encourages students to develop their critical thinking skills; to express and advocate ideas effectively; and to understand and appreciate the diversity of human communication practices. We also prepare students for research-oriented graduate programs and careers by providing them with opportunities to conduct original studies on their own or with faculty members.
Service and Engagement
Our department recognizes the value and importance of service and engagement. To this end, our faculty and students use their research, teaching, and production skills to help professional, community, and public groups develop and improve their communication practices.
Statement from the Department of Communication Faculty
Our Commitment to Diversity
Supporting equity in our faculty, students, and staff, as well as promoting diversity and inclusion in our teaching, research, and service are important priorities that contribute to the strength of our department. As communication scholars, we recognize the centrality of communication in the struggle against discrimination and actively engage this struggle in our work as educators and scientists. We also further principles of equity and inclusion within our department through recruitment and retention, graduate training, and open and productive dialogue.
The faculty takes the following actions to support its commitment:
Understand and appreciate interdependence of humanity, cultures, and the natural environment.
Practice mutual respect for qualities and experiences that are different from our own.
Understand that diversity includes not only ways of being but also ways of knowing.
Purposefully include and amplify diverse voices.
Recognize that personal, cultural, and institutionalized discrimination creates and sustains privileges for some while creating and sustaining disadvantages for others.
Build alliances across differences so that we can work together to eradicate discrimination.
Support the University’s scholarly, pedagogical and ecologically and socially engaged relationships with our state, region, and global indigenous communities.
The College’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are significant parts of the University of Delaware's College of Arts and Sciences values and goals. The college's commitment to these values is not just evident in its student body but also in its faculty, staff, and curriculum, ensuring a fully inclusive experience. Through this steadfast dedication to diversity and inclusivity, the college continues to enrich its educational offerings, allowing each student to benefit from a wide array of viewpoints and experiences.
