Communication Pathways
Join a top-5 ranked program studying communication as a social science. Learn to understand audiences, shape messages, and tackle pressing social challenges through rigorous research and evidence-based practice.
Choose Your Communication Journey: Every Communication major charts their own path. These suggested 6 pathways can guide your course selection and help you build expertise in the areas that excite you most. Mix and match courses from different pathways or dive deep into one—the choice is yours.
Path 1: Tech & Society
Shape the future of digital communication
Examine how digital technologies reshape human interaction and society. You'll evaluate social media's impact on democracy, analyze algorithmic bias, and study how emerging technologies influence behavior. Perfect for students who want to understand—and help shape—how technology mediates communication in our increasingly interconnected and technologically mediated world.
Suggested COMM Courses:
- COMM 2450: Communication and Technology
- COMM 3190: Data & Society
- COMM 3200: Technology, Behavior and Society
- COMM 4300: Ethics in New Media, Technology and Communication
- COMM 4380: Communication in Virtual Worlds
Path 2: Strategy & Organizations
Lead change within institutions
Apply communication theories and practices to drive change within institutions. You'll study how messages move through organizations, research what motivates stakeholder behavior, and develop strategies for effective leadership. Ideal for students interested in using rigorous research to solve organizational challenges.
Suggested COMM Courses:
- COMM 2760: Persuasion & Social Influence
- COMM 3100: Communication and Decision Making in Groups
- COMM 3850: Risk Communication
- COMM 4360: Communication Networks and Social Capital
- COMM 4350: Ethical Leadership Communication
Path 3: Media, Culture & Entertainment
Impact social and cultural change
Investigate how media shape society and reflect cultural values and identity. You'll analyze global communication patterns, study cross-cultural message effectiveness, and research how entertainment can influence social change. Perfect for students who want to understand the media's role in addressing global challenges.
Suggested COMM Courses:
- COMM 2200: Media Communication
- COMM 3085: Sports Media Communication
- COMM 3800: Television in the Digital Age
- COMM 4292: Sexual Identities and the Media
- COMM 4777: Advertising and Society
Path 4: Writing & Journalism
Create and strengthen public communication channels
Suggested COMM Courses:
- COMM 2200: Media Communication
- COMM 3040: Writing and Editing for Magazines & Online Media
- COMM 3050: Advanced Media Writing about Cultural, Social and Environmental Crises
- COMM 3055: Video Storytelling
- COMM 4940: Effective Communication in an Age of AI and Conspiracy
Path 5: Marketing & PR
Build and maintain brand connections
Research consumer behavior and strategic messaging effectiveness. You'll study persuasion science, analyze stakeholder communication patterns, and develop data-driven campaigns. Ideal for students who want to ground their marketing and PR practice in rigorous social science research.
Suggested COMM Courses:
- COMM 2760: Persuasion & Social Influence
- COMM 3010: Communicating Today: Strategic Messages Across Media
- COMM 3189: Taking America's Pulse: Creating and Conducting a National Opinion Poll
- COMM 3190: Data and Society
- COMM 3760: Planning Communication Campaigns
Path 6: Science & Environment
Translate complex research for public impact
Bridge scientific research and public understanding through communication science, research, and analysis. You'll study how complex information spreads, research audience comprehension of technical topics, and develop evidence-based strategies for science and environmental communication. Perfect for students passionate about making research accessible and actionable.
Suggested COMM Courses:
- COMM 2850: Communication, Environment, Science & Health
- COMM 3020: Science Writing for the Media
- COMM 3210: Communication and the Environment
- COMM 4760: Population Health Communication