Concentrations

*** Concentrations are NOT required for students who entered the COMM major during or after Fall 2023.***

Students can update their Concentration online through Chatter/DUST by selecting Choose my Concentration under the the Academic Advising column. Only one Concentration can be declared officially.

Communication, Environment, Science and Health (CESH)

Students focusing in CESH will investigate how communication shapes public understanding of science, health, environmental, and risk-related issues -- and science itself. While exploring conceptual and theoretical issues, students will learn specific skills for communicating science, health, environmental, and risk information with a variety of audiences. Possible career paths include public information officer, science writer, environmental educator/outreach specialist, museum educator, environmental or health-risk communicator, and business, legal and other graduate study. 

Communication Media Studies (CMS)

Students focusing in CMS will investigate the forces that shape media in contemporary society, investigating how what we see and hear comes to be. They will also analyze and understand the psychological, social, and cultural processes that are, in turn, affected by media - from politics to entertainment to news to the very question of what we understand as real about ourselves and true about the world around us. Students may pursue careers in the media industries, in designing the laws and policies regarding media, in business, legal or other graduate study, or in the service of making media better; most of all, they will be more informed and astute citizens in a highly mediated world.​ 

Communication and Information Technologies (CAT)

Students focusing in CAT will explore how people communicate and connect using communication technologies. They will investigate the social, and psychological and cultural dimensions of the design, use, and evaluation of communication and information technologies.  Students will learn the dynamics between design, use, and effects of technologies such as social media, mobile apps, virtual reality, collaborative work platforms, online discussion forums, videogames, among others. Possible career paths include social media managers, information systems designer, research analyst, user interface designers, software designers, usability specialist, technology writer, and business, legal and other graduate study. 

Communication and Social Influence (CSI)

CSI focuses on understanding the complex relationship between individuals, groups, organizations, communities, and cultures that affect thoughts, feelings, and behavior. CSI emphasizes positive, ethical, and effective communication in various contexts. Students learn to use evidence-based communication principles, theories, and methods to analyze, design, and evaluate communication processes and outcomes. Possible career paths include public policy, public relations, social marketing, polling, human resources, governance, business, and law.