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The Communication Department's mission is twofold: (1) to educate and encourage students to effectively communicate through oral, written, and digital media in a multicultural society, and (2) to prepare students for communication positions in mass media, business, government, education, and nonprofit organizations; sectors that are vital to the growth and maintenance of a democratic society.

The Communication Department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication with options in Communication Studies, Multimedia Journalism, and Public Relations. Although students choose one option, the curriculum allows them to take courses in the other subplans within and outside of communication. The Communication Department also offers minor programs in communication studies, multimedia journalism, public relations, and Spanish media. The department is home to the award-winning student media (The Poly Post and The Poly Pulse magazine), campus chapters of The Society of Professional Journalists and The Public Relations Student Society of America, and unique experiential learning opportunities from event planning, campaigns, and student media courses to job shadowing programs and undergraduate research opportunities. This results in a well-rounded student with integrated knowledge about multiple fields of communication and hands-on portfolio building experience.

We expect our students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for analyzing, interpreting, synthesizing, and creating in a diverse, complex, and ever-changing society. CPP’s polytechnic ethos is reflected in our classes that provide students with a strong foundation in communication theory, practice, and applications – including access to signature PolyX experience courses, mentorship programs, and internship programs. Communication graduates go on to work in a range of fields including public relations, social media, journalism, marketing, management, human resources, corporate communication, higher education, and nonprofits.

The Communication Department’s goal is to enable students to become communication experts and leaders. Our curriculum is organized around five learning outcomes. Upon completing the program, students will:

• Oral Communication: Master the ability to orally present well-supported and well-reasoned original ideas and arguments in a clear, concise, and organized fashion.
• Written Communication: Master the ability to write clear, concise, and compelling messages appropriate to the platform they are using and the community they are engaging.
• Critical Thinking: Demonstrate the ability to conceptualize, analyze, and evaluate communication processes and the impacts they have on their personal lives and our society.
• Research: Demonstrate the ability to develop original research ideas, collect and analyze data using the appropriate research methods, and write theoretically and practically significant research studies.
• Diverse Perspectives: Demonstrate the ability to thrive in diverse personal and professional settings by becoming self-reflective, flexible, and open communicators in order to contribute to productive collaborations and manage conflict effectively.