It is no exaggeration to say that communication forms the fabric of our lives. In all spheres of contemporary global affairs, work, and life, communication plays a central role. As a result, we in the Communication Department see our mission to revolve around two central beliefs:

• Belief 1: As we communicate, whether publicly, interpersonally, organizationally, or via some mass medium, we tell each other who we are, who we have been, and who we can become. It is in and through communication that we forge our lives.
   
• Belief 2: You cannot succeed in any communication-related field without really understanding belief 1.

In other words, our Department does not aim to simply “train” students, as if Communication is a technical degree. We integrate the theory and practice of Communication, so that courses that teach skills build upon communication concepts, insights, and research techniques. In other words, we strive to provide students with an education in Communication, grounded in the Liberal Arts & Sciences, not a narrow, technical training. The study of communication in the liberal arts tradition focuses on the understanding and use of symbols that create meaning in multiple communicative contexts. The discipline is grounded in ancient rhetorical traditions and is influenced by contemporary intellectual, artistic and technological developments.

Our mission, then, is to produce well-rounded communicators who are capable of speaking and listening well, thinking critically, and writing clearly.

We strive to embody this mission in several ways. First, the department is committed to an intellectual atmosphere which enhances awareness of and respect for the human dignity and ethical values which prepare students for a changing and multicultural world. In the spirit of building collegiality and community, our faculty integrate effective teaching, research and publication, and service to the profession, community and the university. This fosters an environment in which students majoring in Communication are offered the opportunity to participate fully in the professional, academic and extracurricular life of the discipline.

In addition, we have embodied this mission in our unique, innovative curriculum. After an introduction to the field—via required courses in the topics, theories, and research methods central to Communication—our majors select a course of specialization for the remainder of their studies at Villanova. Students then develop their expertise in the field by taking courses that span the entire Communication field: Rhetorical Studies, Performance Studies, Interpersonal Communication, Organizational Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Studies, and Media Production.

The results speak for themselves:

Our graduates are in top firms in public relations, advertising, and marketing; our graduates appear on the air in markets across America or work behind the scenes as producers of network news and cable programs; our graduates are onstage and backstage in theaters large and small; our graduates are enrolled in the nation’s top Communication graduate programs and law schools. Whether in corporate careers, serving their communities, or engaged in further academic study, our graduates illustrate that students of Communication are uniquely equipped to make a difference, in their lives and in the lives of others.