Communication Studies

www.laguardia.edu/communication-studies/

The Communication Studies Program strives to combine both the theoretical framework and the practical skills of communication. Coordinated by the Humanities Department, the Communication Studies Program leads to an Associate of Arts (AA) degree with five areas of concentration: Public Relations, Speech Pathology, Mass Communication, Organizational Communication, and Public Address. Using participatory learning, students work to enhance their oral, written, and critical thinking skills. Emphasis is placed on communication in social, professional, culturally diverse settings, in the context of a multimedia, globalized world. The aim of the Communication Studies Program is to assist students in transferring to four-year colleges or to begin a career in a related industry.

Communication is an area of study that focuses on the ways in which individuals communicate via different channels. Communication scholars have conducted research and developed theories in order to improve our ability to predict human interaction and perform communicative acts effectively and appropriately. Students majoring in the Communication Studies program will be able to choose a concentration among the following five tracks: Public Relations, Speech Pathology, Mass Communication, Organizational Communication, and Public Address.

The Public Relations concentration focuses on preparing students to master knowledge in all forms of communication in the public arena, whether for political, commercial, or social purposes. After completing the program, students may transfer to communication programs in four-year colleges, or embark on career paths in areas such as public relations, negotiation and mediation, sales, advertising, human resources, politics, law, marketing, and counseling. Speech Pathology students will specialize in fundamental knowledge of the speech mechanism and receive competency-based training in the field of Speech Pathology. Students in the Speech Pathology concentration will need to complete their Bachelor’s and also their Master’s degree to become certified speech-language pathologists. Speech pathologists can work in educational institutions, hospitals, nursing homes, or the private sector. The concentration in Mass Communication focuses on the history of media studies as well as hands-on techniques (e.g., LaGuardia Community College’s web radio station) in creating and producing media work. Mass Communication students may transfer to a four-year college or develop their careers in electronic media, radio/television, broadcasting, film industries, and journalism (via companion courses in the English Department). The Organizational Communication concentration focuses on preparing students how to communicate in workplace teams, explore the meaning of work, practice the communication skills that they will need to do well at any job, and market themselves in the changing economy. Organizational Communication students may transfer to a four-year college or develop their careers in education, government, business, human resources, and industry as well as consulting and training. The concentration in Public Address focuses on how to win arguments and how to persuade other ethically and effectively. Students will learn to become a more critical participant in democratic society and to use argumentation and persuasion to change policy, set precedents, or operate democratically in the world. Public Address students may transfer to a four-year college or develop their careers in law, education, public affairs, and speech writing for political figures.