Communication Studies and Philosophy

Return to: College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department Head: Jennifer Peeples
Location: Main 204
Phone: (435) 797-1209 or 797-0254
FAX: (435) 797-1329
E-mail: jennifer.peeples@usu.edu
WWW: lpcs.usu.edu

Department Section Coordinator, Liberal Arts:
Harrison Kleiner, GEOL 421B, (435) 797-2388, harrison.kleiner@usu.edu

Department Section Coordinator, Philosophy:
Charlie Huenemann, Main 208, (435) 797-0254, charlie.huenemann@usu.edu

Master’s in Communication Studies Co-directors:
Tim Curran, LUND 204, (435) 797-4204, tim.curran@usu.e3du
Kaitlin Phillips Main 069B, 797-8179, Kaitlin.phillips@usu.edu

Communication Studies:
Clair Canfield, Main 002G, (435) 797-7691, clair.canfield@usu.edu

Global Communication:
Jason Gilmore, LUND 206, (435) 797-7692, jason.gilmore@usu.edu

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Global Communication and Liberal Arts; BA and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Philosophy; BA and BS in Communication Studies; MA/MS degree in Communication Studies

Full details of the learning objectives, assessment plan, student outcomes, and evidence of continuous improvement for these programs of study can be found at lpcs.usu.edu/about/assessment/index.

Programs

Mission Statement

The Department of Communication Studies and Philosophy offers programs communication studies, global communication, philosophy, and liberal arts. Although these programs differ widely in their curricula, they are bound together by a recognition on the part of the departmental faculty that a critical part of becoming an educated person lies in achieving a greater understanding of one’s self and of others, an understanding opened up through insight into the spoken and written word.

The Communication Studies program helps students understand: (1) the role communication plays in creating and maintaining human organizations and societies; (2) how people exercise influence in the social world; and (3) how to develop appropriate and effective communication competencies needed to live a productive life.       

The Philosophy program seeks to enable students to better understand critical issues in philosophy, with special emphasis on ethics, history of philosophy, metaphysics, theory of knowledge, and logic. Training in philosophy involves learning to reason and write with clarity and precision. Training in philosophy is an excellent preparation for a wide variety of careers.

The majors in the department are: Communication Studies (BS/BA, and MA/MS), Global Communication (BA), Liberal Arts (BA), Philosophy (BS/BA), Philosophy with Ethics Concentration (BS/BA).

The minors in the department are: Organizational Communication, Philosophy, Speech Communication Teaching Emphasis.

Courses offered by the department provide majors and minors with opportunities to achieve this understanding by increasing their communicative, logical, interpretive, and research skills; their ability to function within an increasingly globalized society; and their awareness of ethical, relational, and other values.

Admission Requirements

For admission to the Communication Studies or Global Communication majors, students must submit an application and meet the 2.75 GPA requirement. Please visit the department office or website for more details.

Admissions requirements for Philosophy and Liberal Arts majors are the same as those for Utah State University. Transfer students from other institutions and from other majors within Utah State University must have an overall minimum GPA of 2.5.

All students majoring in programs offered by this department must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in their major to be in good standing in the department and to obtain official approval for graduation.

Career Information

For career and graduate school information, students should contact undergraduate advisors in the department.

Scholarship Information

The Department of Communication Studies and Philosophy offers the following scholarships:

Communication Studies
Raymond T. Coward and Andrea S. Coward Global Communication Endowed Scholarship is given to a junior or senior with at least a 3.0 GPA in the major.
Harold J. Kinzer Scholarship is awarded to a Communication Studies major who has earned a minimum of nine upper-division USU credits toward the major.

Philosophy
Brett E. Blanch Memorial Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding philosophy major with a minimum of nine upper-division credits in Philosophy and a minimum 3.5 GPA.

Thain Scholarship is given to an outstanding high school senior enrolling in a language or philosophy course at USU.

University Honors Program

The University Honors Program offers students in all colleges and majors the unique opportunity to deepen their educational experience with hands-on practical applications of their academic knowledge. The Honors Program admits incoming, transfer, and existing USU students based on application. High achieving students with at least one year remaining are encouraged to apply.  See the University Honors Program catalog entry and website (honors.usu.edu) for more information.

Additional Information

For detailed information about requirements for majors and minors within the Department of Communication Studies and Philosophy, see the major requirement sheets, which are available from the department.

Philosophy

Philosophy at USU reflects the ideals of the liberal arts in encouraging the respect for truth without promoting dogmatism, and in offering the opportunity for students to increase their self-understanding at the same time as they increase their knowledge of the world around them.

Philosophy faculty in the Department of Communication Studies and Philosophy teach courses leading to an undergraduate major and a minor in philosophy. The major in Philosophy allows students the option of choosing a concentration in ethics. The mission of the Philosophy program at Utah State University is to provide a high-quality education leading to an understanding of the major areas of inquiry represented within the discipline of philosophy. Coursework emphasizes the areas of the history of philosophy, logic, ethical theory and applied ethics, and metaphysics and epistemology. The curriculum is designed to meet a wide variety of student interests in pursuing a major in philosophy. It provides a rigorous foundation for students intending to further their education in law school or graduate school in philosophy, and it also provides an exciting and challenging education for those students who enjoy thinking about ideas for their own sake. Coursework is also designed to enrich the education of students majoring in other subjects, by providing them with opportunities to gain an understanding of philosophical perspectives on and philosophical foundations of their chosen fields. Note: As students plan for their general education and major courses, note that PHIL 4530  will not satisfy the DSC General Education Depth Requirement but if students take ADVS 3200 , it will satisfy the DSC and count for a Philosophy elective.

Sample Four-year Plans for Philosophy Major

Sample semester-by-semester four-year plans for students working toward a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy or Philosophy with a Concentration in Ethics are available in the department.

Students should consult with their advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual needs and interests.

Communication Studies

Communication Studies has been taught continuously at USU almost from the university’s founding in 1888. Communication Studies faculty in the Department of Communication Studies and Philosophy teach courses leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in Global Communication, as well as a minor in Organizational Communication.

These programs focus on how people communicate to create meanings across a wide range of contexts, including interactions that occur in personal relationships and public interactions, with those from other cultures, and with those in business and other applied settings. Students learn to think critically about the messages they receive and to develop skills promoting the understanding and practice of effective and ethical communication behaviors.

Students majoring in Communication Studies are encouraged to earn a BA degree by completing two years of study in a foreign language. This broadens cultural and social awareness and can increase one’s understanding of the nature of language in general. Students interested in the graduate program in Communication Studies should go to the department webpage at lpcs.usu.edu for more information.

Admission to the Communication Studies or Global Communication majors are done through a competitive application process. The admission decisions will be based on (1) academic record, (2) realistic career or professional study objective, (3) ability of this program to prepare the student for intended career, (4) satisfactory speaking and writing competencies, and (5) motivation and creativity demonstrated by class performance, work experience, volunteer activities, and other means offered by the student during the application process.

Students not admitted may apply the following year. If not admitted on the second application, the student will be permitted to complete a minor, but will not be considered again for the major.

To obtain guidelines for applying to either Communication Studies or Global Communication majors, contact the Department of Communication Studies and Philosophy, Main 204, (435) 797-1209.

The minor program in Organizational Communication is designed for students who seek communication and human relations competencies, an understanding of human communication behavior, and the critical thinking skills required for success in a variety of careers.

Note: A DSS course will not satisfy the DSS (Depth Social Sciences) General Education requirement for a Communication Studies major.

Pre-Communication Studies Major: Since admission to the Communication Studies major is limited, students not yet admitted to the Communication Studies major will be allowed to enter a Pre-Communication Studies major if they have at least a 3.2 overall GPA. While a student in the Pre-Communication Studies major is waiting to be admitted into the Communication Studies major, he or she should complete CMST 1020: Public Speaking (BHU)  and CMST 2110: Interpersonal Communication (BHU/HR) . For more information about the application process for these majors, contact the Department of Communication Studies and Philosophy. Each semester new applicants will be considered for admission to the Communication Studies and the Global Communication majors.

Sample Four-year Plan for Communication Studies Major

A sample semester-by-semester four-year plan for students working toward a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies can be found in the department.

Students should consult with their advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual needs and interests.

National Honor Societies 

Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) is the National Communication Honor Society of the National Communication Association for undergraduate junior and senior communication students. Among the goals of LPH are to recognize, foster, and reward outstanding scholastic achievement; and to provide an opportunity for faculty and students to discuss and exchange ideas about their field of interest.

Master’s Degree in Communication Studies

The Masters’ degree in Communication Studies is a face-to-face program focused on understanding how communication in human interaction can build relationships that enact positive interpersonal, organizational, and social change. Graduates of this program will be able to apply their skills and disseminate their knowledge in ways that enable greater collaboration and cooperation in a variety of contexts, whether they enter the workforce upon graduation or enroll in a Ph.D. program.

This degree will:

• enhance students’ personal career objectives by preparing them to advance in careers that highly value communication skills in managing conflict, building cooperative relationships and teams, and facilitating positive change.
• train students to impart the knowledge they gain to others through teaching opportunities and community engagement.

Return to: College of Humanities and Social Sciences