NEWS
Communication Studies Re-organization
July 1, 2010 marks the beginning of the Communication Studies Division at UNR. Previously, the Speech Communication program was housed in the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre in the School of the Arts. The re-organization proposal, recently approved by the Board of Regents, recommends that the Speech Communication program be separated from the Theatre program, and be renamed the Division of Communication Studies. The new division is now part of the School of Social Research and Justice Studies, which includes Sociology, Criminal Justice, and the Sawyer Center for Justice Studies. Many faculty from these areas also participate in the Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Ph.D. Program.
The new ‘place’ highlights an ongoing transition from a primarily performance-based program to a social science program focused on studying the process of communication in addition to teaching communication skills. Students will find a more streamlined curriculum in two major areas: public advocacy and relational dispute resolution as well as more rigorous preparation standards for upper-division coursework. The curriculum changes reflect current issues related to communication processes, our affiliation with the School of Social Research and Justice Studies, and timely career aspirations for our undergraduate students.
