About the Program
As an academic field, Communication is exceptionally diverse. Scholarly influence from the fields of psychology, sociology, cultural studies, economics, library science, rhetoric and language studies, and cultural anthropology can be felt throughout the discipline. The field employs a wide variety of research methods, including quantitative and qualitative social scientific methods, rhetorical and discourse analysis, content analysis, semantic analysis, and critical methods. Despite this wide range of influence, the common thread that defines communication as an academic discipline is the focus on the conveyance of meaning; the application of these schools of thought and methodologies to how humans generate meaning through the exchange of information is, at its core, Communication.
At the University of Massachusetts Boston, the minor in Communication Studies is a six-course program offering students the opportunity to build their knowledge base in numerous aspects of the field, including media history; the social and psychological effects of mass media; interpersonal communication; information technology; communication and politics; and media psychology. The program is suitable for students who may wish to pursue careers related to Communication and media, but is also appropriate for students who are interested in these issues as citizens and as future professionals in other fields. Given the breadth of Communication as a discipline, the program offers students a number of options in both the academic study of human communication processes and in production techniques and skills. At the same time, all students in the program are introduced to basic theory in Communication, and are required to complete a capstone seminar on the subject (see course requirements).. Internships are also available on an optional basis.
Additional information on the minor is available in the Communication Studies office, Wheatley 05-111, (617) 287-3900.
