Communication Studies - Professional Resources

divisions of the field; academic and professional associations; college communication programs.

Divisions of the Field

The Communication discipline has roots in several other disciplines. Speech and Journalism programs were once housed in English departments, whereas Mass Communication and Interpersonal Communication faculty often received extensive training in the social sciences, such as Psychology and Sociology. Today, the common theme of Communication Departments is a focus on messages and the people who send and receive them. The discipline has grown over the years, to the point where there are many subspecialties. Listed below are some of  these areas of specialization.

National and international professional associations also help define the major divisions of the field. These divisions are common throughout the U.S., regions of the U.S., and world. Most universities offer distinct courses of study in these areas. Some of these areas even have web sites devoted to them; we've included several of these.

• Health Communication: patient-provider communication, health campaigns, communication of health messages.
  Health Comm Around the World
  
• Instructional Communication: communication education, basic course, teaching resources, developmental communication.
  National Communication Assoc. - Instructional Development Division
  
• Intercultural Communication: training, international, and comparative cross-cultural studies.
  International Association for Languages and Intercultural Communication
  ICA Intercultural Communication
  
• Interpersonal Communication: dyadic communication, small group decision-making, family communication, relationship development, and gender and communication.
  The Interpersonal Web
  National Communication Assoc. - Group Communication Division
  
• Journalism: public relations, advertising, writing, broadcasting, telecommunications, film studies.
  Advertising World
  
• Mass Communication: media effects, television viewing behavior, audience research, popular culture, media history, law & ethics.
  Media History Project
  National Communication Assoc. - Mass Communication Division
  
• New Technologies: human information technology, information systems, telephones, satellite, Internet, videoconferencing.
  National Communication Assoc. - Human Communication & Technology Division
  
• Organizational Communication: applied communication, consulting, training and development, management, business communication, negotiation/mediation, business communication.
  National Communication Assoc. - Organizational Communication Division
  
• Performance Studies: theatre, oral interpretation, readers' theatre, voice & articulation.
  Stetson Univ., Theatre Arts Program
  
• Political Communication: campaign communication, political speechmaking.
  University of Oklahoma Political Communication Center
  
• Public: argumentation, forensics, freedom of speech, legal communication, public address, public speaking, persuasion, debate.
  The History Channel
  ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection
  National Communication Assoc. - Public Address Division
  
• Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: feminist scholarship, rhetorical criticism, postmodernism, Greek and Roman rhetoric.
  MIT Classics Archive
  
• Symbol Systems: nonverbal communication, semiotics, language and social interaction, semantics.
  ICA Language and Social Interaction Division
  National Communication Assoc. - Nonverbal Communication Division

Divisions or sections comprised of specific populations or those interested in similar professional issues also exist for: Elementary/Secondary; Community College; Small College; Senior College; Graduate School; Women's Studies; Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Studies; African American Communication; and La Raza.

Academic and Professional Associations

Professional organizations provide numerous services for their members. They all provide a place for people (a) to meet others, (b) to gain relevant knowledge and information, and (c) to become part of an organized collective with common interests and goals. These organizations often have special student sections for newcomers.

Academic Associations

• National Communication Association
  This site contains a wealth of information. Be sure to look at convention information, Lambda Pi Eta and student groups listings (under What's New), an introduction to CommSearch (under Publications), listings of communication programs around the world, information on subscribing to CRTNET News (under Research), and other organizations and resources.

• International Communication Association
  Contained at this site is a description of the various divisions, publications, conferences, and additional information on the association. Check out the President's welcome (Association)! Also look at the different ICA publications and submission information.

• World Communication Association
  Read all about the World Communication Association, its officers, journal, conferences, and newsletter. Many useful internet resources are also listed.
  
• American Communication Association 
  This site is, itself, a guide to the discipline. It points to different subdisciplines of the field. Click on ACA Electronic Reference Desk and then on Communication Associations.

Regional organizations:

• Central States Communication Association
• Western States Communication Association
• Eastern Communication Association
• Southern States Communication Association

Professional Associations

• American Association of Advertising Agencies 
• American Marketing Association 
• Association for Business Communication 
• Association for Educational Communications and Technology 
• Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 
• Broadcast Education Association
• International Association of Business Communicators 
• International Listening Association 
• National Association of Broadcasters 
• National Press Club 
• National Speakers Association 
• Public Relations Society of America 
• Society of Professional Journalists 
• Speakers Platform 
• Toastmasters International 
• Association for Women in Communications 

College Communication Programs

There are hundreds of undergraduate college programs in communication in the United States. The following list of undergraduate and graduate programs is useful in finding quality education in this discipline.

• Undergraduate Communication Programs
• Graduate Communication Programs

For advice on whether or not to attend graduate school:

Advice for Undergraduates, Phil Agre

Professional Listservs for Students

• Lambda Pi Eta
• Undergraduate Student Clubs
• Communication Institute for Online Scholarship (commgrads discussion list; see Especially for Students) 
• Toastmasters International
• The Speaker's Platform 

 The Kent State University Communication Studies Program

• Undergraduate Program
• Graduate Program
  
  Student organizations
  Kent Communication Society
  Lambda Pi Eta - Kent Chapter