Areas of study

The study of communication finds its roots in antiquity with the teaching of rhetoric and oratory by classic scholars like Aristotle, Plato, and Cicero. Although rhetoric dominated the study of communication for centuries, the contemporary discipline of communication is quite multi-faceted in its approach. The school of Communication Studies is committed to a diverse and pluralistic approach to the study of human communication. As a scholarly community we encourage “multiperspectival thinking” in our approach to the discipline. In our respect and valuing of multiple theoretical perspectives and multiple methods for research, we discourage myopic allegiance to a single “correct” way of practicing communication.

The school’s graduate program has developed into an internationally distinguished center for graduate study, research, and practice. The school conducted a major Various “reputation studies” show that the school’s academic programs are well respected.  The most recent reputation study by the National Communicating Association placed our Organizational and Health Communication tacks in the top 10 nationally, and our interpersonal and rhetoric and public culture programs in the top 20 nationally. That same study showed that our school was in the top 5 for “recent improvement” in organizational and health communication. In short, we have very well respected programs and have been recognized for working hard to improve those programs. The doctoral program in the school is the second oldest PhD program at Ohio University.

We offer opportunities for specialization within three areas:

Health Communication

Relating and Organizing

Rhetoric and Public Culture