Mailing Address: Communication, University of Utah, 255 South Central Campus Dr. #2400, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Office Hours: M-F 9am-5pm
Website: www.communication.utah.edu
Phone: 801-581-6888
Department Chair: Dr. Avery Holton, Ph.D.
Graduate Director: Dr. Leandra Hernandez, Ph.D.
Academic Program Manager: Travis Ciaramella
Undergraduate Advisor (Lead): Stephanie Krusell
Graduate Coordinator: Travis Ciaramella
Contact for Prospective Students: Undergraduate - comm-advisor@utah.edu; Graduate - CommGradInfo@utah.edu
Mission Statement
Our mission is to enhance the practice and understanding of communication in its intellectual, professional, cultural, and environmental contexts. We view communication as central to the integration and dissemination of information, the recognition and appreciation of multiplicity, and the development and application of technical and social knowledge. In communication scholarship, our department draws upon the full spectrum of methodologies and perspectives.
Through teaching, research, and service, the Department serves the needs of its students and contributes significantly to the University's commitment to educational development through the discovery, refinement, and exploration of knowledge.
Overview
The University of Utah’s Department of Communication is one of the premier communication programs in the country and home to nearly 1,200 undergraduate majors and a robust research environment. Consistently ranked among the nation’s most esteemed academic communities, the department combines hands-on learning with nationally recognized faculty expertise to prepare students for careers in advertising, strategic communication, digital storytelling, AI integration, journalism, health, science, organizational communication and beyond. With an international research portfolio and a vibrant, collaborative community, students gain the skills, confidence, and creativity to lead with impact and to transform the communities around them.
Types of Degrees
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
Minors
Undergraduate Certificates
Master of Arts/Master of Science
Graduate Certificates
Doctor of Philosophy
Undergraduate Programs
Communication is a diverse discipline and offers a variety of training to prepare students for their careers. Students are able to focus on technical skills along with theoretically geared courses to develop a comprehensive portfolio to market themselves to the industry. Students are encouraged to personalize their curricular choices to help meet professional/personal goals. For example, students often take elective courses that are outside of their specific emphasis to develop additional skills to be able to access different careers. A major in communication will provide you with knowledge on ethical communication, persuasion, social influence, and social responsibility. Paired with improved skills in writing and speaking, you will be highly competitive in the job market.
Graduate Program
As a top-ten Communication program in research productivity and excellence (Academic Analytics, 2016), the Department of Communication at the University of Utah has a long and distinguished tradition of excellence in graduate education. As one of the very few integrated communication departments in the country, we provide rigorous theoretical and methodological training across the spectrum of communication studies.
Our nationally ranked and acclaimed graduate program currently offers graduate study in four of the Department's five areas of emphasis: Communicating Science, Health, Environment, and Risk (CommSHER); Critical/Cultural Studies; Journalism, Media, and Technology; and Rhetoric. Moreover, fluidity and flexibility across all of the Department's areas of emphasis are not only possible but encouraged; most of our renowned faculty have expertise in two or more of these areas, and graduate students are likewise supported in creating uniquely tailored programs of study that draw from across areas and faculty.