The purpose of the Department of Communication is to provide students with core competencies, within the context of a broad liberal arts and sciences curriculum, which will prepare them to be independent, critical thinkers who uphold the highest ethical standards as communication leaders in a global society.

Given this purpose, the Department attempts to meet individual performance and career needs with a flexible curriculum. Students select one of the concentrations offered and confer with their advisors to plan their courses of study.?

These focused areas of study help prepare students for a variety of careers in the communication field.

The concentrations of study offered in Communication are: Communication Studies, Digital Cinema and Television, Journalism (Multimedia Journalism and Broadcast Journalism), and Strategic Communication. Students pursuing a degree in Communication also must have a minor in another discipline.

All first-time freshmen must successfully complete CAS 100: First Year Experience as a degree requirement. Students must enroll during their first term at USA, except for summer-entry students who must enroll in the fall semester following entry.