Welcome to the Communication Studies Department

News

Picture of Faculty receiving an award

We are delighted to announce that three of our esteemed faculty members in the Communication Studies department have been honored with the prestigious Impact Award by the National Society for Leadership and Success (NSLS). On May 2nd, 2023, during the NSLS Induction, Dr. Marco Ehrl, Dr. Emily Cripe (Dept Chair), and Dr. Diana Ebersole were recognized for their exceptional leadership and academic excellence. Dr. Diana Ebersole and Dr. Marco Ehrl also delivered keynote speeches for the event. We are proud to have such distinguished educators within our team!

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Group of students in front of a banner

Led by Dr. Marco Ehrl, 13 KU students were awarded scholarships from the commonwealth to participate in the Washington Center's academic seminar "Inside Washington" from Jan. 3 to Jan. 11, 2023. Our department was so excited to see that 10 out of the 13 students are majoring in either Communication Studies (COM) or Social Media Theory and Strategy (SMS).

Learn about our Major and Minor Programs in Communication and Social Media. Watch faculty members talk about their passion for communication research and teaching.

Visit our Virtual Open House Now!

Banner reading COM and SMS Career Day

The COM Department has an annual career day where alumni come to speak. Here are our speakers:

List of Speakers

Social Media Hub ("SMASH") and Public Relations Agency ("The Agency") named Finalists in International Audio-Visual Classroom Experience Awards

Experience the SMASH in 360

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Programs

Want to earn a BA in Communication Studies or a BS in Social Media Theory and Strategy? Want to add them as a minor to your program?

Explore our COM Degrees

Explore our SMS Degrees
Explore our Minor in Performance and Storytelling

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Events

Senior Showcase Fall 2019:

Congratulations to all our showcase participants.

Experience the Showcase in 360

Senior Showcase | Fall 2019

Students discussing their posters at the senior showcase.

Tensions, Bills, and Thrills

DeSean Longino & Noel Subervi

"The Talk:" Taboo Conversations within Blended Families

Cammi Jefferson, Emily Mott, and Alexis Rodriguez

A Crisis Communication Analysis of Complications and First-Hand Accounts from 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina

David Guffy & Zach Marvil

Tiger in the Dog House: The Social Demise of an Icon

Patrick Walsh and Jarrett Cole

Get Off Your Phone! Understanding How College Student iPhone Use Impacts Communicative Competence

Casey Renaud and Callum Bartlett

It-It-It's Great to Meet You: Reducing Uncertainty in Initial Encounters

Hannah A. Srock and Ronald M. Stinson

How Users Connect with Traditional and Micro-Celebrities Through Instagram Brands

Katarina Ward and Shamin Malik

#Join WITI: Bringing Life to Women in Technology International's Social Media Strategy

Katelyn Melder

"He Lives Each Day in His Own World:" Adaptive and Intensive Approaches to Communication Between Caregivers and People with Dementia

Sorelly Germosen

Under His Eye: Recreating Black History in The Handmaid's Tale

Cyruss Quaye and Paige Klemovage

Trump's Tweets and the Creation of a Spiral of Silence

Richard Paul Carroll and David Powers

Students conversing at a poster conference
Students standing on either side in front of a poster presentation on "tension, bills and thrills"
Three students standing on either side in front of a poster presentation with caution tape, traffic cones and popcorn on the table in front
Two students standing on either side in front of a poster presentation
Two students standing on either side in front of a poster presentation titled "tiger in the doghouse: the social demise of an icon."
Two students standing on either side in front of a poster presentation titled "Get off your phone!"
Two students standing on either side in front of a poster presentation
Two students standing on either side in front of a poster presentation titled "how students connect with traditional and micro-celebrities through Instagram brands"
Student in front of a poster presentation titled "#Join WITI: Bringing life to women in Technology International's social media strategy."
Student in front of a poster presentation
Two students standing in front of a poster presentation
Two students standing on either side in front of a poster presentation titled "Donald Trump's tweets and the creation of a spiral of silence."

Dr. Diana Ebersole answers questions about the Interpersonal Communication track in COM Studies at Kutztown University, her most recent research projects, and the role of communication for the job market.

Dr. Joseph Harasta answers questions about the PR program at Kutztown University, Kutztown's new state-of-the-art PR lab, the role of strategic communication in PR, and his recent research projects.