BACKGROUNDER

Sept. 20, 2018

Department of Communication

The Department of Communication at Virginia Tech (VT) finds its origins in the

Department of Theatre in 1970. The Department of Communication achieved stand-alone

departmental status in 1980. A masters in communication was available to students

starting in 2003.

The department originally offered tracks in journalism and speech

communications. Shortly after, public relations was added as the third track. In 2008, the

department moved from tracks to four different requirements: cinema studies,

communication studies, electronic and print journalism and public relations. In 2011,

cinema studies moved to the Department of Theatre. In 2014, communication studies,

multimedia journalism and public relations became separate majors in the department.

These are the current major’s offered along with a minor in communication and a

concentration in sports media and analytics.

The Department of Communication is an award winning department. In 1995 and

2006 the department earned the Virginia Tech Exemplary Department award. In 2012,

the Basic Course Division of the National Communication Association awarded the

department with the Program for Excellence Award.

In recent years the department has developed facilities and certifications to better

prepare students for the industry. In 2013, the department established a multimillion
dollar media center. The center is fully digital and is composed of a studio, newsroom

and lab. Furthermore, the curriculum for the public relations major is one of 38 in the

nation to be certified by the Public Relations Society of America.

The mission of the department is to develop and enhance the understanding of the

communication processes and their effects on individuals, organizations, culture and

society. Through learning, discovery and engagement focused on creation, disruption and

interpretation of media messages, the department meets its mission.

Moreover, the curriculum is designed to accomplish six goals: improving student

research skills, improving the knowledge of communication, improving the ability to

evaluate the process of communication within specific environments and improving

writing, oral and visual communication for specific audiences.

Contact:
Olyvia Lose
olyvia8@vt.edu
757-968-2599