Reshaping Society, Fostering Innovation

Media at the crossroads of society, politics, culture, and history. At the AU School of Communication, that's what Communication Studies is all about.

Our interdisciplinary programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels are for students seeking deeper understanding of the field of communication and its disciplines.

In brief, our undergraduate program in Communication Studies is a liberal arts-oriented major for the bug ideas that unify our sister programs in journalism, public communication, and film & media arts. Our Global Media master's program, a partnership between the School of Communication and the School of International Service, provides a combination of communication theory, media production skills, and academic research techniques to equip you for professional leadership positions in global communication. Our PhD in Communication Studies is an accelerated program designed around the intersection of media, technology, and democracy.

All give you access to the intellectual powerhouse of our faculty, and open the door to opportunities only available in our nation's capital. You'll have the opportunity to deeply analyze some of the world's leading communication campaigns and concepts as they emerge. We are proud of our faculty, who are real-world professionals at the top of their fields and who value mentoring students as much as they value excellence in the classroom.

The growth of new technologies and media approaches had dramatically altered the way we communicate, creating extraordinary challenges and opportunities for communication professionals and scholars alike. Our programs in Communication Studies give you the tools and strategies to successfully navigate today's constantly shifting media landscape, meet those challenges, and make the most of opportunities hidden around the next corner.

Visualizing Your Digital Traces

At the Crossroads of Technology and Democracy

Tatevik Sargsyan, SOC/PhD ’16

Communication

I wanted to be part of the policy narrative.

Tatevik Sargsyan was inspired by her advisor, Laura DeNardis, a leading authority on Internet governance, to focus her research on how information intermediaries shape civil liberties and control access to information. Her studies crystallized her desire to use media and communication to promote freedom of expression. Today, she raises awareness of how national identification systems challenge privacy and human rights. As an AU adjunct professor, she sparks students to think deeply about these critical issues.