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Communication at Purdue...

Communication is both one of the oldest and one of the newest fields of study. Under the label "rhetoric," it was among the most prominent aspects of education in ancient Greece. Later, it emerged from Classical Rome as one of the curricula of higher education for a good many centuries.

Today, in American colleges and universities, the study of communication takes place in a variety of settings and structures. At Purdue University, these various aspects of the field have been brought together in a single academic unit - the Department of Communication, which has been long regarded as one of the finest in the country. Purdue faculty members from various specializations within communication work together to produce graduates who are not only communication experts but also liberally educated men and women.

These educational objectives are reflected in a curriculum that begins with a thorough introduction to the historical, philosophical, and theoretical foundations upon which all communication activity is based, proceeding to the in-depth study of one or more areas of specialization. For most communication students, the development of these specializations is based upon a balanced combination of classroom, laboratory, and work experience. The instructional program is designed to produce graduates with the knowledge base and problem-solving competencies necessary to compete effectively in today's job market. Such success will depend heavily upon the ability to adapt to changing conditions as the field of communications continues its rapid and often dramatic evolution.

Fall 2007 marked the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Communication Department and the 100th anniversary of communication (speech) coursework at Purdue. We are especially proud of our contributions to the university and our discipline.