About the Program
Studying communication at Purdue allows you to learn what to do in order to be an effective communicator, but it also allows you learn why those things are effective. So yes, you might learn how to think and write critically, how to speak persuasively, how to work in organizations and with teams, and how to produce media packages and public relations documents. But you’ll also learn why “best practices” got to be that way. You’ll gain not only skills, but also the theories that help explain and grapple with how persuasion works (and doesn’t work), the ethics of communication, and the nature of communication processes.
All students are required to take the same three foundational courses, and all students must take a writing class and a class focused on experiential learning. Students then choose one concentration that allows them to specialize.
Political and civic communication includes topics related to the interconnectedness of U.S. and international politics, media, interpersonal and group communication, as well as public relations and advertising. This area of study will help students learn the content, processes, and effects of political communication, how political and civic communication influence the social and physical environment in which we live, and the practical skills related to message construction, argumentation, and persuasion.
Coursework will prepare students for a wide range of career options, including but not limited to work in government, journalism, public relations, media, non-profit and NGOs, law, and academia.
Please visit the Brian Lamb School of Communication for more information.
Degree in 3
The College of Liberal Arts offers the opportunity for students to complete their degree in three years. Degree in 3 majors allow students to enter the work force or graduate school a year earlier than traditional plans of study while also providing a cost-effective way to complete an undergraduate degree.
Students can complete the three-year option with or without AP credit by adding summer sessions to traditional coursework in Fall and Spring semesters. Degree in 3 offers a great combination of cost-savings and the opportunity to accelerate your future and achieve your goals.