
Welcome to
Communication Studies
Welcome to the Department of Communication Studies at Bloomsburg University. Our department has over 250 students who are currently majoring in Communication Studies. We also offer a minor in Communication Studies.
There are currently 17 tenured/tenure track faculty who teach full time in the department.
Our department also supports general education for the entire university with courses such as Introduction to Communication Studies, Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Small Group Communication, and Intercultural Communication.
Please see our Communication Studies Newsletter - Spring 2017
Get to know our students:
Stephanie Bouffard
For junior Stephanie Bouffard, Communication Studies has opened up a career path that incorporates everything she wants in her dream job: education, advocacy, and philanthropy.
"I aspire to educate others. Not so much on the topic of special education itself, but to educate others with special needs. I want to advocate for them, and be the voice both for those who have the inability to speak, whether that's due to their disability or suppression."
Although she just declared a Special Education minor during the Fall 2016 semester, Stephanie noticed the integral part that communication plays in classes outside of the major. Each experience and situation requires a unique application of communication.
"Even though there are so many differences between my major and my minor, I also find commonalities between the two.
Beyond just the people, it's the commonality for advocacy. I find it very inspiring to see the passion both the Communications Department as well as the Special Education Department both have when it comes to advocacy, both in public and behind the scenes. "
For Stephanie, other students within Communication Studies played a significant role in why she decided to join this major.
"Listening to stories about how their major is used in their everyday lives was important to me, it was something I was looking for, too."
With career aspirations to campaign for individuals with exceptionalities or special needs, Stephanie also plans to take classes in the Leadership and Public Advocacy track, offered through her major. Focusing on campaigns, public policy, and rhetoric, Stephanie will have the opportunity to build skills and gain exposure to resources that will help her reach her goals. Impacting people every day, Stephanie is involved on campus and volunteers her time to help numerous organizations.
"In terms of what I see myself doing in the future, I would love to be a motivational speaker, campaign worker, or running a specific organization that would expand other's knowledge on the backlash of individuals with special needs, as well as campaign for the ones who are underrepresented."
In the upcoming months, Stephanie hopes to get an internship with an afterschool program to work with children with special needs, but until then, she will continue her advocacy through organizations at BU, and in her local community.
Client Projects Connect BU Students with the Community
Client Projects Connect BU Students with the Community
BLOOMSBURG---In the Department of Communication Studies at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, client projects represent important hands-on learning experiences for students, and are integrated into various classes.
During the Spring 2021 semester student teams in Dr. Elizabeth Petre’s class, “Communication for Business Professionals” worked virtually with several local organizations to develop external communication materials that met the client’s needs.
One team, Raquel Bedard, Michelle Makar, Abigail Stout, and Courtenie Young, worked with the United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties to brainstorm and design marketing materials for upcoming community initiatives and events.
Another group, Brieanna Jackson, Alyssa Jopling, Justin Mendoza, Gianna Monastero, and Samantha Rikess, developed and promoted the social media for PA PETS, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless animals.
Two teams worked with Camp Victory, an organization that runs summer camps for individuals with special needs. One team, Marlon Argueta-Diaz, Megan Beck, and Breanna Forrest, updated a Camp Victory brochure and flyer, while the other team, Danely Benitez, Hugo Giles, Paiton Knorr, and Yuliana Martinez, developed various social media pages.
Finally, Ian Duffy-Guy, Alissah Francis, Jephte Guillaume, Maddie Krumenacker, and Alicea Nelson worked directly with the Department of Communication Studies on developing materials to promote the department’s recently-approved minor in professional communication.
All student teams worked together, remotely for 10 weeks to complete the project which consisted of multiple meetings with their clients, researching different aspects of the project, and creating and designing the marketing and promotional materials. Clients attended the final presentations on Zoom, and expressed appreciation and excitement for the students’ creative ideas.
The project provided an opportunity for students to network with local professionals, collaborate with other students in the class, and create deliverables that their clients can actually use—and they enhanced their professional communication skills in the process.