About
Rooted in the social science perspective, the Department of Communication Studies is committed to preparing students to be competent communicators at theoretical and applied levels. Our faculty is dedicated to developing students’ critical thinking, reasoning, and decision-making skills with the intent of empowering students to construct and deliver context-specific messages in their relational, vocational and community endeavors.
Leadership
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Alan Goodboy
Professor; Peggy Rardin McConnell Research Chair of Communication Studies; Ph.D. Program Coordinator
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Christine Rittenour
Associate Professor; Coordinator, M.A. Theory and Research Program; Faculty Associate, Women's and Gender Studies
History
“Histories of academic departments generally have three things in common: they are written by an amateur historian who is likely to be a senior member of the department in terms of service; they do not enjoy a wide readership beyond those who were directly involved with the evolution of the department; and they are almost always dull.
There are not many examples of department histories. To be sure, there are a few, some exceptionally well done. But departmental histories aren’t exactly dropping from the trees.”
These words are drawn from the introduction of an exemplar “A History of the Study of Oral Communication at West Virginia University” that was drafted and published by former Professor Leonard M. Davis in 1998.