This article originally appeared on page 10 of the No. 6 April 2025 edition of The Gettysburgian magazine
By Brandon Fey, News Editor
Beginning next semester, Gettysburg College will offer students a new academic program in communication studies.
This program is intended to develop practical career skills in the creation, exchange and interpretation of human communication across multiple mediums such as writing, public speaking, digital content creation and interpersonal communication. It also seeks to create an understanding of the complex factors that impact the transmission of information, including individuals, institutions and social dynamics.
The program was proposed and planned by cinema and media studies professor James Udden and English professor Melissa Forbes. They presented their proposal at the faculty meeting on March 6.
During the meeting, they argued that communications is the tenth most popular major in the United States, and only two of the College’s “like” and “watch” schools, Franklin & Marshall and Dickinson College respectively, do not offer communications or a similar major.
The American Association of Colleges and Universities suggests that there will always be a demand for graduates with written and communication skills, as communication is constantly evolving. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be about 109,500 job openings each year in communications, on average, over the next eight years.
Several students have demonstrated an existing interest in communications curricula. A 47-person poll of interdisciplinary studies majors at the College showed that 37% have chosen to create their own pseudo-communications major from existing courses.
According to the College’s admissions data from 2021-23, 419 accepted students who chose not to enroll in Gettysburg had expressed interest in communications on their application. “Communications” is not a listed option for the Gettysburg Common Application, and these students denoted their specific interest in the “other” category. Of these students, 76.5% have attended an alternative institution with a communications major or similar program.
The program was approved by a faculty vote on March 22, passing by a wide margin of 91-14. Students may declare the new major or minor as soon as the upcoming fall semester.
“In an increasingly interconnected world and workforce, effective communication is paramount,” Provost Jamila Bookwala commented. “With the launch of our new communication studies major and minor, Gettysburg College will empower our students to take a deep dive into learning and applying the art and science of communications so that they can pursue careers in communications-related fields and make an indelible impact in their professional lives and in their communities.”
The communications major and minor will be co-administered by the English and cinema and media studies departments. Its curriculum is designed to balance theory, analysis and practice while maintaining flexibility. This is to encourage students to pursue communications as a double major or minor, as the programs will leverage existing courses and faculty from other departments.
The major will consist of three core courses, three analysis courses, three praxis courses and a practicum/capstone. These will include a combination of English and cinema studies classes in addition to new classes under the communications designator, including a communications methods class which will be an option alongside English and cinema studies methods. The practicum will likely involve an internship or other first-hand experience in a relevant field. The capstone will include an individual project similar to that for English and cinema and media studies majors.
“The communication studies program is designed to help students understand how communication can be influenced by various factors including individuals, institutions, and greater social dynamics,” said Udden. “It will help them to develop career skills in the creation, exchange, and interpretation of human communication across multiple mediums such as writing, public speaking, digital content creation and interpersonal communication.”
The major will also include two optional tracks: “digital communication” or “public communication.” Future tracks may include “science communication,” “political communication,” “professional communication” and “intercultural communication.”
“We’re building a program that will help our students become compelling storytellers and strategic thinkers, ready to make a real difference both here on campus and in their future lives and careers,” said Forbes. “It’s been exciting to see the whole campus embrace this new program. Faculty and staff all over the College are already reaching out with ideas for new courses. This program is going to be truly special.”
In addition to new classes, the program also requires a basic operating budget, new computers for video editing and a new staff lecturer to assist with advising for students communication majors and related campus organizations such as the WZBT radio station and The Gettysburgian.
“I’m absolutely thrilled for Gettysburg to offer a major and minor in communication studies,” said Forbes. “This is going to open so many doors for our students.”
