The Department of Communication examines human message systems, focusing particularly on the ways in which human beings create, exchange, and are affected by messages.  We have particular research expertise in four areas: (a) Interpersonal communication: How do individuals exchange messages in interpersonally, and what are the consequences of language and nonverbal communication for social relationships?  (b) Mass communication: What is the content of mass mediated messages, how do they influence their recipients, and how does media policy shape this process? (c) Health communication: What are the consequences of messages for health behaviors, and how can more effective communication practices lead to a more healthy populace? (d) Social Influence: How do messages influence (or fail to influence) people to change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors?  These issues are examined in multiple contexts within our department: Political, Small Group, Family, New Technology, Interethnic, and Intergenerational communication are prominent topics.

We offer an undergraduate major in Communication (B.A.), as well as an undergraduate minor. At the graduate level we offer an MA and a PhD program, with the latter consistently ranked very highly in national rankings. All but a couple of our admitted graduate students are provided funding, largely through teaching assistantships. PhD students from our program work as professors at nationally prominent research universities, as well as occasionally in private sector research facilities or with government agencies.  More details are available at: www.comm.arizona.edu