Major Prepares Outstanding Graduates

The major in Communication provides undergraduate students with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, manage and evaluate communication processes involving individuals, groups and the public. Graduates develop strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills as well as an advanced ability to analyze and critique messages, behaviors and media. The Graduate Program in Communication, offered by the College, serves Master's or Doctoral students in Communication.

Faculty in the Department are dedicated to delivering superior learning experiences and have received numerous awards recognizing their outstanding teaching. Many students choose to follow-up on an interesting course by completing independent study work with individual faculty members on special topics or projects. Students are also encouraged to participate in educational activities beyond the classroom. The Department provides an excellent internship program which offers the opportunity for work with employers in corporate, government and public service agencies. In addition, all students are encouraged to participate in a variety of student organizations providing extracurricular activities designed to enhance the academic experience and career opportunities.

Cohort Classes Demand Much, Deliver More

The biggest fear for Communication majors at the University of Kentucky may also provide the greatest challenge and reward of their educational careers. The Communication cohort classes loom large for aspiring majors as they encounter the gruesome stories of cohort survivors. While the actual experience may not be quite so grueling as some describe, the reality of the courses befits the name cohort, defined by the Oxford American Dictionary as "a group of people banded together or treated as a group." As a common experience and a gateway to upper division courses, the cohort provides a unique bonding experience for Communication majors.

The heart of the cohort is the application of communication theory and research methods in an original research project. Each student designs and executes a study dealing with a communication issue or concern. As the students conduct the research, they discover that it can be a very interesting and rewarding process, according to Dr. Enid Waldhart, associate professor of communication and perennial cohort instructor.

The cohort also provides a demanding and enriching experience for the faculty who teach it. Each semester, the cohort is team-taught by two faculty members from the Department. "By sharing the responsibilities for the subject matter, it makes it easier for the faculty members to coordinate efforts to emphasize how communication theory and research are closely integrated," according to Dr. Waldhart, who also serves as the director of undergraduate studies for the Department of Communication. "This class allows those teaching to observe what the students are learning on a closer level."

Even though the class has the reputation for being very demanding, students benefit from the experience. In recent years, several students have presented their cohort research papers at the Undergraduate Honors Conference hosted by the Southern States Communication Association. Waldhart says this really demonstrates their learning as they make their official presentations at such a competitive conference. In fact, a UK Communication major received the Top Paper Award at this year's conference and three other Communication students were named in the top 12 finalists, out of the 82 students whose papers were accepted. In Waldhart's view, these awards honor the hard work and achievements of both the students and the faculty and provide clear evidence of the cohort's value.