A presidential debate. A conversation between friends. An episode of CSI. An American negotiating Paris, or Madrid, or Dubai. All are examples of the process of communication, in which people create messages through which they seek to share meaning. Communication Studies at Davidson explores the basic concepts of communication in a variety of contexts, from people talking one on one to organizations creating messages for millions. From the classical wisdom of the ancient Greeks to the cutting-edge insights of contemporary scholars, Communication Studies explores the elements of the communication process, the options in assessing them, the significance of selections among those alternatives, and the ample opportunities for misunderstanding and disagreement.

Communication Studies focuses on three areas:

• interpersonal communication, including communication in relationships, in small groups, and in organizations, as well as intercultural communication;
• public communication, including rhetorical analysis and such intentional efforts to influence audiences as persuasion, social movements, and political communication; and
• mass communication, including the history of mass media, the critical analysis of media, and how media shape the communication process.