The Department of Rhetoric & Communication Studies is concerned with how and why people communicate and with the effects of communication on individuals, groups, organizations and societies. Communication scholars explore the creation of identity and social realities, the contingent, situational and discursive dynamics of meaning-making, the processes and effects of mediated communication and the role of communicative behavior in all social contexts. The department is organized into three divisions: rhetoric, relational communication and cultural communication. Degree programs include:
The RHCS curriculum includes the study of history and theory, ethics, law, gender, politics and culture. Additionally, RHCS students explore communication in interpersonal, small group, organizational and family settings. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the program, RHCS can be of interest to those students in philosophy, political science, psychology, English, sociology, anthropology and women, gender and sexuality studies.
RHCS students enhance their educational experience by conducting undergraduate research with a faculty member in their area of interest or pursuing experiential learning opportunities such as internships or study abroad.
To learn more about studying rhetoric and communication studies at the University of Richmond, contact us.
