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The mission of the Department of Communication is to prepare students for civic participation in an increasingly complex world that requires sophisticated practical, critical, and theoretical understandings of human communication.

The field of Communication traces back to rhetoricians from Ancient Greece and Rome including Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero. The Communication department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree.

The B.A. in Communication focuses on the history, theory, and critical evaluation of communication in contexts of public speaking, interpersonal communication, small group communication, mass media and social media. Students select one or two of the following concentrations: Broadcasting, Media Studies, Public Communication and Advocacy, or Public Relations.

The M.A. in Communication focuses on the mastery of communication skills, concepts and practices to enable graduates to advance in their professional careers, teach in the field, or pursue a doctorate. Students are able to customize the curriculum to their particular needs.

Both the B.A. and the M.A. in Communication enable students to secure successful careers in a variety of fields including management, human resources, education, advocacy, journalism, sales, marketing, advertising, public relations, media development, and broadcasting.

There are two officially recognized Department of Communication student organizations.

WESS 90.3 FM is a student-operated, non-commercial, FCC-licensed radio station located on the campus of East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. WESS radio is a 24/7 broadcaster, webcaster and podcaster offering diversified content. WESS is an MTV "Woodie Award Winner" for being the best college radio station in the country.
The Public Relations Student Society of America is a professional student organization that was established at East Stroudsburg University in Fall 2010 and was recognized by ESU SAA by December 2011. PRSSA is a club for students looking to excel in the field of public relations, and operates as a part of the national PRSSA and its parent, Public Relations Society of America, the nation's largest professional organization serving the communications community. PRSSA holds workshops, connects students with alumni now working in the field, arranges networking opportunities with PR professionals and performs pro bono PR work for local organizations via its student-run PR firm Warrior Relations.

Communication Department Scholarships

Department of Communication offers many scholarship opportunities for students. Please review the list of available scholarships at the ESU Foundation website.

Only the following two scholarships require applications from the students. If you are interested in applying, please see the information below:

Academic Excellence in Communication Annual Scholarship

Established by Dr. Andrea McClanahan and Dr. Cem Zeytinoglu, recipients must be majoring in Communication. Recipients must be undergraduate students who have completed at least 30 credits. Preference will be given to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Financial need is not required, and the scholarship is not automatically renewable, however, students may receive it in subsequent years if they apply and meet all criteria, which is selected by the ESU Communication Scholarship Committee. Please send your inquiry email to Communication Department Secretary Marina Cameron (mcameron@esu.edu).

Gretchen Fee Jackson '02 Communication Studies Endowed Scholarship

Established by Gretchen Fee '02 and Geoffrey Jackson, recipients must be majoring in Communication Studies. Recipients must be undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and financial need as determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Preference will be given to first generation college students, which is selected by the ESU Communication Department Scholarship Committee. Please send your inquiry to Communication Department Secretary Marina Cameron (mcameron@esu.edu).

Other Communication scholarships and information about them are listed below. The availability of these scholarships depends on funding and they might not be offered every semester. There is not an application process for these scholarships and the students will be awarded on the basis of merit or performance.

See More Scholarships

Communication Annual Scholarship
Established by members of the ESU Communication Department, recipients must be Communication majors who show exceptional academic abilities and promise in the studies of Human Communication. Top juniors are preferred candidates. Recipients must be enrolled full-time, have completed at least 62 credits with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and minimum GPA of 3.4 in the major. Selected by the ESU Communication Scholarship Committee. Communication Endowed Scholarship
Established by members of the ESU Communication Department, recipients must be Communication majors who show exceptional academic abilities and promise in the studies of Human Communication. Top juniors are preferred candidates. Recipients must be enrolled full-time, have completed at least 62 credits with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and minimum GPA of 3.4 in the major. Selected by the ESU Communication Scholarship Committee. ESU Broadcasting Annual Scholarship
Established by ESU Distinguished Professor Dr. Robert McKenzie and Dr. Kelly McKenzie, recipients must be majoring in Communication and have selected the Broadcasting concentration. Recipients must be incoming transfer students from a community college with a minimum GPA of 2.5 at the community college. Preference will be given to students who are the first member of their immediate family (grandparents, father, mother, sisters and brothers) to go to college. Additionally, preference will be given to students with financial need as determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Selected by the ESU Admissions Office. Richard J. Farmer ’85 Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Established in memory of Richard J. Farmer ’85, recipients must be Communication majors who have graduated in the top 50 percent of their high school class. Preference will be given to male students who are enrolled in history or political science courses beyond the graduation requirement. The scholarship is renewable for up to three additional years providing the recipient maintains a minimum GPA of 3.0, is enrolled full-time and takes a history or political science course each year and continues to demonstrate financial need. Financial need as determined by FAFSA is required. Recipients must be incoming freshmen. Selected by the ESU Admissions Office. Colleen Fleming Memorial Annual Scholarship
Established in memory of Colleen Fleming who was a secretary in the ESU Communication Center, recipients must be majoring in Communication. Recipients must have completed at least 32 credits at ESU with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Selected by the ESU Communication Scholarship Committee. Colleen Fleming Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Established in memory of Colleen Fleming who was a secretary in the ESU Communication Center, recipients must be majoring in Communication. Recipients must have completed at least 32 credits at ESU with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Selected by the ESU Communication Scholarship Committee. John / Marshall Annual Scholarship
Established by Leon John and Stacey Marshall, recipients must be majoring in Communication. Recipients must be culturally diverse students who have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Preference will be given to students with demonstrated financial need as determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Selected by the ESU Communication Department Scholarship Committee. Mr. and Mrs. R. Griggs Levy & Family Annual Scholarship
Established by R. Griggs '87 and Judeth Levy, recipients must be majoring in Communication. Recipients must be full-time, undergraduate students in good academic and social standing. Documented financial need as determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is required. Selected by the ESU Communication Department Scholarship Committee. Reeves Communication Annual Scholarship
Established in the name of the Reeves Family, recipients must be majoring in Communication. Recipients must be female, undergraduate students in good academic and social standing. Preference will be given to women of color. There is no credit restriction so incoming freshmen are eligible, however, financial need as determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is required. The scholarship is renewable as long as funding is available and the recipient continues to meet all criteria. Selected by the ESU Communication Department Scholarship Committee. Dale Snow Endowed Award
Established in memory of Dale Snow, coordinator of the Institute of Communication, recipients must be majoring in Theatre and/or Communication. Recipients must be full-time undergraduate students and must have demonstrated a high level of proficiency, professionalism, and continuing commitment in theatre and/or speech communication arts at ESU. Recipients must have completed a minimum of 30 credits at ESU and have at least a 3.0 GPA in the major. Selected by the ESU Theatre Department Scholarship Committee and the ESU Communication Department Scholarship Committee on an alternating basis.

Communication Endowed Scholarship
Established by members of the ESU Communication Department, recipients must be Communication majors who show exceptional academic abilities and promise in the studies of Human Communication. Top juniors are preferred candidates. Recipients must be enrolled full-time, have completed at least 62 credits with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and minimum GPA of 3.4 in the major. Selected by the ESU Communication Scholarship Committee.

ESU Broadcasting Annual Scholarship
Established by ESU Distinguished Professor Dr. Robert McKenzie and Dr. Kelly McKenzie, recipients must be majoring in Communication and have selected the Broadcasting concentration. Recipients must be incoming transfer students from a community college with a minimum GPA of 2.5 at the community college. Preference will be given to students who are the first member of their immediate family (grandparents, father, mother, sisters and brothers) to go to college. Additionally, preference will be given to students with financial need as determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Selected by the ESU Admissions Office.

Richard J. Farmer ’85 Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Established in memory of Richard J. Farmer ’85, recipients must be Communication majors who have graduated in the top 50 percent of their high school class. Preference will be given to male students who are enrolled in history or political science courses beyond the graduation requirement. The scholarship is renewable for up to three additional years providing the recipient maintains a minimum GPA of 3.0, is enrolled full-time and takes a history or political science course each year and continues to demonstrate financial need. Financial need as determined by FAFSA is required. Recipients must be incoming freshmen. Selected by the ESU Admissions Office.

Colleen Fleming Memorial Annual Scholarship
Established in memory of Colleen Fleming who was a secretary in the ESU Communication Center, recipients must be majoring in Communication. Recipients must have completed at least 32 credits at ESU with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Selected by the ESU Communication Scholarship Committee.

Colleen Fleming Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Established in memory of Colleen Fleming who was a secretary in the ESU Communication Center, recipients must be majoring in Communication. Recipients must have completed at least 32 credits at ESU with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Selected by the ESU Communication Scholarship Committee.

John / Marshall Annual Scholarship
Established by Leon John and Stacey Marshall, recipients must be majoring in Communication. Recipients must be culturally diverse students who have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Preference will be given to students with demonstrated financial need as determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Selected by the ESU Communication Department Scholarship Committee.

Mr. and Mrs. R. Griggs Levy & Family Annual Scholarship
Established by R. Griggs '87 and Judeth Levy, recipients must be majoring in Communication. Recipients must be full-time, undergraduate students in good academic and social standing. Documented financial need as determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is required. Selected by the ESU Communication Department Scholarship Committee.

Reeves Communication Annual Scholarship
Established in the name of the Reeves Family, recipients must be majoring in Communication. Recipients must be female, undergraduate students in good academic and social standing. Preference will be given to women of color. There is no credit restriction so incoming freshmen are eligible, however, financial need as determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is required. The scholarship is renewable as long as funding is available and the recipient continues to meet all criteria. Selected by the ESU Communication Department Scholarship Committee.

Dale Snow Endowed Award
Established in memory of Dale Snow, coordinator of the Institute of Communication, recipients must be majoring in Theatre and/or Communication. Recipients must be full-time undergraduate students and must have demonstrated a high level of proficiency, professionalism, and continuing commitment in theatre and/or speech communication arts at ESU. Recipients must have completed a minimum of 30 credits at ESU and have at least a 3.0 GPA in the major. Selected by the ESU Theatre Department Scholarship Committee and the ESU Communication Department Scholarship Committee on an alternating basis.

If you have any questions about Communication, contact our department secretary at (570) 422-3812 or email mcameron@esu.edu.

Contact Information

Campus Address: Monroe Hall
Phone:: (570) 422-3812
Fax:: (570) 422-3402 (Fax)

Title of Department Leader: Department Chair
Name: Robert McKenzie
E:: mckenzie@esu.edu
Phone:: (570) 422-3886

Communication

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