Communication
The Department of Communication prepares graduates to practice communication in diverse fields including social media, public relations, advocacy, and broadcasting.
The Department of Communication provides education for students to make positive contributions in the world while at university and while leading in their professional lives as part of their larger communities.
Mission Statement
The Department of Communication at East Stroudsburg University provides education for students to make positive contributions in the world while at university and while leading in their professional lives as part of their larger communities. We prepare graduates to practice communication in diverse fields including social media, public relations, advocacy, and broadcasting. Students will be equipped with practical, technical, critical and theoretical understandings of human communication and will be able to apply their knowledge in a variety of professional and civic settings. We study communication from its roots in Ancient Greece and Rome to all the current contemporary discussions in local and global contexts, small and large communities, through all channels of communication: broadcast and print media, social media, interpersonal conversations, small groups, discussions, public debates, and intercultural encounters. We teach communication as a reflective practice and an applied art—the practice of communicating with and alongside others.
Graduates of our B.A. program go on to work in public relations, media development, strategic communication, global communication, health communication, broadcasting, human resources, sales, marketing, advertising, advocacy, and journalism. Our M.A. in Communication empowers students to take the knowledge and in-depth understanding communication and honed skills to the next level of professional competence in strategic management and leadership positions or to academically pursue a doctoral degree and further post graduate work. Through highly interactive classes, clubs, and internships students have multiple opportunities to learn leadership skills and civic participation and professionally and publicly get ready to take an active role in society.
Vision Statement
The Department of Communication is committed to creating and protecting a diverse and inclusive environment for our students, staff and faculty members. In pursuing these goals, we collaborate with students to engage communities as active citizens who attend to, include, and advocate for the rights of all persons and communities. We believe in the importance of promoting freedom of expression in respectful dialogues in our classrooms, clubs, and interactions. We commit ourselves in our undergraduate and graduate classes to cultivate environments that include, empower and encourage all experiences and voices in our research, study, and practices of communication.
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.
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.
Scholarship Opportunities
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 ($2000)
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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 use the application form below and send any of your inquiries to Communication Department Secretary Marina Cameron (mcameron@esu.edu). Apply by April 4, 2025 @1pm.
- Gretchen Fee Jackson '02 Communication Studies Endowed Scholarship ($3050)
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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 use the application form below and send any of your inquiries to Communication Department Secretary Marina Cameron (mcameron@esu.edu). Apply by April 4, 2025 @1pm.
- Additional Scholarships
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Excellence in Advanced Communication Research Annual Scholarship
Established by Dr. Wenjie Yan to assist graduate students majoring in Communication at East Stroudsburg University. Top candidates are graduate students who are writing a MA thesis. High GPA and a record of active scholarly research are preferable. Selected by the ESU Communication Scholarship Committee.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.
Contact Us
Contact Information
- Campus Address
- Monroe Hall
- Phone:
- (570) 422-3812
- Fax:
- (570) 422-3402 (Fax)
- Title of Department Leader
- Department Chair
- Name
- Andrea McClanahan
- E:
- amcclanahan@esu.edu
- Phone:
- (570) 422-3697
