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:
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
