Department of Communication Studies celebrates centennial

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
October 17, 2012

Department of Communication Studies at Texas State University will celebrate 100 years as a department with a centennial convocation 3:30 p.m. Oct. 17 on the third floor of Old Main.

The convocation speaker, Michael Osborn, former president of the National Communication Association, will speak on the topic “100 Years of Empowerment.” The public is invited to attend.

"The Texas State Communication Studies Department began in 1912, two years before our national association was established in 1914," said Steven Beebe, chair of the Department of Communication Studies and president-elect of the National Communication Association. "We continue to be national leaders in both communication instruction and research."

The Department of Reading and Public Speaking was established at Texas State in 1912 offering courses in oral reading and public speaking. Today the Department of Communication Studies continues to teach courses in public speaking and oral interpretation, but also provides a range of courses that reflect the important role communication plays in contemporary society. The department offers academic programs in interpersonal communication, rhetoric, organizational communication, leadership, instructional communication, communication training and development, political communication and health communication.

The Department has recently received several recognitions including the award for the best fundamentals of human communication course in the nation given by the National Communication Association, the largest communication association in the world. The department’s Master’s degree has been recognized as one of the top M.A. programs in the nation. The speech and debate team continues to receive national and international recognition and top awards including winning the Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association sweepstakes award for the 11th consecutive time last spring.