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Communication Studies Minor
To put it bluntly, a minor in communication studies can help you develop skills you can use with any major. Being able to communicate effectively is a key to almost any job or career. A communication studies minor will prepare you to understand the process of communication—and improve your communication skills.
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Program Overview
Calling all chatterboxes out there, this major is perfect for you, or anyone interested in learning how to communicate effectively. Dordt’s communication studies minor gives students a wide selection of courses to choose from. From small group and family communication to cross-cultural and mass communication, you have options. Plenty of options means plenty of opportunities to refine how your communication studies minor can positively supplement your major.
What You'll Learn
Your coursework is a mix of theory and practice. When you’re finished, you’ll understand how to communicate effectively. Beyond that, you’ll understand why communication is so important. And you’ll learn how God can use your communication abilities for His kingdom.
What You Can Do With A Communication Studies Minor
Trying to find a career that a communication studies minor doesn’t help? Good luck. Whether you want to go into media, law, human resources, the medical field, or even graduate school, a communication studies minor will open up doors to help you thrive.
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Career Preparation
Dordt University's 2025 Career Outcome Rate was 99.7%! “I believe it is also, in part, indicative of the type of graduates we are encouraging our students to become—that is, graduates who don’t just learn for the sake of learning, but graduates who continue to learn for the sake of serving," said Dr. Ethan Brue, dean for technology and applied sciences. "Dordt is not just about training students for competence, but it is more about inviting students to embrace the goodness of work out of a deep care for the world.”
To earn a communication studies minor, students will need to complete six communication courses and choose between a small group communication class and a family communication class.
Required Courses
- First Semester Seminar: Designed to introduce the beginning communication student to some basic principles and thought in the field of communication. Offered in a seminar style, each week we will meet to cover key concepts of communication, such as the communication model, areas of communication, and preparing for a career in communication. This introductory course is designed for new communication students, but anyone wanting an overall understanding of communication and its principles will benefit as well.
- Interpersonal Communication: The study of concepts, problems, and responsibilities in communication between two or more persons, focusing on conversation with consideration of many variables and contexts.
- Organizational Communication: The analysis of formal and informal communication in such organizations as corporations and institutions. Included will be considerations of communication problems related to grapevine, rumor, channels, perception, power, status, roles, structures, etc.
- Introduction to Mass Communication: An introduction to the concept of mass communication and its application to electronic and written media. The course will survey the historical development of the technology, effects, and theory of the media through major issues
- Cross-Cultural Communication: This course explores a variety of cross-cultural and intercultural communication experiences. Students will explore the concept of culture and examine the relationship of culture and communication to build a framework for studying cross-cultural communication patterns from a variety of representative cultures (including North American culture). Special emphasis will be given to the influence of worldview, ethnic identity, and socialization on the process of communication. Overall, this course is designed to help you appreciate and understand different forms of communication and begin to develop a Christian perspective for the differences and relationships between cultures.
- Advanced Non-fiction Writing: This course will introduce students to types of non-fiction writing sought by online and print publications. It will seek to improve students’ narrative writing skills, especially an engaging voice. Major assignments include the profile, the review, and the personal essay. Students will also read and react to various types of non-fiction writing, both essays and longer works. Significant class time is spent in workshop format, with students reading and discussing their own work. Satisfies Core Program writing-intensive requirement.
MUST CHOOSE 1:
- Small Group Communication: A study of the theory and practice of group problem-solving in cooperative face-to-face discussion; the development of awareness and understanding of group dynamics, and the presentation of panel, symposium, and dialogue.
- Family Communication: The focus of this course is to analyze and understand communication in long-term interpersonal relationships in the family. Problems specific to family communication will receive attention. The course aims at improving communication by stressing application of communication principles to family interaction.
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Questioning Fearlessly
Ashley BloemhofDordt's English and Communication departments gave Ashley Bloemhof freedom to question fearlessly — living her faith, connecting, and finding her voice.
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