Communication Department

Communication Addresses 21st Century Challenges and Opportunities

The Department of Communication is dedicated to advancing knowledge about communication and its practice in society. The department examines how meaning is created and negotiated in human interaction to address the personal, professional, and public communication challenges and opportunities posed by 21st century life.  Our students become leaders in private, public and civil sectors by developing a deep and practical appreciation of how communication shapes the world in which we live.Research from SC&I’s renowned faculty experts examines the complexity of communication processes related to five focal areas: communication and technology, health communication, interpersonal communication, language and social interaction, and organizational communication. SC&I’s students may also acquire knowledge and skills allowing them to pursue careers related to strategic communication and public relations, leadership, health and wellness, relational and family communication, and a range of other options.

Department of Communication programs:

Communication Department Faculty

Please visit our faculty site. 

Faculty accomplishments:

  • NSF, NIH, U.S. Department of Education and other grant recipients
  • NIH/NSF/CDC grant reviewers
  • Multiple national and international awards for scholarship
  • Top Dissertation and Dissertation Advisor Award winners
  • Dozens of Top Paper, Top Article, and Top Book Award honors
  • Keynote addresses given at multiple national and international conferences
  • Current and former NCA and ICA division chairs and board members
  • Journal editors and editorial board members for the leading academic journals in our field 
  • Rutgers awards for research, teaching and service

Thomson Scientific ranked U.S. institutions that published at least 75 papers between 2002 and 2006 in communication journals they index. The Rutgers Department of Communication ranked #1 nationwide. The Department is proud to have Top 20 rankings in the 2004 NCA Doctoral Program Reputation Studies for Organizational, Interpersonal, Technology, & Health Communication.

Research

The department also supports several research centers, clusters, and labs.

Research Videos

Hidden Organizations, Craig Scott 

Caregiving, Lisa Mikesell

Digital Street, Jeff Lane 

Welcome to Our New Faculty Member

Department News

The 2025 Annual Public Speaking Contest Focuses on Community and Communication

First place winner Tirzah Johns said, “When you speak honestly and from the heart, people will listen and relate to you. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; focusing too much on perfection can make you lose sight of the real goal: connecting with your listeners. Most importantly, have fun with it and enjoy the process!”

New PNAS Special Issue Advocates for a Paradigm Shift in Science Communication

“Reflecting on future directions for science communication, we advocate for adopting proactive communication strategies that are focused on building relationships with diverse audience groups and investing in a robust communication infrastructure,” said Professor of Communication Itzhak Yanovitzky, who served as a co-editor and a contributor to this special issue.