Dean's Welcome

Hofstra University’s School of Communication brings together students and faculty with different backgrounds, interests, and disciplines who share a common passion for the art and science of communication. Some are most interested in careers as practitioners of professions in the communications field, while others prefer to make the actions of such practitioners the subject of scholarly study. But all share a deep fascination with the central role of communication in our lives.

This is a tremendously exciting time to be in this field, as communication has never been more central to the overall functioning of society, and the forms of communication have been increasing and evolving with unprecedented speed. This makes our work all the more challenging and exciting. All around us we see constant change: in how people interact with other people, how companies communicate with customers (and vice versa), how politics is transforming under the pressure of new communications technology, and so forth.

The faculty and students wrestling with these issues do so in the school’s three departments: the Department of Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations; the Department of Radio, Television and Film; and the Department of Rhetoric. Each department, and each area of concentration within each department, approaches these issues and challenges from a different perspective. Part of the richness of the program here arises from the many different approaches our faculty and students can use to discuss and study these matters. This diversity of perspectives promotes a lively dialog and a fruitful exchange of ideas. Theoretical perspectives are constantly tested against real-world practices, and the attainment of technical mastery is always tied to larger questions of intention and impact. This sort of interdisciplinary conversation is the best preparation for the rapidly changing world that lies around us, and that lies ahead.

Our work takes place in state-of-the art facilities, and the real-world experience students get here is enhanced by our close proximity to New York City, the nation’s media center, where students regularly intern for top communications organizations as part of their Hofstra experience. Our distinguished faculty is encountered in small classes (our production classes, for example, are capped at 18), so students really get to know their instructors, and close attention is paid to the progress of each student.

One thing that the upheavals of the past decade or so have made clear is that there will be no lasting status quo in the world of communications in this century. Our job is to prepare our students, and ourselves, to live and work in a field of constant change. The enthusiasm with which our students and faculty are embracing these challenges is inspirational. I invite you to come and experience it in action.

Evan Cornog, Dean
School of Communication