Our Mission and Vision
Communication empowers us to remember the past, act in the present, and anticipate the future. It is the vehicle by which we build relationships, exchange ideas, and shape our communities through personal, public, and mass-mediated forms of communication. The disciplines represented in the Communication and Media Studies Department have developed a rich body of knowledge concerning the verbal and nonverbal symbols that are spoken, enacted, heard, and seen. The department offers four majors and four minors while also serving students across the university who seek to become more effective communicators.
The world of communication and media is evolving rapidly. In the Communication and Media Studies (CAMS) Department, students learn how messages influence individuals, organizations, cultures, and society. Our state-of-the-art studios, labs, and experienced faculty prepare students to meet today's communication challenges through hands-on learning, critical thinking, and meaningful engagement both inside and outside the classroom.
Although each major emphasizes different communication contexts and professional pathways, all CAMS graduates develop a fundamental appreciation for what it means to live in a symbolic world, embrace lifelong learning, and build transferable skills valued across diverse careers. Whether their interests lie in journalism, digital storytelling, documentary filmmaking, podcasting, audio engineering, radio, sports and news broadcasting, or the study of health, environmental, intercultural, interpersonal, organizational, and strategic communication, CAMS students learn to critically examine the role communication and media play in everyday life while developing the analytical, creative, and technical skills needed for a rapidly evolving profession. They develop the ability to embrace the multicultural foundations of human discourse, collaborate effectively, apply communication concepts to real-world situations, and engage as informed, ethical citizens.
Department Learning Objectives
Strategic Communication: Craft and deliver clear, persuasive messages across contexts.
Collaboration & Leadership: Work effectively in diverse teams and guide group projects.
Media Literacy & Storytelling: Create and analyze impactful messages across platforms.
Critical & Ethical Thinking: Make informed, responsible decisions in communication practice.
Applied Research & Problem-Solving: Use theory and data to address real-world challenges.
Our Story
The Communication and Media Studies Department traces its roots to 1906, when Northern first offered a course in “Expression.” Over more than a century of growth and transformation, from speech and theatre to journalism, media production, and communication studies, CAMS has evolved into a dynamic department shaped by creativity, scholarship, and innovation.
Department Bylaws
The CAMS Department operates through shared governance, collaboration, and academic integrity. Our bylaws outline the policies, procedures, and values that guide our teaching, research, and service.
Giving to the Department
Your support helps CAMS students turn their creativity and communication skills into real-world impact. Gifts to the department fund student research, professional development, equipment upgrades, and hands-on learning opportunities.