Communication and Media Studies
Tools to speak up, skills to lead, and vision to build community
Combine your creativity with critical thinking, analytical skills, and technology to inspire, empower, connect, and organize people. Our three majors- Communication Studies, Multimedia Journalism, and Multimedia Production, equip you for a wide range of careers and help you adapt to changes in culture, industry, and time.
Our Mission and Vision
At CAMS, students come first. Through hands-on learning, creative collaboration, and professional opportunities, we help you turn communication theory into real-world impact. Our graduates lead across industries, from national newsrooms and recording studios to environmental organizations and Fortune 500 companies, showing that a CAMS degree opens doors anywhere strong communication matters.
Dedicated Faculty and Staff
CAMS faculty and staff combine classroom expertise with real-world experience to help students grow as communicators and creators. They collaborate with students on research, media production, and community projects that make a difference.
Beyond the Classroom
Create the Stories that Shape Tomorrow
CAMS students take their learning into the world, completing internships, attending media broadcast awards, academic conferences, and international programs that expand their horizons. From shooting live events to collaborating on research and creative projects, they turn classroom knowledge into real-world experience.
Our Professional-Grade Facilities
CAMS facilities are built for storytellers and innovators. With professional-grade studios, podcasting gear, and a dynamic Mac lab, students learn by doing turning vision into media that inspires and connects.
Degrees Offered
CAMS offers three dynamic majors and four versatile minors that blend theory, creativity, and hands-on experience to prepare students for careers across communication, media, and beyond. Our programs pair seamlessly with any other major or minor, giving students flexible communication and production skills that enhance every field.
Our Majors:
- Communication Studies Major
- Multimedia Journalism Major
- Multimedia Production Major
Our Minors:
- Communication Studies Minor
- Multimedia Journalism Minor
- Multimedia Production Minor
Meet Our Faculty and Staff
The faculty and staff of CAMS are storytellers, scholars, and mentors who inspire curiosity and creativity.
Sample of Faculty Research:
Dr. Dwight Brady Michigan''s Green Energy Economy
Prof. Rebecca Ewalt Home waters run deep
Dr. Josh Ewalt Cultivating consubstantiality with the land institute
Dr. Sara Potter Maternal resilience after Hurricane Maria
Dr. Mark Shevy Extramusical associations with country and hip-hop music
Explore Our Facilities
CAMS students learn and create in state-of-the-art facilities designed for hands-on, high-impact learning. Our department features fully equipped TV studios, podcasting suites, a professional-grade Mac lab, and collaborative classrooms that mirror real-world media environments.
Students gain journalism experience through Public Eye News, the student-run TV program.
Produce award-winning video and audio projects in our production studios,
Host live on-air shows through WUPX 91.5 FM, Northern’s student-run radio station.
Whether filming, editing, broadcasting, or storytelling, CAMS students have access to the tools, technology, and mentorship needed to turn creative ideas into professional-quality media.
Alumni and Friends
We’re proud of our amazing alumni who make a difference in their communities and professions around the world. With a 99% placement rate, CAMS graduates thrive across industries from media, business, and education to medicine and law and many move into leadership roles within just a few years. Some even return to campus to continue the legacy of excellence and mentorship that defines our department.
Our History
It all began in 1906 with a single course called Expression, where Eulie Gay Rushmore encouraged students to find their voice, confidence, and sense of self. From those early lessons in speech and performance grew a department that would evolve alongside the art of communication itself embracing broadcasting, journalism, public relations, and media production. Over the decades, visionary leaders like Forest Roberts, James Rapport, and Donald Rybacki helped shape what is now the Communication and Media Studies (CAMS) Department. More than a century later, CAMS continues to build on that legacy,
The Latest Buzz
There’s always something new happening in the Communication and Media Studies Department. From faculty research and creative projects to student achievements and alumni success stories, our community continues to make an impact on campus and beyond. Explore our newsletter for department highlights, upcoming events, and features that showcase the innovation, collaboration, and excellence that define CAMS.
