Slane College » Communication » Department Summary

Department Summary

On behalf of the faculty of the Department of Communication, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our growing and vibrant department. The department offers exciting academic programs in Advertising, Television Arts, Journalism, Organizational Communication, Public Relations and Sports Communication. I hope you’ll spend time reading about the accomplishments of our award-winning faculty, the success stories of our graduates, and the achievements of our current students. You will read about innovations in the classroom, as well as real-world experiences outside of the classroom. I hope you’ll take the time to learn about our nationally recognized speech team, our student organizations, and the expedition course, which was pioneered by our faculty to take students to distant locations to observe professional communication in practice. I’d also like to thank those of you who have continued to support us with your time, energy, expertise and financial contributions. I hope you will stay connected and remain an integral part of our pursuit of excellence in the Department of Communication.

-Paul Guillifor

Concentrations

Advertising, electronic media journalism, public relations, organizational communication and sports communication. Responding to global realities and opportunities, we are developing strategic alliances with the communication professions and a variety of corporate partners.

Facilities

The Caterpillar Global Communication Center, a 40,000 square foot technologically sophisticated facility in which every classroom and lab is linked to the Internet, local cable TV, and to the University computer system. A distance learning facility through which faculty build links between the campus and the communication professions, and between the US and learning opportunities overseas.

Innovative teaching

Award-winning faculty, media-enriched course presentation, on-line learning opportunities, Communication Expeditions to media capitals, service-learning and project-based course work. Student/faculty collaborations on research and creative projects, including papers to be presented at national conferences, the editing of a national journal, co-authoring of a textbook and teacher’s manual, and the production of an Emmy-award winning weekly television feature series.

The Bradley Speech Team

has won multiple national championships in National Forensics Association and American Forensics Association competitions and currently holds the National Forensics Association title.

Faculty backgrounds

In order to forge strategic partnerships our faculty draw on experience in diverse communication contexts including leadership in major scholarly organizations; major corporate advertising agencies in the United States, Hong Kong and Taiwan; Slovenia, professional television and radio production, reporting and commentary; newspaper publishing, editing, reporting; positions as political columnist, public relations director; magazine editor, consultant to health organizations and US and European media companies and agencies; experience with all three major broadcast networks and the Walt Disney company.

Extracurricular and Pre-professional Opportunities

American Advertising Federation, Bradley University Media Society, Bradley Scout (weekly student newspaper), The Edge (student-operated and student-programmed radio station), Bradley Speech Team, Midstate Magazine (student-produced, weekly 30-minute program featured on local cable), Public Relations Student Society of America, Society of Professional Journalists

Internship and Employment Opportunities

Active arts and repertory community; two daily and six weekly newspapers; six television stations; 14 radio stations (five AM, nine FM), with NPR and PBS affiliates nearby; international companies and thriving advertising/public relations agencies; regional medical center.