91ÉçÇø

Communication

Ideas make an impact. 

Students in the Department of Communication examine the workings of our information society and the broad influence of the media. The department focuses on two areas: media studies and rhetoric.

Students gain an understanding of media industries and learn to develop persuasive arguments and to communicate them effectively in speaking and writing. Combined with training in research methods and a robust internship program, students graduate with the critical thinking skills in high demand by employers.

camille yale and student

Why major in communication?

A degree in communication is as versatile as it is engaging. Students who major or minor in communication refine their analytic skills and learn how to distill and express complex ideas. Communication graduates enter the workforce equipped with a diverse skillset and practical knowledge and experience that employers are seeking.

100 percent of communication majors of the class of 2021 reported landing a job within six months of graduation.

Communication majors learn foundational skills related to crafting messages, understanding audiences, and working with new technologies. Our students examine the relationship between communications and society while conducting hands-on experiential learning projects and integrating their other passions and interests. Many of our students choose to double major or add a minor to their communication degrees to create a future that excites them and allows them to explore a wide variety of fields. 

Students analyze communication and media of today and the past to help define and understand our place in the world. Our program emphasizes rhetoric, the art of persuasion in writing or speaking, to provide a strong framework for critical thinking that prepares the student for a rapidly changing future. 

juanjo campos portrait
From the beginning of my college search, I knew that I wanted to pursue a communication major and that I wanted a college near a big city. After exploring the communication program at 91ÉçÇø and its proximity to Chicago, I realized it was the perfect match.
Juanjo Campos '24
chicago skyline photo

Connecting to Chicago, a communication hub

It's no secret that a great internship can lead to a great career. Our location just an hour north of Chicago means that students can access the wealth of opportunity a big city brings. There are countless organizations for communication internships in Chicago with a wide variety of industries to choose from, enabling students to pursue their passions and follow a path to a stable career. 

Chicago is also host to a wide variety of world-class news and media organizations, marketing and PR firms, theaters, museums, and more. Communication students can make networking connections and explore their interests beyond the classroom in a diverse and culturally rich setting. 

An abundance of career options

The Department of Communication is proud of the robust selection of career paths available to our graduates. Here are just a few examples of careers our graduates pursue:

  • Graphic Designer and Illustrator 
  • Digital Marketing Specialist 
  • Video Producer 
  • Development and Events Coordinator 
  • Private Equity Analyst  
  • Media Buyer and Planner 
  • Project Manager 
  • Nonprofit Community Liaison 
  • Technical Writer/Copywriter 
I knew from the start I wanted to do business and communication at 91ÉçÇø. I knew the liberal arts education would set me in the right direction because of the broad understanding of both the business and communication majors.
Kyra Vidas '18

Make career moves with our robust communication internship program

Our internships with top-notch organizations—including widely recognized leaders in advertising, marketing, media management, journalism, and others—provide graduates with a competitive edge in the job search. Students have connected with organizations that enable them to pursue their dream careers.

Our students have landed internships or jobs with:

  • Abbott Laboratories 
  • American Red Cross 
  • Chicago Sky WNBA 
  • Chicago White Sox 
  • Hispanic Alliance for Career Advancement 
  • Shedd Aquarium 
  • Uline 

Public relations internship in Chicago

Being close to Chicago means having access to a world of rich internships and network connections. Communication major Juanjo Campos '24 interned at the PR agency Greentarget located in the historic Board of Trade Building in the heart of Chicago. 

Internship Locations
  • Brickfish
  • Chicago Blackhawks
  • Chicago Public Radio
  • Chicago Sky
  • Cumulus Media
  • FACETS Multimedia
  • The Field Museum
  • NBC 5 Chicago
  • Ravenswood Media
  • Ravinia Festival
  • Starcom Mediavest
  • WGN-TV
Our Professors are Experts in…
  • Mass Communication Theory
  • Theoretical Perspectives on New Media
  • Feminist Rhetoric
  • American Public Address
  • Argumentation Theory
  • Rhetoric of Science and Religion
  • New Media and Communication Technologies
  • Rhetoric of Humor
  • Media Industry Studies
Popular Courses
  • New Media and Society
  • Media Systems and Institutions
  • Race, Class, Gender, and the Media
  • Visual Rhetoric
  • Women’s Rhetoric and Feminist Critique

Related Programs

Contact Us

Camille Yale
Associate Professor of Communication
Chair of Communication
Brown Hall 420
847-735-5073
yale@lakeforest.edu

Kathy Hawkins
Department Assistant
Brown Hall 255
847-735-5122
khawkins@lakeforest.edu

Prachi Rangan
Department Assistant
Brown Hall 255
847-735-5121
prangan@akeforest.edu