Communication science is an academic discipline that focuses on studying human-to-human communication. Several universities have this study program. Besides being increasingly needed by industry, communication science is increasingly popular with the increasing variety of patterns of interaction between humans.
This article will focus on discussing what communication science is briefly. Some material which is the focus of the study in communication studies will also be presented. Readers need to be aware that each university that offers this program has a different focus of study, even though they both offer communication science majors.
Understanding the science of communication
We depart from its definition as an academic discipline. Communication science is the study of the transfer, exchange and interaction of ideas and information through the practice of communication, both verbal and nonverbal.
Communication science emphasizes on the role of the media in the communication process. However, this does not mean that direct or face -to -face communication practices are marginalized. This science also understands the micro dimensions of communication, such as personal rhetoric and facial expressions.
The increasingly significant role of the media at this time shows that communication practices are increasingly mediated. If we talk about media here, it is not only limited to conventional media, but also digital.
Communication practices become increasingly complex when the process is highly interactive. Television is a one-way medium, but the internet is highly interactive. The study of communication science is now studying the dynamics of human interaction on the internet.
Not only that, the dimensions of communication are very broad and varied. Therefore, this discipline always intersects with other disciplines, especially social sciences such as sociology, politics, psychology, semiotics, and even philosophy.
As we know that communication practices exist in almost all lines of human life. This has implications for the breadth of topics that can be studied in this department. For example, in organizing, we find it difficult to imagine that an organization can exist without communication.
In order to know more about what is studied in this department, let’s go to the material section. It should be noted that the material here is general material studied in some universities. Each university has a focus of study that can be very different. To find out the valid information, please visit the university’s official website.
Materials studied in the communication department
Media
Communication science emphasizes the role of media in communication practice. The media here is not limited to being understood as an intermediary for communication, but more than that, namely the social arena where human relations find their dynamics and complexities.
PR
This science also studies public relations (public relations). This aspect is related to the demands of the public relations profession which is seen as increasingly crucial at this time. The concentration of public relations studied was not limited to public relations as a profession, but also how significant it is as part of an organization.
Marketing
The topic of marketing studied in the communication department is not merely the practice of advertising about how to market a product or service, but analyzes how symbols work through persuasive communication. Marketing here is about how messages are packaged in compelling forms.
Journalism
Communication science studies journalism as part of a series of message production and distribution processes. The role of journalists is increasingly significant not only in shaping public opinion, but also in defining what is meant by social reality.
Film
Communication majors at several universities study film. Film is one of the influential media that can shape public perception. Not as a cultural commodity, film is understood more as an arena for the formation of social discourse.
Apart from some of the materials above, of course, there are many other materials that have been studied but cannot be mentioned here.
Recently, there has been a trend that this science tends to lead to practice, rather than theoretical analysis.
One of the criticisms of this study is that its graduates are directed to fill the needs of the institution or industry. In fact, his scientific vision does not only cover the “how”, but also why the current communication practice is like this and what social transformation agenda can be designed to change it.
We see, for example, how the media industry produces quality content. However, it is considered successful because it reaps large profits. Of course, communication science graduates know how public tastes are created through the communication process.
Communication scholars should not only think about how to become a part of the industry, call it splashing the profits, but how to create better quality communication practices.
