Communication Studies and Theatre Arts

Welcome to the Communication Studies and Theatre Arts Program (formerly called the Speech Communication and Theatre Arts program)! 

To review our new brochure, click here.

Students who major in the program can pursue an emphasis in either communication or theatre arts.

In the communication emphasis, students enroll for a variety of courses, including interpersonal communication, small group discussion, and rhetorical criticism.

Students interested in an emphasis in theatre arts can pursue one of two concentrations: acting or technical theatre. In the acting emphasis, we offer a mixture of courses, including History of Theatre, Acting I, and Theatre Activities. On the technical side, students receive on-hands training in sound and lighting. Theatre majors also play a major role in the production of two annual university performances (for more information, please click on the "Delta Players" link to your left).

Please see "Communication Studies Courses" and "Theatre Arts Courses" for a complete listing of the program's curriculum.

What do DSU alumni have to say about the program? Please click on "Alumni Speak" for a "student review" of the program.

For either emphasis, it is important to consider the strong relationship between developing excellent communication skills and post-graduation success (employment and otherwise):

• In a 1996 study, researchers asked 1,000 human resource managers to indicate the most important factors relevant to post-graduate success. The top three factors: (1) good oral communication skills, (2) good writing skills, and (3) good listening skills.
• In a 1997 study, 253 personal interviewers at large and small companies reported that oral communication skills had a significant impact on hiring decisions.
• In another recent study (2001), skillful communication ranked as a major factor predicting employee success at the workplace. (Source: In the Company of Others, 2004)                                       

For more information on possible careers, please click on "Career Opportunities." And for more information on the program, you can contact Dr. Stephen King at 662-846-4090 or sking@deltastate.edu.

You can can also send written correspondence to:

Dr. Stephen King

Division of Languages and Literature

Delta State University 

Kethley Hall #240

Box 3215

Cleveland, Mississippi 38733 

Maintained and Updated by Stephen A. King

Last Updated: December 10, 2009