Being close to Des Moines, the largest multi-media center in the state of Iowa, is a huge advantage for Simpson communications studies majors. Students acquire a broad-based knowledge of theories and competencies through three majors of study: rhetoric and speech communication, journalism and mass communication and corporate communication. Graduates of the communication studies program are well prepared for careers in public relations, advertising, broadcasting, journalism, marketing, graduate school or teaching.

• The Simpsonian campus newspaper and Zenith campus yearbook are both national award winners. Other communication clubs and organizations include Sequel, a literary publication, KSTM campus radio station, the Public Relations Student Society of America and the Society for Collegiate Journalists.

• Students in the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter travel annually to the PRSSA  national convention. Recent conventions have been held in Atlanta, New Orleans and San Francisco.

• Students get hands-on experience with page layout, news media, photo editing software and web publishing.

• Students study intercultural communication through May Term trips. These travel abroad experiences have included England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Liechtenstein.

• Recent graduate schools: University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Vanderbilt University, Northwestern University, Boston University, Florida State University and Kansas University

Recent jobs and internships
KCCI-TV 8, KDSM FOX 17, The Des Moines Register, USA Today, Principal Financial Group and American Multi-Cinema.

“There’s more to communication than just giving a speech or writing a news story. We teach it from the broader perspective of communication being a political, economic and social force in the Information Age.”

Dr. Brian Steffen
associate professor of communications studies

Learn more about the Communication Studies Department.