November 30, 2004
Purdue communication program ranks in the top 10
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Three programs in Purdue University's Department of Communication were ranked among the top 10 in the United States by the nation's largest communication association.
The department's graduate program was ranked fourth in interpersonal communication, and seventh and eighth in organizational and health communication, respectively, by the National Communication Association.
"These national rankings reflect the quality of research in the Department of Communication, as well as how we prepare doctoral students to enter the academic arena or the professional sector," said Howard Sypher, a professor of communication who led the department since 2002. "Our alumni are leaders in the profession, helping us increase our visibility. At the same time, Purdue continues to recruit the best students and faculty."
The rankings, based on surveys from 376 faculty members from communication doctoral programs, were announced at the National Communication Association meeting, which took place Nov. 11-14 in Chicago.
"Historically, our department is often thought of because of its organizational communication program," said Steve Wilson, director of graduate studies. "This reputation is not only based on our well-known faculty, but also for our contributions in planting the seeds for other top programs. Many of our graduates are now on faculty at other leading universities."
Interpersonal communication is the study of conversations and relationships, such as friendships, romance, families and work relationships. Faculty and students in interpersonal communication are involved in interdisciplinary projects with the Center for Families and the Center for Aging and the Life Course. Faculty and graduate students in organizational communication often collaborate with organizations in the business and not-for-profit sector when working on projects.
The health communication program was ranked eighth overall, but is first among the programs that do not have a medical school on campus.
Purdue's health communication program, which was formed in 2002, looks at how interactions among patients, health-care providers and the medical industry influence the quality of health care. Students who studied in the area are now working in nonprofit organizations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health departments, research companies, worksite wellness programs and at other universities.
"The faculty in our health communication program is pursuing interdisciplinary research with other areas such as Purdue's pharmacy, nursing and veterinary programs," Wilson said. "And only more opportunities for collaboration will be available as Purdue's health communication unit becomes involved in the new Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering at Purdue."
The research at this center, part of the e-Enterprise Center at Discovery Park, will focus on improving the delivery of health care to consumers.
The communication department was founded at Purdue in the fall of 1947 as the Department of Speech. It currently has 29 tenured or tenure-track faculty, as well as 100 graduate students and 775 undergraduate students. Faculty in these areas also have won national awards and serve as editors of leading scholarly journals such as Communication Yearbook, Human Communication Research and Management Communication Quarterly, Wilson said.
The National Communication Association, founded in 1914, is composed of more than 7,000 educators, practitioners and students from the United States and foreign countries that promote the study, teaching and application of the artistic, humanistic and scientific principles of communication.
Writer: Amy Patterson-Neubert, (765) 494-9723, appatterson@purdue.edu
Sources: Howard Sypher, (765) 494-3300, Hsypher@sla.purdue.edu
Steven Wilson, 765-494-7547, swilson@sla.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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