New era, new name: MSU announces the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre

Contact: Karley Woods

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University’s Department of Communication Tuesday [April 29] unveiled its name transformation to better reflect its evolving curriculum and industry alignment.

“To meet the needs of this department, the change in name to ‘Communication, Media and Theatre’ is the next logical step,” said Department Head Terry Likes. “It is important to use terminology prospective students will understand and pursue.”

According to Likes, “The department’s new name reflects a strategic evaluation of student needs, industry trends and competitive positioning among peer institutions.”

“We have had instances where people think all we teach is Public Speaking,” Likes said. “While that is a vital component of effective communication, the diversity of our course offerings is better reflected through the new name. Some did not realize we offer a theatre program or where it was housed. Many students seek careers in digital media––not specific to journalism––so adding ‘Media & Theatre’ to our name better identifies who we are. Our goal remains the same: to prepare students to tell compelling multimedia stories using the creative power of words, images and sound. The department’s new name better captures the full scope of what we do.”

Likes said the new name expansion also strengthens the department’s competitiveness with comparable programs in the state and Southeastern Conference. Additionally, he said the name change reflects what potential students seek in an academic program and clarifies the opportunities within the department to ensure students feel fully prepared in their majors.

The department was established as the Department of Speech in 1962 and has undergone name changes to reflect its growth and expanded course offerings. Journalism courses were introduced in 1967, followed by radio, television and film studies, which became essential to the curriculum. The unit was officially renamed the Department of Communication in 1973, coinciding with the introduction of the first degree in communication.

Today, the department serves more than 400 majors as well as hundreds of non-majors each year who enroll in foundational courses such as Introduction to Communication and Fundamentals of Public Speaking. These courses remain a vital part of the university’s curriculum, providing essential skills to students across various disciplines.

Likes said MSU’s commitment to innovation and student success is at the core of this transition. The faculty will continue to assess industry trends and academic best practices to provide students with a forward-thinking, relevant education that prepares them for a wide array of career opportunities.

For more details about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences or the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre, visit www.cas.msstate.edu or www.comm.msstate.edu.  

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.