The Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies (CRS) creates skilled and versatile communicators prepared for the diverse professional and personal contexts they will come to understand, pursue, and influence.
318+
Faculty research publications
Books, journal articles, book chapters
12
Areas of emphasis for undergraduates
Unlimited career opportunities
78
Faculty and student awards
Given at the campus, national and international levels
A Degree that Grows with You
Our undergraduate program is ideal for those students who wish to acquire communication skills that are highly valued by employers across numerous industries, including the media, business, politics, law, education, public affairs, public relations, and marketing. Our graduate program provides first-rate training in communication research and pedagogy, preparing graduates for competitive careers within academe or for diverse career opportunities outside it.
Learn from Experts
The CRS faculty is made up of active scholars who are absorbed in the study of communication and rhetorical studies. They conduct original research, present their work at national and international conferences, and write books or publish essays in scholarly journals. This enables them to share cutting-edge perspectives with students and keep their teaching up-to-date with current trends in the field of communication studies.
A Vibrant History
We’re proud of our department’s long history at Syracuse University. Launched in 1910 as the Department of Oratory, CRS is one of the nation’s first academic programs devoted to the study of communication and rhetoric. Throughout our evolution, our department has been housed in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, where our programs have benefited from close association with the disciplines of art, design, film and media arts, drama, and music.
Recent CRS News
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Featured News
CRS Graduate Student Named Lender Center for Social Justice Student Fellow
Mary Hanrahan, a graduate student in the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies, was named one of five 2023-25Â Lender Center for Social Justice student fellows. Student fellows will conduct research, analyze data and present findings related to how American media coverage of the war on terror affected U.S. policymaking and later impacted Muslim individuals and communities. Read More...
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Faculty News
Diane Grimes, associate professor in the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies, co-authored “Through the Lens of Whiteness: Challenging Racialized Imagery in Pop Culture” (Skinner House). The book examines how visual imagery in our popular culture is dominated by white ways of seeing, considers the contributions such images make to white supremacy culture in the United States, and how challenging those norms can support antiracist efforts.
Read More...![Adrian Autry head shot with text 'Cuse Conversations Episode 153 Adrian Autry '94 Syracuse University Men's Basketball Head Coach]()
Alumni News
CRS Alumnus Adrian Autry ’94 Ready to Make His Mark as Next Men’s Basketball Coach (Podcast)
Communication and rhetorical studies alumnus Adrian Autry ’94, the former men’s basketball standout who served as Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim’s ’66, G’73 assistant and associate head coach for 12 years, begins his next great coaching challenge: leading his alma mater.
