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.
[CRS alumna Asa Goldstock ’20 shares her Syracuse University story]
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
Faculty News
Lynn Greenky, associate teaching professor in the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies, published the article "His Words Were So Terrifying the Supreme Court Got Involved" in the Daily Beast; the article discusses the upcoming case of Counterman v. Colorado, which "focuses on the true threats doctrine and...
Alumni News
5 Things to Know About New Men’s Basketball Coach Adrian Autry ’94
Adrian Autry ’94, a graduate of what is now known as the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies, built his credentials as a player and coach under his mentor, Hall of Fame head coach and colleague Jim Boeheim ’66, G’73. Autry is now set to make...
Featured News
CRS Alumnus Helps Sacred Indigenous Objects Find Their Way Home
In “an international act of diplomacy,” communication and rhetorical studies (CRS) alumnus Brennen Ferguson ’19 helps repatriate ceremonial Native American items from a museum in Geneva, Switzerland.