Communication, as a subject for academic study bridges the humanities and the social sciences. It focuses on relationships - personal, group, and societal - and the factors and processes that affect important relationships. Friendships and families, business relationships and political systems, cultural interaction and technological advances are important areas of study in communication. Communication students may concern themselves with the dynamics of interpersonal persuasion, the effects of media technologies, the nature of gender stereotypes, the function of roles within the family, the structure of organizational authority, the influence of cultural myths, the impact of social movements, and the history of rhetoric. Because the program offers many diverse interests, there is a place for anyone with a genuine curiosity about human communication and its effect upon society. Communication majors from recent graduating classes now hold responsible positions in government and public affairs, in management, marketing, and public relations within private business, and in television and mass media organizations. Many others are successfully pursuing further education in graduate and professional schools. The department of communication offers general studies of the discipline, as well as concentration in three specific emphasis areas such as rhetoric and public communication; interpersonal, small group, and organizational communication; and mass communication. Students have the option to enter honors program. The honors program in communication gives an opportunity for a student to achieve an additional level of intellectual growth and a satisfaction of accomplishment. A student engages in independent research and writing, under the supervision of a member of the communication faculty, and participates in special honors classes, seminars, and colloquia. Faculty recognizes outstanding achievement by a student by recommending that the bachelor’s degree in communication be awarded with the distinction'Communication Scholar Cum Laude.' Higher distinctions may be awarded to truly outstanding students based upon the whole of their academic program and quality of honors research.