Communication (Verb) to Share Thoughts, Feelings, Ideas, Or Information to Others Through

“Communication” vs. “Communications”

Although some may say this is a simple matter of semantics, there is a difference between “Communication” and “Communications”. We hear the word

“Communications” in the media daily to describe television, radio, broadcasting, telephone, and public relations companies. It is also used in the titles of computer, cell phone, and internet companies, just to name a few. This word is everywhere. It is no wonder that so many have erroneously used this word as a title of our discipline.

In fact, “Communications” is a word the media created about 20 years ago to describe it self. The title “Communications” is not a term used to describe an academic discipline. It never has been. We are no more “Communications” than

Math is “Maths” or Biology is “Biologies”. We need go no farther than any of our textbooks, academic journals, or graduate degrees hanging in our offices to verify this – they all say “Communication”. Equally as important, we should look to the regional, national, and international organizations. These include the

Western States Communication Association (WSCA), National Communication

(NCA), and the International Communication Association (ICA).

Granted, there are a few “Communications” departments here and there.

However, these are hodgepodge departments containing such areas of study as any combination of Media Studies, Journalism, Computer Science, Computer

Imaging, Public Relations, Broadcasting, Radio, Photography, Television,

American Sign Language, Political Science, English, and Art, just to name a few. These disciplines and sub-disciplines are important to many institutions, but do not represent the academic discipline of Communication. These few institutions that choose to borrow the word “Communications” from industry are the exception, and not the norm. Rarely do these colleges and universities offer a traditional Communication degree.