There are many resources available to help Communication & Media students make the most of their academic experience. Explore our two-year course schedule to plan ahead and see when courses are offered, and meet regularly with your academic advisor to discuss your goals, course planning, and opportunities within the major. You can also explore the resources below to learn more about courses, experiential learning, careers, current topics in communication and media, and Lambda Pi Eta.

Speech and Debate

The University of Portland is relaunching its Speech and Debate program under the leadership of Emily Abellon, our new Director of Debate. Building on the program’s history, students have participated in a variety of tournaments throughout the year and hosted events such as International Public Forums on campus. As we relaunch the program, we look forward to bringing back these opportunities and creating new ways for students from across the University to get involved. Speech and Debate is a great way to develop presentation, communication, and critical-thinking skills for career preparation, everyday life, and fun!

Lamba Pi Eta

The Communication & Media department hosts a welcoming and active chapter of Lambda Pi Eta (LPH), the National Communication Association’s honor society for four-year schools. Each year, student leaders organize events that build community among Communication & Media majors and minors, including career and networking panels, film screenings and discussions, and opportunities to present research at conferences. Students inducted into Lambda Pi Eta must have completed 60 semester credit hours, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, and have completed 12 semester credit hours in Communication & Media studies. Members are encouraged to work together to organize opportunities to discuss and exchange ideas related to Communication & Media. For more information, please contact Azeb Madebo, LPH faculty advisor.

Learn, Collaborate, and Create

We are storytellers, big thinkers, and visionaries who imagine new possibilities and futures. Students engage in research, applied projects, field-based learning, and internships while developing skills in collaboration, dialogue, and conflict resolution. In their final year, students complete a culminating experience tailored to their degree. B.A. in Communication students complete a Senior Capstone Project (COM 475), while B.S. in Media students complete a Communication Internship Practicum (COM 497). B.S. in Organizational Communication students choose between the Senior Capstone Project and Communication Internship Practicum. These experiences demonstrate students’ communication learning and provide an opportunity to independently explore a topic or phenomenon of genuine interest with faculty mentorship.

Explore Careers and Current Issues

A Communication & Media degree opens doors to careers in marketing communications, social and digital media, public relations, journalism, writing and publishing, health communication, business communication, and many other fields. Our graduates also pursue leadership opportunities, graduate study, and competitive programs such as Fulbright. Current topics we explore include artificial intelligence, news and media bias, climate change narratives, advocacy, the future of work, relationships, and storytelling. For accessible commentary on timely communication issues, explore Communication Currents, featuring work by leading communication scholars.