John Mayo, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Communication
Since ancient times communication has been recognized as an essential, if not the quintessential human activity. Rooted in classical rhetoric and the liberal studies tradition and invigorated by the development of speech/language science and media studies programs in this century, communication as a field of study enjoys a rich intellectual history. At the outset of the 21st Century, we are experiencing the convergence and globalization of a vast array of communication media. Knowledgeable observers herald such trends as the advent of an Information Age. We invite you to peruse this site to learn more about our field as well as the outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs offered through our departments of Communication and Communication Disorders.
Although communication-oriented courses, including rhetoric, elocution, oratory, public speaking and debate were offered by the Florida State College and the Florida State College for Women throughout the first half of the 20th Century, a communication major was not offered until 1948. In that same year, a department of speech was founded and it began offering a curriculum of “fundamentals” and performance courses. In 1967 the original humanities program was expanded and renamed the Department of Communication. This change reflected communication’s emerging recognition as a social science as well as its ties to various professions such as broadcasting, advertising and public relations. As the field continued to grow in popularity and stature at FSU, the College of Communication was formed in 1974 under the leadership of Dr. Theodore Clevenger, Jr.
Since inception in the early 1950’s, FSU’s programs in audiology and speech-language pathology have been major contributors to the nation. Dr. L. L. Schendel was recruited to build and lead the new programs, which became a “division” within the Department of Speech in the College of Arts and Sciences. The programs in speech-language pathology and audiology were moved into a new Department of Communication Disorders within the newly formed College of Communication in the mid-1970’s. The department’s programs were soon accredited with the Educational Standards and Professional Service Boards of the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
During the 1980’s and 1990’s, a number of outstanding young scholars joined the College’s faculty. The quality of its academic programs and its research programs increased markedly and, as a result of these trends, the College has continued to recruit outstanding students at both the undergraduate and graduate level.