Brigham Young University. Department of Communications
Dates
- Existence: 1963 - 2015
Administrative History
The Department of Communications (1963-2015) was responsible for communications courses under the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University.
The Department of Communications at Brigham Young University was established in 1963. Functioning under the College of Fine Arts and Communications, it was responsible for teaching public relations, advertising, marketing, journalism, and communications. Previously, communications courses were part of the Department of Journalism in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The organization functioned to provide a professional program in communications which includes a broad base of general education, thorough orientation in the processes, functions and responsibilities of mass communication, and the development of skills in fact finding, analysis, and communication through the mass media. The department also sought to provide service courses to help students from other departments develop desired communication skills. Department chairs included: Oliver R. Smith (1964-1966), J. Morris Richards (1966-1972), Edwin O. Haroldsen (1972-1975), M. Dallas Burnett (1975-1980); Brent D. Peterson (1980-1983), J. LaVar Bateman (1983-1986), Ralph D. Barney (1986-1987), Gordon Whiting (1987-1991), David P. Forsyth (1991-1996), Leonard L. Bartlett (1996-1998), Laurie J. Wilson (1998-2002), Michael K. Perkins (2002-2004), Edward E. Adams (2004-2008; 2012-2015), Bradley L. Rawlins (2008-2012), and Edward E. Adams (2012-2015).
In 2015 the department was renamed the School of Communications.
Citation:
BYU Organizational History Project, May 4, 2012: Dept. of Communications (1963, College Fine Arts and Communications, public relations, advertising, marketing, journalism, and communications, previously Department of Journalism in College of Humanities and Social Sciences, professional program, broad base general, orientation, mass communication, fact finding, analysis, service courses, chairs Oliver R. Smith (1964-1966), J. Morris Richards (1966-1972), Edwin O. Haroldsen (1972-1975), M. Dallas Burnett (1975-1980); Brent D. Peterson (1980-1983), J. LaVar Bateman (1983-1986), Ralph D. Barney (1986-1987), Gordon Whiting (1987-1991), David P. Forsyth (1991-1996), Leonard L. Bartlett (1996-1998), Laurie J. Wilson (1998-2002), Michael K. Perkins (2002-2004), Edward E. Adams (2004-2008), and Bradley L. Rawlins (2008- ))BYU Organizational History Project, February 1, 2024 (department chairs, Bradley L. Rawlins (2008-2012), Edward E. Adams (2012-2015); renamed as School of Communications in 2015)
Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:
Department of Communications activity correspondence, 1959-1962
Contains correspondence and reports on activities of department majors and graduates. Materials date from between 1959 and 1962.
Department of Communications chair records, 1933-1971
Department of Communications faculty records, 1953-1973
Contains faculty files from the Department of Communications, including correspondence and lists of publications. Also contains curriculum vita as well as evaluations and employment recommendation records, 1953-1973.
Department of Communications instructions, catalog notes, and other material, 1959-1968
Contains administrative files, including Instructions, catalog notes, curriculum revisions, grade rolls, correspondence, graphs, class outlines, and enrollments. Materials date from between 1959 and 1968.
Department of Communications news releases, 1952-1964
Contains administrative files, including news releases and clippings. Materials date from between 1952 and 1964.
Department of Communications printed materials, 1933-1971
Contains program brochures, conference and seminar papers, course syllabi, announcements, certificates, form letters, posters. Materials date from between 1933 and 1971.
Department of Communications records, 1938-1998
Department of Communications records
Includes the correspondence and department records of chairs Oliver Smith and J. Morris Richards. Materials date from between 1933 and 1974.