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Communication touches every aspect of our lives. Explore what binds us together as a society and defines you as an individual. As a communication studies major at Rollins, you’ll receive valuable, hands-on experience in research, leadership, and team building, capitalizing on opportunities to work with community partners and businesses to produce professional-quality materials that can go right on your resume.

Our graduates have abundant pathways to a variety of fields—health care, fashion, sports, law, social entrepreneurship, organizational leadership, and many others—making their mark in everything from human resources and branding to health policy and public campaign design. Majors begin their studies with courses focusing on broad topics such as relationship building, listening, and public speaking. As they progress in the major, students can pursue specialized skills in critical communication areas such as organizational communication and leadership, public relations, and health communication.


Why Study Communication Studies at Rollins

  1. 1

    Professional Experience

    We help you discover valuable internships, develop award-winning campaigns, and graduate with the professional experience you need to confidently launch a productive career.

  2. 2

    Student-Faculty Collaboration

    Our students regularly partner with faculty on advanced research projects that often lead to publication in scholarly journals and presentations at conferences across the globe.

  3. 3

    Community Connections

    You’ll work closely with a range of partners in places as varied as nursing homes, playgrounds, and chambers of commerce.

Interested in Studying Communication Studies at Rollins?

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Kara Russell

“Being on the front lines of major brands’ communication strategies means being both an artist and a scientist—especially in health-care PR. My Rollins communication education prepared me to be both. Rollins taught me skills that transcend industry and allow me to strengthen the universal desire for connection.”

Kara Russell ’15

Account Director, Area 23


Rollins Communication Studies Careers

Rollins communication studies grads are making tomorrow happen at some of the world’s most innovative companies.

  • Self portrait of Meredith Lax.

    Meredith Lax ’15 ’16MBA

    Marketing Manager, AdventHealth

  • Self portrait of Phillip Denizard.

    Phillip Denizard ’16

    Planning Manager, Fendi

  • Self portrait of Julia Clancy

    Julia Clancy ’15

    Senior Producer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

  • Self portrait of Lyndsey Lang

    Lyndsey Lang ’14

    Chief Strategy Officer, Stax

  • Self portrait of Ann Marie Varga

    Ann Marie Varga APR ’82 ’12MHR

    Manager of Internal Communications, AdventHealth

  • Self portrait of Deanna Loew.

    Deanna Loew ’17

    CEO, Identity PR Orlando


Real World Experience

Hone the knowledge and skills you’re developing in the classroom through internships at local, national, and international organizations.

  • The Golf Channel
  • Advent Health
  • Universal
  • The Walt Disney Company
  • iHeart Radio
  • Ralph Lauren
  • Orlando Magic
  • Orlando City
Rollins College students enjoying lunch by the Lakeside pool.

Apply By November 15

It’s never been easier or more rewarding to apply to Rollins. No app fee, formal essay, or test scores required. Apply by November 15 to receive priority consideration for admission and academic scholarships that range from $15,000 per year to full ride.

Start an ApplicationStart an Application

Popular Courses

Our unique and innovative curriculum offers students an introduction to the field via required courses in topics, theories, and research methods central to communication.


A Day in the Life of a Rollins Communication Studies Major

“My Rollins and communication studies experience has taught me how to effectively communicate with people from different backgrounds. By embracing diversity I become a global citizen and responsible leader, which will ultimately help me better relate to people I work with in the future.”

Tianna-Marie Rosser '20

Social Media Coordinator, Detroit Pistons

An communications student heads to her internship at AdventHealth.

Beyond the Classroom

Study Abroad From England and Australia to Italy and Hong Kong, Rollins offers communication majors an array of study-abroad experiences all over the globe. Earn credit toward your major while you explore the world and grow as a global citizen.

Community Engagement Form meaningful connections, give back to your community, consult on projects for local businesses, and learn how to make the world brighter—all while building a resume that makes you stand out from the crowd.

PR in Practice Meet and work with some of the brightest public relations professionals in the Orlando metro area, as well as a national network of practitioners.


Rollins communication class, with a professor speaking one-on-one with a student.

Dive Into Communication Studies at Rollins

The Department of Communication develops curricula encouraging freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, and tolerance of dissent. Our core values promote ethical communication that enhances human worth and dignity by fostering fairness, responsibility, and respect for self and others.

What You Will Learn What You Will Learn

Keep Exploring

Take a deeper dive into communication studies at Rollins by meeting your future professors, seeing our grads in action, and sitting in on a class.

Alise Fortune, Alexis Munsey, Olivia Tamburlini, Rivers Lenholt, Coco Marshall, and Alec Kriegbaum.

May 01, 2024

Bright Lights

Rollins’ 2024 valedictorians share how the College connected them to their purpose, what they’ll miss most, and what’s next in their meaningful lives and productive careers.

Bright Lights
Melissa Nelson and Anne Stone

July 27, 2023

Stone and Nelson Present Case Study at Management Conference

Anne Stone and Melissa Nelson, co-directors of the Social Impact Hub, recently presented research on supporting student development at the European Academy of Management (EURAM).

Stone and Nelson Present Case Study at Management Conference
collage of students working in various communities

November 02, 2022

Solving the World’s Biggest Problems

For Rollins students, alumni, and faculty, the most pressing issues of our time are not insurmountable. They’re opportunities to bring meaning to the term “global citizenship.”

Solving the World’s Biggest Problems

Expert Faculty

Our mission is to produce well-rounded communicators who are capable of speaking and listening effectively, thinking critically, and writing clearly.

Department of Communication

Winter Park, FL32789

Telephone:407.646.2337

  • Prince Adu Gyamfi portrait

    Prince Adu Gyamfi, PhD

    Assistant Professor of Communication

    Research interests: Health, risk, and science

  • Mattea Garcia

    Mattea Garcia, PhD

    Associate Professor of Communication

    Research interests: Professional identity, institutional work, and workplace incivility

    Visit site

  • Joshua Hammonds

    Joshua Hammonds, PhD

    Department Chair, Associate Professor of Communication

    Research interests: Interpersonal communication, privacy management and deception, and small group dynamics

  • Hesham Mesbah

    Hesham Mesbah, PhD

    Professor of Communication

    Research interests: News media, mass communication, public opinion, social openness, and perception of globalization

  • David Painter

    David Painter, PhD

    Associate Professor of Communication

    Research interests: Organizational public relations, political communication, political campaigns, and social media engagement

  • Sarah Parsloe

    Sarah Parsloe, PhD

    Associate Professor of Communication

    Research interests: Health and disability identities, biosocial communities, advocacy and activism, and social media

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  • A blue silhouette icon

    Keston Pierre, PhD

    Visiting Assistant Professor of Communication

  • Anne M. Stone

    Anne M. Stone, PhD

    Professor of Communication

    Research interests: Health and relationships

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    Tanja Vierrether, PhD

    Visiting Assistant Professor of Communication

    Research interests: Narrative persuasion, social media engagement, political communication, attitude change, and psychological reactance

  • Rachel Winter portrait

    Rachel Winter, PhD

    Communication Studies Lecturer

    Research interests: Non-traditional digital political participation, hashtag activism, meme culture, social platforms, and fan studies

  • Ruonan Zhang portrait

    Ruonan Zhang, PhD

    Assistant Professor of Communication

    Research interests: Social media, influencer marketing, electronic word-of-mouth, digital learning technologies, and public relations

  • Yi Zhu portrait

    Yi Zhu, PhD

    Visiting Assistant Professor of Communication

    Research interests: Stigma and communication, intercultural and cross-cultural communication, and health communication

Professor and students in a class discussion at a Rollins outdoor classroom

See for Yourself

Get a feel for Rollins’ unique brand of engaged learning and personalized attention through one of our virtual or in-person visit experiences.

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