Why Iowa?

Writing and communication have been at the center of the University of Iowa’s educational mission for a century.

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See yourself here

Successful careers have one thing in common: strong communication. At Iowa, you'll learn how communication works, why it matters, what’s at stake, and most importantly, how to do it effectively.

“The kernel of the idea definitely came during our time at the University of Iowa.”

Bryan Woods (’07 BA), co-writer, A Quiet Place

Write your story

Build knowledge. Conduct research. Create new work. Stand out among your peers. You're going places, and it all starts here.

“I think the degree is kind of a 'Swiss army knife' of skills that are useful in the real world.”

Harley Atchison (’22 BA)

News and announcements

UI relationship expert shares insight on power of a holiday greeting card

Monday, December 1, 2025
Rachel McLaren, associate professor of communication studies at the University of Iowa, explains that despite today’s era of online digital communication, the tradition of sending paper holiday greetings is a gesture toward building, maintaining, or reshaping personal relationships with friends and family.

How Communication Studies alum became known as 'the notorious Ph.D.'

Thursday, August 28, 2025
Since earning his doctorate in communication studies at the University of Iowa, USC professor Todd Boyd has become a leading voice in sports and hip-hop culture.

Associate Professor Emerson Cram Awarded Summer Funding

Wednesday, June 11, 2025
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Research, awarded funding to allow six faculty to pursue research projects during the summer.

Upcoming events

Public Lecture: Post-border Poetics: North Korean Refugees and Politics of Narratives promotional image

Public Lecture: Post-border Poetics: North Korean Refugees and Politics of Narratives

Thursday, February 5, 2026 5:00pm to 6:30pm
Virtual
Dr. Eun Ah Cho, assistant professor of Korean language and culture in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Kansas, will examine how North Korean female refugees’ narratives against the established images and stereotypical stories that have shaped their representation.
Cultivating Rurality: Building Community around Rural Research — 2025–26 Obermann Symposium promotional image

Cultivating Rurality: Building Community around Rural Research — 2025–26 Obermann Symposium

Thursday, March 26 to Friday, March 27, 2026 (all day)
Iowa City Public Library

Directed by Brian R. Farrell, Daria Fisher Page, and Ryan T. Sakoda (UI College of Law), Cultivating Rurality: Building Community around Rural Research will bring together scholars, community leaders from across the U.S., and professionals who work with rural populations and in rural spaces. During the symposium, attendees will be invited to collaborate in theorizing rurality, share how it impacts their work, examine how rurality is represented and celebrated, and begin to discuss challenges...

Cultivating Rurality: Building Community around Rural Research — 2025–26 Obermann Symposium promotional image

Cultivating Rurality: Building Community around Rural Research — 2025–26 Obermann Symposium

Friday, March 27, 2026 (all day)
Iowa City Public Library

Directed by Brian R. Farrell, Daria Fisher Page, and Ryan T. Sakoda (UI College of Law), Cultivating Rurality: Building Community around Rural Research will bring together scholars, community leaders from across the U.S., and professionals who work with rural populations and in rural spaces. During the symposium, attendees will be invited to collaborate in theorizing rurality, share how it impacts their work, examine how rurality is represented and celebrated, and begin to discuss challenges...

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Careers in communication

Communication Studies graduates have exciting careers in an extraordinarily wide range of fields and industries.