The Communication Capstone

Graduating seniors explore the roots and evolution of communication as they unravel key theories, research methods, and practical applications across diverse contexts. Insights into career paths, public relations, digital shifts, and AI challenges are enriched by contributions from renowned scholars. The Communication Capstone: The Communication Inquiry and Theory Experience is the first textbook explicitly designed for graduating seniors in a Communication Capstone course, whether taught in small or large sections, or taught as a conceptual review or as a project- or skills-based course. It is an exemplary resource to provide either a senior-level overview or a graduate-level introduction to the discipline. The textbook first investigates the identity and origins of the communication discipline, then addresses the methodologies underpinning how we come to understand communication, followed by an in-depth look at the application of these ideas within various communication contexts and functions. The final segment considers the practical implications of this knowledge regarding career paths and professional development. Chapters are authored by active, well-published, and award-winning scholars and teachers in their respective areas of study. The second edition features new content on public relations, the evolution and development of communication processes and technologies, the implications of AI on issues of plagiarism, critical and interpretive perspectives toward sex and gender, and more.