SNU has many majors for students to choose from, such as business administration, biology-chemistry, accounting, graphic design, communications, music education, etc. Each major equips students with experience and knowledge, so that they are equipped for their future careers. Majors provide specialized ways to learn and grow in certain skill sets. If students are particularly interested in growing their professional writing and speaking skills, the Cultural Communication Studies Department is the place for them.
Cultural Communication Studies (CCS) comprises of four departments: English, Graphic Design, Mass Communication, and Communications and Leadership for Non-Profit Organizations. To give insight about the department, I asked Melany Kyzer, Ph.D., a professor at SNU with 40 years of experience and leader of the Cultural Communication Studies department for over 4 years. She responded, “We have faculty that teach and advise students about internships and skill sets to get jobs, and we help them feel like they are part of the community. We are here to help our students get their degrees and their jobs and leave college feeling both knowledgeable and successful.”
Cultural Communication Studies is a great way for students to strengthen their communication, creativity, and faith. The department specializes in faith as much as it does in communication. When asked about how the department furthers SNU’s mission to “Create Christ-like disciples through higher education,” Kyzer said, “By our example and our teachings, we hope that we can model for you what it means to be a professional with a Christian worldview, who can express love, care, and concern for the people we come in contact with.”
For a student’s input, I asked Jacob Mash, a student in the CCS department and a fellow writer for The Echo, who shared, “We are using these degrees to put God’s love back into the world, whether that be from outright service through non-profit organizations or through including our personal beliefs in our creative art or writing.”
Cultural Communication Studies is a place that focuses on helping students achieve in communications and grow in their relationship with God. In this department, Kyzer enjoys bonding with students and creating a family atmosphere. She says, “We can teach anywhere, but we want to be here to share Christ with our students and create an atmosphere of love to create a family relationship.”
Concluding the interview, Kyzer stated, “We are the best area on campus! We have the best students, our students successfully get jobs, we love our students, and I think our students have a good experience.” Mash added, “If you enjoy expressing yourself in creative ways, the CCS department is a great place to do that.” For students interested in knowing more about the Cultural Communication Studies Department, they can email Kyzer at MKyzer@snu.edu.
Photo by Jalan Washington