Communication & Languages

You’ve been called a talented writer by your friends. You understand the power that language has on the world we live in. You’re interested in the ways that humans use different forms of communication - verbal, written, and visual - to connect with one another. Maybe you enjoy reading great works of literature, or dream of writing your own novel one day. Maybe you see yourself working for a website, magazine or newspaper, using clear and concise messaging to convey information to an audience. Or maybe you want to help break language barriers as an interpreter in legal, educational or health care settings. Perhaps you even see yourself as a voiceover actor, using your communication skills to entertain and inform. If any of these professions speak to you, Lander University has a degree program that will set you up for a rewarding career in a wide variety of fields. Our award-winning faculty will mentor and guide you during your time as a student, helping you choose a variety of experiential learning options, from internships and study abroad to teaching practica and working as a tutor in the Writing Lab or Speaking Lab. 

In the Department of Communication and Languages, our courses of study are designed to give you the freedom to explore your own personal interests, while also preparing you for a specific career path. Our graduates have become authors and poets, technical writers for large organizations, award-winning educators, PR professionals, journalists and editors, and have even launched their own companies. Regardless of what adventure awaits you upon graduation, Lander will empower you with the skills to write your next chapter in life.

Jeffrey Baggett
Department Chair

864-388-8336  |  jbaggett@lander.edu  |  Carnell Learning Center LC323

Workforce Ready

A degree from the Department of Communication and Languages will lead to a host of exciting career opportunities. Here are some of the positions held by our alumni:

• Journalist
• Librarian
• Published author
• Voice-over actor
• Editor
• Translator
• Teacher
• Technical writer
• Public Relations Professional
• Attorney
• Business Services Coordinator, SC Department of Commerce

Lander also has a slate of graduate degrees that will unlock even more career potential.

The Career Promise

At Lander University, we promise that you will find a job within the first 60 days of graduation. If you don’t, we want you to work for us. We believe in what we teach, and we know our students are set up for success. That’s our Career Promise to Lander graduates: if you aren’t able to find a job within 60 days of graduating, Lander will hire you as a graduate assistant and guarantee your admission into the Lander graduate program of your choice.*

*To qualify for this program, students must graduate from Lander within four years and earn a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. Additional admissions requirements may apply for specific graduate programs.

Outside the Classroom

In the Department of Communication and Languages, learning isn’t confined to the traditional classroom space. Here are a few ways you can take your education to new levels:

• Student Publications: Students can express their creativity through two student publications. Lander University's student journal, New Voices, publishes art, academic essays, personal reflections and creative pieces written by Lander students from all disciplines. Meanwhile, our student newspaper, The Forum, covers the news, features and opinions of the Lander community. 
• Audio Drama Club: Students who take courses in speech and performance regularly put their writing and voiceover acting skills into practice. In partnership with XLR, Lander’s radio station, our students write, record and produce a quality audio drama each year.
• Visiting Writers: Our department has played host to a series of visiting writers from across the United States. Each writer shares samples of their work with our students and the Greenwood community, and discusses their personal approach to writing.
• Travel as Education: One of the most effective ways to learn a new language is to speak the language every day. As a Spanish major or minor, you can choose to study abroad for a semester in a Spanish-speaking country, such as Spain, Mexico or Chile - to name just a few.

Courses That Launch Careers

In the Department of Communication and Languages, students take classes with their future careers in mind. The practical focus of our curriculum ensures that every class students take serves as a building block for professional success in a globalized economy. Here are a few examples:

• Technical Writing: Develop skills for professional technical writing, such as audience and rhetorical analysis, collaboration and the production of technical documents from prewriting to final draft.
• Writing and Research Methods: Explore the connection between writing, research and knowledge-making in several disciplines. This course is essential if graduate studies are your next step.
• Methods of Teaching Secondary English: Learn how to plan, implement and evaluate instruction in high school English classrooms, with attention to the integration of reading, writing, listening, speaking and viewing.
• Careers in the Discipline: See the possibilities for careers in your field of study, and network with guest speakers who are leading successful careers of their own – many of whom are also Lander alumni.
• Internships: Get practical on-the-job experience in your field. Our professors have connections with several organizations and will help you find the right internship for you.
• Tutoring: Learn the techniques of tutoring in writing or public speaking. In addition to working as a paid tutor in Lander’s Writing Lab or Speaking Lab, you’ll earn course credit by taking the required practicum class that will teach you everything you need to know about assisting your peers as a tutor.
• Professional Communication: See how your understanding of style, audience awareness and research skills are applicable in professional settings. This class emphasizes the importance of written, oral and nonverbal communication, especially when communicating on behalf of an organization.
• Spanish for the Professions: Develop language skills and competencies pertaining to Hispanic culture in the United States and specific professional fields. Course offerings focus either on the medical, business or education fields in alternating semesters. In addition, the majority of language courses offered are designed with a strong cultural component to enhance a student’s intercultural competence in the professional workplace after graduation.