Abstract
Reflecting on communication studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, this article questions whether a national field definition would meaningfully resolve local problems of identity, curriculum, and administrative recognition. It describes a department combining speech communication, mass communication, and linguistics, where student demand and public perception have made mass communication more visible than speech. The article considers possible unifying labels, including rhetoric and public communication, while noting practical limits created by professional tracks, degree requirements, community needs, and institutional expectations. It argues that departments will continue to be judged by what they do rather than by field labels, and that diverse local configurations may be both unavoidable and useful.
Recommended Citation
Clark, E. Culpepper
(1983)
"Toward a Definition of the Field: Local Constraints and National Coherence,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 46, Article 4.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol46/iss1/4
