Abstract
This essay analyzes the development of an American style communication program within a British educational context. It begins by describing the structure of further and higher education in England and Wales and explains how traditions of vocational training and liberal education intersect within these systems. The discussion outlines the limited presence of communication as an academic field in Britain, noting that research in interpersonal, organizational, and mass communication exists but remains dispersed across sociology, psychology, and management. The essay then examines the challenges of creating a comprehensive communication curriculum at Warnborough College, including the scarcity of disciplinary resources, limited availability of textbooks, and the dominance of theoretical lecture based instruction within British universities. The analysis details how the program integrates disciplinary strands from sociology, psychology, and linguistics while drawing on experiential learning practices common in business and technical training. It further explains the division of the curriculum into interpersonal and mass communication areas supported by a four part skills framework emphasizing self development, social skills, cognitive skills, and linguistic skills. The essay concludes by suggesting that Warnborough’s hybrid Anglo American approach may provide a foundation for broader unification of communication studies within the United Kingdom.
Recommended Citation
Jackson, Terence
(1985)
"Developing an Anglo-American Communication Program,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 54, Article 8.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol54/iss1/8
