# communication studies > academic field that deals with processes of communication **Wikidata**: [Q11680831](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11680831) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication_studies) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/communication-studies ## Summary Communication studies is an academic field dedicated to analyzing the processes of communication. It functions as a distinct academic discipline, a major for degree-seeking students, and a standardized subject heading for indexing documents. The field operates as a branch of social science, examining how individuals and societies interact through various communicative means. ## Key Facts - **Definition**: An academic field that deals with processes of communication. - **Classification**: Recognized simultaneously as an academic discipline, an academic major, and a subject heading. - **Parent Category**: It is a sub-discipline of social science, which concerns society and relationships between individuals. - **Related Sub-fields**: Includes cross-cultural communication, sociology of communication, and international communication. - **Notable Associated Figures**: James S. Fishkin (American political scientist, born 1948), Maxwell E. McCombs (journalist from the United States), and Robert Garcia (American educator and politician, born 1977). - **Alternative Names**: Also known as communication sciences, communication research, communication and media science, media and communication, communications studies, media and communication science, media and communication studies, communication science, communications science, and communications. - **Digital Presence**: The entity holds a Wikipedia title of "Communication studies" and has a sitelink count of 24 across various language editions. - **Discipline Metrics**: The "academic discipline" classification has a sitelink count of 50, while the "academic major" classification has a sitelink count of 8. ## FAQs **What broader academic category does communication studies belong to?** It is classified under social science, a group of disciplines focused on society and the interpersonal relationships within it. This placement highlights its role in understanding human interaction rather than natural phenomena. **Who are some key figures associated with this field?** Prominent individuals include James S. Fishkin, a political scientist born in 1948; Maxwell E. McCombs, a journalist; and Robert Garcia, an educator and politician born in 1977. These figures represent the diverse professional backgrounds that contribute to the field. **What are the specific sub-disciplines or related fields of study?** The field encompasses cross-cultural communication, which examines interactions across different cultural backgrounds. It also includes sociology of communication and international communication as distinct areas of academic focus. **How is the field identified in library and information systems?** It serves as a subject heading, which is a lexical unit in a thesaurus used to index documents and capture the essence of a topic. This ensures that research and literature regarding communication processes are systematically categorized. ## Why It Matters Communication studies provides the theoretical and practical framework for understanding how information flows within societies. By categorizing communication as a distinct academic discipline and major, it legitimizes the study of human interaction as a rigorous profession. The field solves the problem of analyzing complex social relationships by breaking them down into studyable processes like cross-cultural exchange and international dialogue. Its existence as a standardized subject heading ensures that global research on these topics remains accessible and organized for scholars and practitioners alike. ## Notable For - **Multifaceted Classification**: Uniquely serves as an academic discipline, a degree-granting major, and a thesaurus subject heading simultaneously. - **Broad Alias Network**: Possesses the widest range of alternative names in its domain, including variations like "communication sciences" and "media and communication studies." - **Interdisciplinary Reach**: Connects political science, journalism, education, and sociology through its associated notable figures. - **Sub-field Specialization**: Distinctly branches into specialized areas such as cross-cultural and international communication. - **High Digital Visibility**: Maintains a significant presence with 24 sitelinks on Wikipedia and high connectivity in the "academic discipline" category (50 sitelinks). ## Body ### Core Definition and Classification Communication studies is fundamentally defined as an academic field that deals with processes of communication. It is not limited to a single academic label but operates across three primary classifications. First, it is an **academic discipline**, a broad category of study or profession with a sitelink count of 50. Second, it functions as an **academic major**, representing a specific focus of study that leads to a degree, with a sitelink count of 8. Third, it acts as a **subject heading**, a lexical unit within a thesaurus used for indexing documents and capturing the essence of a topic, with a sitelink count of 30. ### Parent Disciplines and Sub-fields The entity is structurally positioned as part of the **social science** domain. Social science encompasses academic disciplines concerned with society and the relationships between individuals within that society, holding a sitelink count of 143. Within this parent category, communication studies branches into several specialized fields of study. These include **cross-cultural communication**, which specifically looks at how people from differing cultural backgrounds communicate (sitelink count: 5). It also encompasses **sociology of communication** (sitelink count: 5) and **international communication**, which is recognized as its own academic discipline (sitelink count: 7). ### Notable Figures and Professional Connections The field is associated with several prominent individuals who contribute to its scope through various occupations. **James S. Fishkin** is an American political scientist born in 1948. His professional profile includes occupations as a political scientist, academic, and author, with citizenship in the United States and a sitelink count of 6. **Maxwell E. McCombs** is a journalist from the United States whose occupations include journalism and academia, also holding US citizenship with a sitelink count of 7. **Robert Garcia** is an American educator and politician born in 1977; his occupations include education and politics, with citizenship in the United States and Puerto Rico (, Q30), and a sitelink count of 16. ### Terminology and Aliases The entity is known by a wide variety of aliases that reflect its evolving scope and interdisciplinary nature. These alternative names include: - Communication sciences - Communication research - Communication and media science - Media and communication - Communications studies - Media and communication science - Media and communication studies - Communication science - Communications science - Communications ### Digital and Academic Metrics In the context of digital knowledge bases, the entity "Communication studies" has a specific Wikipedia title and a total sitelink count of 24. The "academic discipline" classification associated with it shows a high level of global recognition with 50 sitelinks. The "subject heading" classification is robust with 30 sitelinks, indicating its importance in library and information science. The "academic major" classification has 8 sitelinks, reflecting its specific role in higher education curricula. ## References 1. Directory of Open Access Journals 2. [Source](https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/1297.02008?OpenDocument) 3. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File 4. KBpedia 5. [Source](https://vocabs.ardc.edu.au/viewById/316) 6. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)