Dept. of Telecommunications

Department of Telecommunications

Links: Advising -- Courses -- Program Description -- Newsletter

Welcome to the Department of Telecommunications at Penn State.

Telecommunications is a vital field of study. The broadcasting, cable, telephone, satellite and Internet industries touch almost every aspect of our daily lives, influencing how we work, live, govern ourselves and communicate with each other. Just think of how much time you spend using the Internet and your cell phone, or how often you watch television to be entertained or obtain information. It is essential that future industry leaders be well versed in the business, social and policy issues related to telecommunications. At Penn State we have brought together a world-renowned faculty to conduct cutting-edge research on the future of telecommunications and to provide students with a thorough understanding of the field to prepare them for leadership positions within the telecommunications industries.

Teaching is at the heart of the department's mission. With more than 150 years combined teaching experience, the telecommunications department has one of the strongest faculties anywhere in the world. Our teaching is based on a solid foundation of scholarly research and industry experience. Together the telecommunications faculty have written more than 15 books and 250 articles. As for “real-world” experience, the telecommunications faculty have more than 90 years combined industry experience. The telecommunications curriculum has been carefully crafted and refined to provide students with the essential information needed to excel in this rapidly changing field..

Each course provides a balance of theoretical and applied knowledge to prepare students for their day-to-day job responsibilities and to give them the analytical and critical-thinking skills needed to lead their company into the future. Our courses cover everything from radio and television production to network management and government regulations. Students who major in telecommunications graduate with a solid grounding in how the industries operate and a vision of where future opportunities will emerge. In addition to instruction from the leading faculty in the field, students are provided multiple opportunities to gain experience outside of the classroom as well.

The College has its own full-time internship and career placement director and a database of more than 1,000 internship opportunities. Students also gain experience by working at: ComRadio, the Internet based radio station operated by the College; WKPS-FM, the student radio station; WPSNTV, a student television network; and Penn State Public Broadcasting which operates WPSX-TV and WPSU-FM. In addition many students work part time for local telecommunications companies such as local radio and TV stations. Students who successfully complete the coursework and take advantage of these extracurricular activities are among the most sought after recruits for industry jobs.

For more information about the telecommunications curriculum and career opportunities, please go to our advising page. For those interested in pursuing graduate study, be sure to check out the College’s graduate program to learn about opportunities to work with the leading experts in the field of telecommunications.

The department is one of the leading centers for telecommunications research in the world. Students have the opportunity to work with and learn from internationally recognized scholars who are solving many of the most important research questions in the field. Telecommunications, from television to cell phones to the Internet, have a profound impact on every facet of our lives. In the Department of Telecommunications, we are committed to advancing knowledge to ensure that these electronic media industries promote democracy, social equity and personal fulfillment. Faculty research projects include finding solutions to the digital divide, ensuring adequate competition in the telecommunication industries, ensuring that all individuals have access to information and cultural resources, resolving the copyright tensions that plague the Internet, using telecommunications to enhance access to government, looking at how telecommunications is reshaping the global community, and examining the future of television. To learn more about current research, meet our faculty and visit our research page.

The Department of Telecommunications stands at the frontier of business, technology and culture. We hope you will join us for this exciting journey into the future.

Sincerely,

Matt Jackson,
Head of the Department.

Faculty Members

Matt Jackson,
Head of Department