Welcome to the cyberspace home of CAS!

CAS - /cas/ n. 1. an acronym for Communication Arts and Sciences 2. a Penn State major under the College of Liberal Arts that opens doors to a number of careers including, but not limited to, advertising account executive, sports management, political campaign director, health services manager, educator, lawyer 3. a degree program whose definition defies easy explanation because its application is vast and varied while also being highly desired by employers

“What is CAS?”

I get this question a lot. Typically, my initial answer is, “It’s whatever you want it to be and everything an employer hopes for.”

Time and again, communication is cited as the #1 skill employers seek in the people they hire and promote. We communicate all the time in our daily lives in many settings, but often, not very well.

With a degree in CAS, you will have studied both the theoretical underpinnings of communication as well as its practical applications. You’ll know when communication is working, when it’s not, and why.

CAS stands out as unique and is loved by our undergrads because of its flexibility. (I can’t tell you the number of times our majors tell me that they love CAS.) We offer a variety of pathways—specially tailored course suggestions—to help hone your communication skills for specific fields of interest. (See our Pathways link for more detail.)

In other words, we encourage you to do what you love and to seek out the information you’ll need to be successful. And no matter what path you choose—or if you design your own curriculum—you will be part of a department whose members, both faculty and students, share a strong interest in exploring the possibilities and pitfalls of human communication across a wide spectrum of settings, cultures, and situations.

I am so proud to be a part of this department because of what it offers our students. With a highly accomplished and respected faculty and a sharp, knowledgeable staff, the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences really does put the student’s well-being first.

So… what is CAS?

It’s whatever you want it to be and everything an employer hopes for…. And a great place to call home during your time at Penn State.

These web pages will provide information about courses, the requirements for completing a CAS major, minors offered through the department, job titles of some of our graduates, information about internships, and much, much more.

So, click around. Come and visit me. I’d be so happy to speak with you about what CAS can offer you and, in turn, what you will be able to offer the world, in the smallest and biggest ways.

I look forward to talking with you.

 

Sincerely,
Lori Bedell
Undergraduate Officer
Communication Arts and Sciences
310 Sparks
814-865-0974