»Center for Strategic Communication Initiatives

No matter what career path you plan on taking, communication matters.

That’s why we let all our students get involved with our Center for Strategic Communication Initiatives (CSCI).

For Chapman Communication students, the CSCI is a chance to put the skills you learn in classes to use for a good cause.

What is the Center for Strategic Communication Initiatives?

Our Center for Strategic Communication Initiatives (CSCI) is an opportunity for you to gain real experience in the field of communication.

Getting involved with the CSCI allows you to:

Research real-world communication problems, and help solve them.
Learn valuable communication skills along the way.
Land internships.
Work alongside experts in strategic communication, messaging and data collection/analysis.
Work with industry-leading companies, nonprofits and NGOs.
Gain experience that will look good on your resume.
Produce valuable material for your portfolio.
Make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Projects

Here are some past projects Chapman Communication students have done as part of the CSCI.

Students speak with a Trailblazers student at an information session.

Empowering first-generation college students

The challenge: first-generation students face unique challenges in the higher education landscape.

CSCI students researched the issue and ended up founding the Trailblazers Program. This program supports first-generation and underrepresented college students with mentorship, events and more.

Students run an on-campus booth for the Rethink campaign. There is a standee of a cartoon pill next to the booth.

Tackling prescription stimulant misuse

The challenge: prescription stimulant abuse is a common problem on college campuses nationwide.

Student-driven messaging campaign Rethink aimed to raise awareness about harmful prescription drug usage and reduce abuse on campus. Their research was published in Communication Quarterly.

A blue-gloved hand inserts a syringe into a machine.

Combating vaccine hesitancy

The challenge: as a demographic, college students were more hesitant than other groups to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Chapman students designed and implemented Shot Talk, a messaging campaign centered on the benefits of vaccination. Results showed greater awareness of these benefits and acceptance of vaccination. Their findings were published in the Journal of Health Communication.

The CSCI helps you build skills

The CSCI is designed to help you build your skills as a future communication professional.

Then you’ll get the chance to put those skills into practice doing the work real communication professionals do every day.

By taking part in the CSCI, you will learn how to:

Build and manage a brand.
Collect and analyze data to evaluate campaign effectiveness.
Conduct academic research.
Create an audience analysis.
Cultivate community relationships for fundraising.
Translate research findings into communication campaigns.

How to get involved

All Chapman Communication students are welcome to take part in the Center for Strategic Communication Initiatives. Both undergraduate and graduate students can participate.

To get involved, take one or more of the following classes. CSCI work and experience will be part of the classwork:

SCC 200: Message Design I
SCC 302: Visual Communication Design
SCC 301: Interviewing and Focus Groups
SCC 400: Message Design II
SCC 499: Message Design Independent Research
COM 210: Theories of Persuasion
COM 295: Communication Research Methods
COM 495: Advanced Research Seminar
Communication Campaigns (M.S./Ph.D)

These classes are only for Communication students. They introduce you to the skills, experience and connections that the CSCI can help you build.

Partner opportunities

Interested in partnering with the Center for Strategic Communication Initiatives? Our faculty and students can help your organization solve your unique challenges. Find out how on our Partner Opportunities page.