The Initiative for Innovative Inquiry promotes the exploration of human communication through methodologies, epistemologies and alternative representations of knowledge. We seek to stretch the boundaries of our traditional and foundational approaches for research.

Defining the Threat
Maj. Reid Sawyer, assistant professor, Department of Social Sciences, and director, Combative Terrorism Center, United States Military Academy at West Point

Rhetorical studies emphasize the critical, historical and theoretical study of public communication, including U.S. public address, rhetorical criticism, argumentation, rhetorical theory, cultural theory, feminist rhetoric and popular culture. The graduate program focuses on understanding how various public discourses shape culture and politics across many cultural communities.

The graduate program in rhetoric and public communication at ASU focuses on understanding issues at the social level, including popular culture, social movements, and political communication.

Undergraduate Studies Program

Performance studies are concerned with communication embedded in aesthetic texts and contexts. Undergraduate courses provide students with a multitude of communication and critical performance experiences.