Between public speaking, public relations, social networking and blogging, communication studies can include a variety of topics and occupations.

To help students sort through these categories, members of the department of communication studies have organized several workshops during the annual Communication Day.

The workshops will occur from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout many of the rooms in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. They will cover topics such as study abroad, pop culture, religion and audition tape critiques.

Andrew Robinson, a professor of communication studies, said the theme of this year’s Communication Day will be “Student Research: Put your Learning to Work.” He also said Kathleen Durkin-Russell, the founder of KMD Consulting Services, will be the keynote speaker for the event.

Durkin-Russell will speak at 2 p.m. in the Charleston-Mattoon Room.

Leigh Bryan, the central adviser and internship coordinator for the communication studies department, said she will lead two workshops. “Typically the purpose of communication day is for students to know what they can do with their degree,” Bryan said. “We try to mix it up every year.”

Bryan said the university focuses on only a few of the possible communication topics, so Communication Day gives students a chance to learn about things they may not normally.

“I get the impression from the campus that we are kind of this mystical entity,” Bryan said. “No one really knows what we do.”

Bryan said non-communication students will find useful experiences as well.

“There are five major skills employers look for in a job-good written and verbal communication, leadership, teamwork and technology.,”Bryan said.

Bryan said the day will also include several panels with student presenters.

“This will give students a more in-depth look on what their peers are doing,” Bryan said.

Robinson said the focus on student research will show their creativity in the program.

“Attendees will be able to see what many of our students have done while working toward their degree in communication studies,” Robinson said. “Hopefully, attendees will see that students who graduate from our program will have developed knowledge and skill sets that will be useful to them throughout their life and careers.”

Seth Schroeder can be reached at 581-2812

or scschroeder2@eiu.edu.