Undergraduate Program

When Fashina Aladé (C’11) began her freshman year at Penn, she already knew she wanted to major in Communication. She had attended a communications high school in New Jersey and found the field fascinating. Initially, she was considering a career in journalism, but she quickly discovered an interest in media psychology and theory, and she began to pursue research instead.

The University of Pennsylvania recently announced the 2021 recipients of the Thouron Award including four Penn seniors and Annenberg School Communication major alum Ben Friedman C’19.

A new Annenberg course centered around HBO offered undergrads hands-on exposure to media production and a chance to hone their analytical skills using primary source materials.

On May 17, following an introduction from graduating senior Toni Walker (C'20), filmmaker Katie Koeblitz (C'09) delivered the 2020 commencement address for Annenberg's virtual Communication Major Graduation Ceremony. Koeblitz works as a producer and director for both narrative and indie film. Click here to read more about Koeblitz.

On Sunday, May 17, the Annenberg School for Communication held its annual undergraduate graduation ceremony, honoring the Communication majors graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. This year's graduation speaker was alumna Katie Koeblitz (C'09). In addition to recognizing each graduate, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Felicity (Litty) Paxton presented the following awards.

Graduating Communication major Toni Walker C’20 spent 12 days in South Africa conducting research as part of her undergraduate fellowship with the Annenberg School’s Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication. What follows is her first person account of the trip and how it informed her work.

Ten Communication majors completed senior theses this year. These Penn seniors wrote an honors thesis and/or a Communication and Public Service (ComPS) thesis. All will graduate with honors at Annenberg’s Communication major graduation ceremony next month.

Typically, students present their thesis projects in person to a group of faculty, staff, and fellow students; however, due to courses moving to a digital format in light of the coronavirus crisis, this year students recorded their presentations and shared them online.

Filmmaker Katie Koeblitz (C'09) will be the alumni speaker at this year's virtual Communication Major Graduation Ceremony on May 17.

Despite the cancelation of all in-person events and travel, and the move of courses online, Lecturer Al Hunt was able to recreate his annual class field trip virtually.

Penn senior Fahad Ahmed C’20, a Communication major at the Annenberg School, has been named a 2020 Dean’s Scholar.