From the Greek paideia, through the Renaissance studia humanitatis, to the modern university, the study of rhetoric and communication has played a vital role in the education of students. But whether the goal was to prepare students to debate in the polis, deliver sermons from a pulpit, engage in a republic's civic life, advocate on behalf of a cause, or address a mass audience, the study of communication has always maintained its commitment to principles of a liberal arts education: developing the critical thinking and speaking skills of its students, analyzing of how various cultural and social practices affect society, and preparing students to become productive professionals and ethical citizens. By majoring in Communication Studies, students can develop their fundamental thinking and speaking skills and learn to apply these skills within various media of communication, study the effect various modes and mediums of communication have on society, and recognize the moral and social implications of the way they communicate in their workplace, home, and communities.