The Department of Communication provides students with knowledge regarding the creation, distribution, and social impact of messages exchanged in many contexts including interpersonal settings, business or organizational environments, and the mass media. Communication is one of the fastest growing areas of interest among undergraduates at UC Santa Barbara. Approximately 1,000 pre-majors currently are pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Communication.

In 2007, the Department of Communication was cited as one of the top programs in the country for faculty research productivity. In addition, the graduate program is consistently top-ranked in by the National Communication Association. The graduate program is relatively small, by design, and maintains approximately 30 graduate students at a given time. The graduate program offers small seminars and individualized training with extensive student-faculty contact. At the same time, the scope of the program is broad, encompassing an array of subspecialties in interpersonal communication, media communication, and organizational communication.