At present, departments of communication do not have the same political status as other college departments, even though they provide more than their share of tuition revenue. To establish themselves as a viable political force, departments of communication must create an observable impact on the daily operating procedure of other academic programs. A curricular model of "structured breadth," requiring far more concentration in academic areas and allowing fewer electives, produces graduates who are both better educated and better prepared for the job market. At the same time, departments of communication gain political benefits: other departments are genuinely concerned to meet the needs of communication majors and to maintain the future health of the department of communication, while communication majors become more familiar with other academic programs. Thus students are provided with broad based preparation, while the department ensures its own political survival. (JL)