We hope you agree with us that thinking theoretically is a practical as well as conceptual enterprise. Certainly, we have many theoretical resources now to help us understand our communication processes in relationships at home, at work, and via mass media. Additionally, the four trends in our social life discussed in this chapter will undoubtedly affect our communication behaviors and the process of communication in unexpected ways. Thinking about these changes is challenging, fun, and rewarding. Understanding the process of communication contributes to solving today's problems and those we will encounter in the future. As our technological expertise grows, our involvement in work merges with issues of family life, and our society ages and becomes more diverse, we will need to examine and understand the communication dynamics inherent in all these changes. Further, the more knowledge you acquire about how communication affects and is affected by social trends, the more valuable you will be to employers.

Learning about what the future holds for you can be both exciting and daunting. As you sort through the opportunities, keep an open mind. As a student of communication, your broad knowledge and skills will be attractive to employers in a variety of areas. This communication theory course is one step toward a rewarding career path. Knowing current theory, recognizing what challenges lie ahead for future theory, and applying that theory are additional steps to help you move in new directions.