Commonly Asked Questions

Do all Communication classes involve formal public speaking?  No.  For the most part, Communication classes at the 100- and 200-level are designed to develop students' oral communication skills and require participation in formal speaking activities in class.  Most courses at or above the 300-level concentrate on developing students' ability to analyze and evaluate discourse and require only semi-formal presentations of research papers near the end of the semester. 

Are there pre-requisites for Communication classes?  Very few:  you must pass English 110 prior to taking Communication 200; you must complete Communication 200 prior to the end of the junior year to continue in the major.  All 500-level classes have pre-requisites.  Although not strict requirements, it generally is advised that you take some classes before others.  For example, it is best to complete either 326 or 370 prior to enrolling for 392.  Your academic advisor will help you sequence your courses appropriately.

Can anyone join the Speakers Bureau?  To join Speakers Bureau, a student must successfully complete both 115 and 215 and have to consent of the instructor; specific speaking assignments in Speakers Bureau are based on input from both faculty and from representatives of the non-profit groups.

Is writing a significant part of the Communication major?  Yes.  All Communication classes involve writing as part of the learning process.  The writing assignments in classes required for the major have been designed to work together so that over the course of your years in the Communication Department you will develop the ability to write effectively for a variety of purposes. 

Can I spend a semester in an off-campus program and still graduate on time if I am a Communication major?  Yes.  You will need to plan carefully to minimize the number of conflicts.  If you plan ahead with the Department Chair, arrangements normally can be made to allow you to participate in an off-campus program without delaying your completion of the major.

Can I complete some of my major requirements at another college?  Occasionally, but it is not generally a good idea.  Even if the course is similar to one required at Ripon, it will not be designed specifically to fit into the rest of your coursework as a Communication major at Ripon College.  For a class taken at another college to count toward the Communication major it must be similar in both content and difficulty level to its "counterpart" class at Ripon.  You should bring a catalogue description of the course from the other college and, if at all possible, a syllabus to the Chair of the Department at Ripon.   She will work with the Registrar to determine if the class can be approved to count toward your major. 

Do Communication majors compete on the forensics team?  Only if they want to compete.  While forensics is an excellent way to refine your speaking skills, it is not required for the major.  If you are interested in learning more about the forensics team, you should speak with a member of the coaching staff.

Do all Communication majors present papers at the annual Wisconsin Communication Association (WCA) Conference?  No.  If one of your research papers meets the standards for WCA, you will be encouraged by your professor to submit it to the conference planners.  However, the WCA selects only some student papers for presentation at the conference each year.  If you would like to learn more about the process of submission or attending the WCA conference as an observer, you should speak with Prof. Roy.  Students planning to attend graduate school are strongly encouraged to pursue opportunities within WCA.

Do I need to do an internship if I major in Communication?  No.  Internships are not required for the major.  However, participating in an internship can be very useful.  First, by working "in the field" you will gain new insights on many of the theories and methods you will have studied in your classes.  Second, an internship will expose you to the standards and norms of professional life which will be expected of you after you graduate from Ripon College.

Does the Department arrange internships?  Rarely.  Most students who want to intern must find and arrange their own internships.  Prof. Roy advises students during the process, but does not undertake the process for them.  Occasionally, companies contact the Department asking for interns.  When this occurs, Prof. Roy determines which student(s) to recommend based on academic standing and seniority within the Department.  Students who already have interned are ruled ineligible unless the company requests someone with specific experience.  Under no circumstance will Prof. Roy recommend a student for an internship if they have a G.P.A. below 2.0. or are known routinely to miss class and/or deadlines for assignments.  If you really want to intern, you should work with Prof. Roy to learn how to find an internship; it is not safe to assume that a company will request interns during the semester or summer you want to be an intern.

Are there limitations on Senior Thesis projects?  Yes.  However, assuming that your idea for a project is in a recognized area of the field, only three limitations will be imposed:  1)  does the project require original research (a senior thesis is not simply a report); 2)  can the project reasonably be completed within the time-limits; and 3) do you have access to the resources you will need--library/archival materials, faculty mentor familiar with methodology, etc.?  The faculty will "veto" your idea for a thesis project only if they feel the idea itself will prevent you from completing the thesis requirement.

Can I count on good references from the Department faculty if I graduate with a Communication major?  No.  Simply completing the major does not merit good references.  You have to earn good references by demonstrating that you are a hard worker who can be trusted to complete assigned tasks with a consistent level of attention to quality.  You have to prove that you will be a responsible employee by being a responsible student.  If a student frequently skips class and misses deadlines, how can their professors honestly assure a prospective employer that the student will not skip work and miss project deadlines?

Advice from the Faculty and Alumni of the Department

We hope you find the following pieces of advice usesful.  These suggestions for making the most of your years in the Communication Department have been offered by members of the faculty and recent alumni of the Department based on their experiences. 

• Complete your distribution requirements as soon as possible.  With your distributions completed, you will have greater scheduling flexibility during your junior and senior year and, therefore, 1) be able to take more electives both inside and outside the Communication Department; and 2) reduce the chance of having a scheduling conflict with a required course for the major.
• Try to take 115 (Public Speaking) during your first two years at Ripon.  Don't delay taking 115 simply because you are or plan to be a Communication major.  115 addresses a very specific set of skills and is not necessarily "easier" if you have completed upper-division Communication courses.  In fact, some alums claim that taking 115 as senior majors was more difficult because they developed "performance anxiety" when faced with their younger classmates' very high expectations for senior majors in a 100-level public speaking class.
• If at all possible, complete both 326 (Rhetorical Theory) and 370 (American Public Address) before taking 392 (Rhetorical Criticism.)  At the very least, take either 326 or 370 before 392.  The faculty and alums all agree that the "ideal" sequence would be:  370, 326, 392.  But they also agree that any combination that does not begin with 392 is workable.
• Learn to use the Communication Majors' Study Card System, especially for the majors' core classes 326, 370, and 392.  Ask Prof. Roy or one of the current senior majors to explain to you how the system works.  Most majors swear by it for all of their classes once they learn to use it. 
• If you use the Study Card System, save your cards!!!  They make a handy reference source as you progress through the major.  Alumni in graduate school report that they still regularly refer to their original cards.
• Don't assume Independent Study (540) will be "easier" than a traditional class.  540 is a class, a class of one--you!!!  Independent Study is a great option if you want to explore a very specific issue.  Independent Study also can be a good way to work on developing your writing, research, and argument skills in regular one-on-one meetings about your project with your faculty mentor.  Just remember, 540 is a real class with one student and one professor:  if you "skip" we guarantee the professor will notice you aren't there!!!
• Make an effort to get to know the other majors and alumni.  Not only will you find them to be interesting people, but they can provide you with valuable insights about their experiences with conferences, internships, research projects, interviewing, off-campus programs, and graduate school and job options.
• Participate in Department-sponsored activities outside the classroom.  The annual Department Party, Saturday Seminars, and conferences give you an opportunity to get to know other majors, alumni, and the faculty.
• Just hang out in the Smith lounge occasionally.  Join in the impromptu discussions in the lounge and offices.  Hanging around the lounge is the best way to get to know the other majors and faculty on a more informal basis.  Besides, any alum will tell you that the more time you spend in Smith, the more free-for-the-asking candy and snacks you'll find in the faculty offices!
• Just hang on when classes get tough.  At some point in time, everyone thinks they "can't make it through."  But if you just keep plugging away with the work and ask the professors for help when you need it, you will be okay in the end.  Remember, though, that if you ever give up and stop trying, no one is going to be able to help you!!!
• Understand from your first day in the Department that the Communication faculty are very serious about the course policies on their syllabi.  They really will enforce the harsh penalties listed for late papers, failure to participate, and, the great evil of all evils, any type of cheating.
• Learn to proofread!!!  A computer's spell-check program is not enough; proofread at least once after spell-checking with your computer.  The sooner you learn to be an effective proofreader of your own work the better.  It's a skill you will use not only in college, but in any career you pursue.
• Follow directions for exams, papers, and projects.  A "great" paper is not "great" or even "adequate" if it does not address the assigned topic.  A brilliant essay about a speech by Lincoln will earn a "zero" if the essay question asked you to write about Roosevelt.  Whenever you are confused about an assignment or test question, ask your professors for clarification; they will be happy to help you if you simply ask for their help.  Remember, the faculty do not have ESP--they have to rely on you to let them know when you need assistance.
• Use faculty office hours.  There really is no excuse for not understanding a theory or how to complete an assignment in the Communication Department because the faculty always will find a time to meet with you if you need them.  If you are unable to come to regularly scheduled office hours, the Communication faculty will make a special appointment to meet with you--even if it means meeting with you late in the evening or on the weekend!!!  You should know, though, that because the faculty go to great lengths to be available to students, they are very intolerant of any excuse for poor work which begins "But I didn't understand" if you have not made an effort to meet with them before the assignment was due.
• Think very seriously before committing yourself to two majors.  While "doubling" is appropriate for some students, most students are better served in the end by surrounding one major with a well-planned array of electives from a variety of different fields.
• Don't ever forget that the professors in the Communication Department were once undergraduates themselves.  They remember the pressures, challenges, frustrations, and aggravations that sometimes go along with being an undergraduate.  They will listen when you need to talk about your problems and be able to offer you advice based not just on their experience as professors, but also on their own experiences as college students. 

The above are excerpts from the "Communication Department Handbook for Majors."  For a complete copy, please send an email request to Jody Roy at royj@ripon.edu.  

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