Communication Requirements
Communicating Plus: Communication. Students majoring
in communication develop written communication, oral communication,
problem-solving and critical thinking skills as they progress through
courses in the department. Students write formally and give both formal
and informal oral presentations in virtually all classes in the Communication
Department. Additionally, students develop skills of critical thinking
and problem-solving as they learn to analyze, create and support arguments
in such areas as policy-making, theory-building and critical evaluation
of communication.
Requirements for a major in Communication: Thirty-six
credit hours in communication, including Communication 115, 200,
223, 326, 370, 392, 500 and 510, and twelve credit hours from Communication
210, 212, 215, 228, 248, 310, 315, 323, 336, 352, 401, 402, 410, 412 and 440.
Requirements for a minor in Communication: Twenty
credit hours in communication, including Communication 115, 223
and 326.
Requirements for a minor in Communication and Civic Advocacy: Twenty credits including Communication 115, 215, 315, 440 plus one of the following: Communication 336, 352 or 370. Note: no more than four credits of 440 and one credit of 315 may be counted toward the minor. Students majoring or minoring in communication may not also minor in communication and civic advocacy.
Requirements for a teaching major in communication: Thirty-seven
credits including Communication 115, 223, 248, 326, 401, 402, 500 and 510, plus six credit hours from the following: 352, 370, 392.
Requirements for a teaching minor in Communication: Twenty-four
credits including Communication 115, 326, 401, 402, plus six credit
hours from the following: 223, 248, 352, 370.
Communication majors
are strongly encouraged to plan an internship in some area of communication
during their junior or senior year at the College. Some recent internships
have included the areas of advertising, sales, personnel management,
news broadcasting, public relations and journal editing.
Courses
115. Public Speaking (Martin)
Three credits. Principles and practice of formal, public
communication. Attention will be paid to the role of speakers and
critical listeners. Emphasis will be placed on research, evidence,
organization, motivation and persuasion. Includes formal oral presentations
and analysis of speeches as well as consideration of communicator
responsibility.
200. Technical Writing For Communication Majors (Staff)
One credit. Open only to declared majors in communication.
Attention will be given to writing conventions in the field
of communication, citation formats and basic argument/evidence constructs.
Communication majors must earn a grade of at least C- in Communication
200 prior to completion of the junior year. Prerequisite: English
110.
210. Intermediate Communication Skills (Staff)
Two credits. Students develop particular communication skills
both by learning theories relevant to the skills and by participating
in extensive practice. Classes are offered in a variety of skill
areas, including: Listening Skills, Audience Analysis and Speech
Composition. Prerequisite: Some sections of Communication 210
may require Communication 115 as a prerequisite.
212. Issues in Communication (Staff)
Two credits. Consideration of significant issues in society
as they intersect with the field of communication. Students will
be exposed to basic concepts of communication analysis as they investigate
such topics as: Freedom of Expression, Intercultural Communication,
Gender and Communication, The Impact of New Technologies on Communication
and Communication and the Family.
215. Advanced Public Speaking (Roy)
Four credits. Students in Advanced Public Speaking refine their skills as public advocates by researching current issues of significance, constructing and evaluating arguments, and adapting style and delivery techniques to the demands of actual community audiences, in both in-class and in-field presentations. Students receive feedback from peers, the instructor and community audience members representing local organizations, businesses, government agencies and other groups with vested interest in the students' topic areas. In addition to preparing for and engaging in public speeches, students will prepare formal, written self-assessments and audience-response assessments. Prerequisite: Communication 115.
223. Organizational and Business Communication (Roy)
Four credits. Theory and practice of communication within
organizations. Covers various topics including communication channels,
organizational structure, leadership as a function of communication,
and interviewing. Students will participate in interviews, decision-making
groups and formal presentations.
228. Principles of Debate (Roy)
Four credits. Theory and practice of debate. Students will
encounter theories of burdens, stock issues, justification and warrants,
rules of evidence, paradigm standards, etc. Theory will be put into
intensive practice in a series of in-class debates.
248. Persuasion and Mass Media (Pape)
Four credits. Theories of persuasion in human interaction.
Emphasis on the role of communication media and technologies in contemporary
persuasion. Attention will be paid to the impact of media on speech-making,
advertising and creating/maintaining ideology.
310. Empirical Studies in Communication (Pape)
Four credits. Students will research, design and apply
various methods of empirical analysis to actual communication events,
in particular within interpersonal and small group environments.
Students will examine communication theory and methodology as they
survey and review literature within a variety of topic areas, which
may include mass media, gender, intercultural and theories of the
public. In addition, students will analyze and critique existing
research theory and methods.
315. Speech Practicum (Martin)
One credit. Students enrolled in Communication 315 work with the instructor to devise an individualized learning plan for the semester, including specific learning goals and a scheduled series of actual public speaking engagements through which those goals will be realized and assessed. Speaking forums and formats will vary for each student; some students may serve as informational or special event speakers for local community organizations, others may advocate on behalf of nonprofit groups, and more advanced students may work as speech consultants/trainers for representatives of community or educational groups. Note: In addition to work with local groups, effective in the fall of 2006, students enrolled in Communication 315 may partner with The Huntington's Disease Society of America or The National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere, both national nonprofit corporations. Prerequisite: Communication 115 and 215.
323. Argumentation Theory (Roy)
Four credits. Theory and application of contemporary argumentation
theory. Attention will be paid to historical development of argumentation
theory and the concepts of justification, reasonability, evidence,
fields of argument, argument and audience and argument types. Students
will apply various theories to historical and contemporary case studies.
326. Historical Development of Rhetorical and Communication
Theory (Roy)
Four credits. Survey of the evolution of rhetorical and
communication theory from the classical to the contemporary period.
Emphasis on traditional and current understandings of the field.
336. The Rhetoric of Social Movements (Roy)
Four credits. The role of rhetoric in the development, maintenance
and decline of social movements. Impact of social movements on American
ideology. Taught through examination of extended case studies of movements and counter-movements.
352. Political Communication (Martin)
Four credits. The role of communication in contemporary
politics. Emphasis on social movement, political advertising, political
campaigns, political journalism and presidential and congressional
rhetoric.
370. American Public Address (Martin)
Four credits. Analysis of significant American rhetors within
the context of American history. Emphasis on the role of rhetoric in
the evolution of American historical and ideological development.
392. Rhetorical Criticism (Martin)
Four credits. Theories and methods of
rhetorical criticism. Detailed critical analysis of historical and
contemporary rhetoric. Students will apply theory through written
and oral projects. Writing Intensive.
401. Teaching of Speech (Staff)
Two credits. Offered on demand. A theory and practice course
for the classroom teacher. Philosophy of speech communication education
is stressed along with content and teaching skills, methods and
techniques. Students planning to pursue graduate work in communication
are strongly encouraged to enroll. Prerequisite: Consent of the
instructor, to be taken concurrently with Communication 402.
402. Directing Debate and Forensic Activities (Staff)
Two credits. Offered on demand. A theory and practice course
involving organization and administration of competitive speech and
debate programs at both the high school and college levels. Focus
on philosophies and methods of coaching, tournament management, travel
management, budgeting, recruiting and program development. Prerequisite:
Consent of the instructor, to be taken concurrently with Communication
401.
410. Topics in Communication Studies (Pape)
Four credits. Exploration in depth of major interest areas
in the field of communication studies. Topics will vary from year
to year, but will include such issues as intercultural communication,
gender and communication, and cognitive and attitudinal responses
to persuasion. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.
412. Topics in Rhetorical Theory and Criticism (Roy)
Four credits. Exploration in depth of major interest areas
in the field of rhetorical theory and criticism. Topics will vary
from year to year, but will include such issues as rhetoric and ideology
studies, non-discursive rhetorical forms, European critical schools
and rhetoric as epistemology. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.
440. Applied Communication (Roy)
Four credits. Student teams analyze communication problems
in the local community and develop solution strategies. Students
learn to evaluate competing solutions on grounds of feasibility,
cost-benefit analysis and short-term/long-term implications. Students
devise implementation plans and, where applicable, train community
members to carry out implementation. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite:
Consent of the instructor, major standing, and at least 12 credits
in Communication completed required for enrollment.
500. Senior Thesis (Roy)
Three credits. Preparation of a significant individual research
project which is critiqued by class members as well as presented
orally for the seminar and invited guests. Must be taken concurrently
with Communication 510.
510. Senior Seminar (Roy)
One credit. The Senior Seminar in communication serves as
a capstone experience, providing students with opportunities to apply
skills and knowledge derived from all coursework in the major in
unique formats that help prepare students for their educational and
work lives beyond the undergraduate level. Seminar participants sit
for written and oral comprehensive exams of core content areas of
the field: American Public Address, Rhetorical Theory and Rhetorical
Criticism. Seminar participants plan and execute an educational conference
for high school students on a great speech in American history. Finally,
seminar participants regularly share their on-going research with
their peers and faculty, culminating in formal final research presentations.
Prerequisite: At least two of Communication 326, 370, 392; or consent
of the instructor. Must be taken concurrently with Communication
500.
540. Independent Study (Staff)
Two to four credits each semester. A creative research or
production project in the student’s chosen area of concentration.
Students contemplating enrollment in independent study must submit
a written proposal covering the work to be done to the chair of the
department at least three weeks before the beginning of the semester
in which the work is to be done. Prerequisites: Junior or senior
standing, consent of the department chair, and at least 12 credits
toward the major.
550. Independent Study: Internship (Staff)
Two or five credits each semester. Supervised field study, normally
involving an aspect or aspects of communication within an organization. The
student will complete a project for the organization and write a
paper describing and critically analyzing the field experience. The
course may be repeated up to a total of eight credits. A limited
number of positions are available. Interested students should consult
the instructor well in advance of preregistration for detailed requirements. Prerequisites:
Communication majors, junior or senior standing with at least 12
credits in communication courses. Internships are graded Pass-Fail.
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