THE SPEECH COMMUNICATION PROGRAM

The major in Speech Communication requires a total of 42 credits: 9 credits of CORE courses, 9 credits of THEORY AND CRITICISM courses, 9 credits of APPLIED COMMUNICATION, and 9 credits of ELECTIVES. In addition, the major in Speech Communication requires 6 hours of a foreign language. Students may form concentrations in General Speech, Rhetoric and Public Address, Political Communication and Speech Education by choosing appropriate courses from Divisions II, III and IV.

Required Courses for the Major in Speech Communication

Students majoring in Speech Communication must complete the following requirements:

THE MINOR IN SPEECH COMMUNICATION

Students minoring in Speech Communication are required to complete eighteen (18) credits, as follows:

SPEECH COURSE OFFERINGS

SPCH 100 REMEDIAL SPEECH—Two hours; 2 credits. This is a course designed for students whose deficiencies are such that they cannot be satisfactorily remedied by the normal speech experiences encountered in regular classes in SPCH 101, but which seem to be amenable to mild therapy in a small group setting. Students eligible for SPCH 101 may not take this course.

SPCH 101 FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH—Three hours; 3 credits. This course deals thoroughly with the fundamental elements of diction, social dialect and general American speech, as well as the skills of oral communication. It teaches the processes of breath control, volume and audible reading. The Speech Proficiency Examination is given to students in the course; however, passing the course does not constitute passing the Speech Proficiency Examination. This course is a prerequisite for all other speech courses.

SPCH 102 THE FORMS OF PUBLIC ADDRESS—Three hours; 3 credits. The elements of public speaking are continued. The student is required to compose and deliver various types of public speeches.

SPCH 103 INTRODUCTION TO PHONETICS—Three hours; 3 credits. A study of the physical production and acoustic characteristics of the sounds of American English through mastery of the International Phonetic Alphabet and practice in phonetic transcription.

SPCH 201 ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE—Three hours; 3 credits. This course offers the student an opportunity to participate in the various types of debates. Theory consists of a concise, up-to-the-minute survey of the step-by-step procedure for debate technique. Emphasis is placed on straight thinking, with a critical evaluation of evidence, reasoning and semantics.

SPCH 202 GROUP DISCUSSION—Three hours; 3 credits. Designed for various majors including English, History and Political Science. This course covers the basic principles of organizing and conducting public meetings, panels, forums and symposia. Public performances outside of classes may be required.

SPCH 203 ORAL INTERPRETATION—Three hours; 3 credits. This course is designed to help the student develop his/her understanding and enjoyment of literature by exploring, experimenting and becoming proficient in the art of communicating literary and dramatic values to an audience.

SPCH 204 ADVANCED PUBLIC SPEAKING—Three hours; 3 credits. This course offers the student advanced practice in speech and delivery. Emphasis is placed on formal speaking. Prerequisites: SPCH 101 or SPCH 102 or special permission of the instructor.

SPCH 205-206 BLACK RHETORIC—Six hours; 6 credits. These courses are a history and analysis of African-American communication, verbal and non-verbal, from the earliest recordings in America to the present.

SPCH 301 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE—Three hours; 3 credits. Presiding and participating in meetings conducted under Robert’s Rules of Order.

SPCH 302 GENERAL SEMANTICS—Three hours; 3 credits. This course discusses abstracting, evaluating and symbolizing as related to misunderstanding, oversimplification, confusion and conflict.

SPCH 303 BRITISH AND AMERICAN PUBLIC ADDRESS—Three hours; 3 credits. A course devoted to British and American addresses between 1600 and 1900.

SPCH 304 BLACK ORATORS AND THEIR ORATIONS—Three hours; 3 credits. A course involved in applying the classical canons of rhetoric to the recorded speeches of black speakers in America. Additional factors to be dealt with are topoi, ethos, logos and pathos. Prerequisite: SPCH 307.

SPCH 305 CONTEMPORARY PUBLIC ADDRESS—Three hours; 3 credits. A course concerned with the rhetoric of America from 1900 to the present. Prerequisite: SPCH 307.

SPCH 306 CRITICAL LISTENING—Three hours; 3 credits. Theory and training in the skills and importance of listening for complete understanding.

SPCH 307 CLASSICAL RHETORIC—Three hours; 3 credits. The theories of speech making and speech composition as propounded by the classical rhetoricians. Special attention to Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Cicero, Quinillian and St. Augustine.

SPCH 308 SPEECH CRITICISM—Three hours; 3 credits. A course devoted to practice in speech criticism, oral and written, concerning distinctive features of legislative, legal, ceremonial and sermonic speaking.

SPCH 309 POLITICAL COMMUNICATION—Three hours; 3 credits. This course explores the relation of discourse to the political process, especially as it applies to political campaigns. The course examines contemporary research and practices associated with campaign discourse at the national, state, and local levels. It will use classical rhetorical theories and contemporary empirical approaches to examine the political discourse. In addition, the course will promote an applied approach to campaign discourse, encouraging students to become involved with political campaigns.

SPCH 310 BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION—Three hours; 3 credits. This course explores professional interviews and other dynamic encounters and explores communication in business structures, such as briefings, meetings, and conferences. The main focus of the course is the oral presentation of information. This is a performance class.

SPCH 401 INFORMATIVE SPEAKING—Three hours; 3 credits. Organizing, adapting, and presenting informative speeches and oral reports of technical and scholarly projects, both by manuscript reading and extemporaneously.

SPCH 402 PERSUASIVE SPEAKING—Three hours; 3 credits. Techniques of persuasion as applied on the platform, in the conference room and in the parliamentary assembly.

SPCH 403-404 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF RHETORICAL THEORY—Six hours; 6 credits. Major writings on oral communication from Ancient Greece to the present.

SPCH 405-406 RESEARCH AND SENIOR SEMINAR—Six hours; 6 credits. Techniques of research and the development of an original presentation concerning a specific area of concentration in Speech Communication, linguistics and/or mass media communication.

SPCH 407 SPEECH PEDAGOGY—Three hours; 3 credits. Methodology, philosophy and techniques of teaching speech at various levels of study. Prerequisites: 200 and 300 level courses in Education which lead to student teaching.

SPCH 409 SPEECH WRITING—Three hours; 3 credits. This course prepares students to "ghostwrite" speeches for individuals other than themselves. The course covers classical and contemporary theories of speech construction, concentrating on persuasive, informative, and ceremonial speeches. This is NOT a performance class. Students will learn how to apply established theories of speech construction to political and corporate environments.

SPCH 410 THEORIES OF ORAL COMMUNICATION—Three hours; 3 credits. History and development of theories of oral communication as they relate to human interaction specifically and to public address, speech pathology, theatre and mass media.

SPCH 412 SPECIAL PROJECTS—Maximum of 4 credits. Independent research on a subject agreed upon by the student and his advisor. The student may earn 2 credits per year in his sophomore and junior years.

SPCH 420 FORENSIC PRACTICUM I—One hour; 1 credit. This course allows students to become involved in intercollegiate debate and individual speaking events. The course extends classroom instruction in speech. Students receive one-on-one instruction in at least two forms of speaking and are given the opportunity to apply the skills within an intercollegiate competitive situation.

SPCH 421 FORENSIC PRACTICUM II—One hour; 1 credit. This course allows students to become involved in intercollegiate debate and individual speaking events. The course extends classroom instruction in speech. Students receive one-on-one instruction in at least two forms of speaking and are given the opportunity to apply the skills within an intercollegiate competitive situation.

SPCH 422 FORENSIC PRACTICUM III—One hour; 1 credit. This course allows students to become involved in intercollegiate debate and individual speaking events. The course extends classroom instruction in speech. Students receive one-on-one instruction in at least two forms of speaking and are given the opportunity to apply the skills within an intercollegiate competitive situation.

SPCH 423 FORENSIC PRACTICUM IV—One hour; 1 credit. This course allows students to become involved in intercollegiate debate and individual speaking events. The course extends classroom instruction in speech. Students receive one-on-one instruction in at least two forms of speaking and are given the opportunity to apply the skills within an intercollegiate competitive situation.

SPCH 498 SENIOR INTERNSHIP—Five hours; 3 credits. This course provides the opportunity for the student to obtain supervised work experience in the major at an off-campus site selected and approved by the Departmental Chairperson. Registration is limited to seniors with minimum 3.0 cumulative and major averages and requires approval of the Departmental Chairperson. Exceptions may be approved by the Dean.

SPCH 499 SENIOR RESEARCH OR TEACHING/ TUTORIAL ASSISTANTSHIP—Five hours; 3 credits. This course provides the opportunity for the student to attain first-hand research or teaching/tutorial experience under the supervision and mentorship of a tenure-track faculty member. Registration is limited to seniors with minimum of 3.0 cumulative and major averages and requires the approval of the Departmental Chairperson. Exceptions may be approved by the Dean.

• See also: Speech Curriculum Sequence