OVERVIEW

The Speech Communication program emphasizes how people develop, adapt, and transmit messages within and across various contexts, cultures, and channels in order to promote the effective and ethical practice of human communication. Students are challenged to study the history, theories, and research about human communication, and from these bases to develop skills in speech communication; in critical assessment of the rhetoric of others; and in analyzing communication problems and solutions in interpersonal, small group, organization, public, and intercultural contexts. Those who study with us will acquire the requisite intellectual background and essential artistic experience necessary to pursue careers and further study in a wide range of human endeavor and professional opportunity. Perhaps more importantly, we believe that they will better achieve the potential richness of a humane future.      

RESOURCES & FACILITIES

• Students have the opportunity to conduct research with faculty. During the last few years, several students have published articles and given papers at prestigious conferences.
• We have a special journal archive within the department to assist students with immediate access to the primary journals in our field of study.
• We offer Baker Duncan Scholarships for students interested in intercollegiate debate and other speech activities.
• we have an active chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association Honorary that sponsors special events throughout the year.

DISTINCTIONS

• Speech Communication provides a well-balanced curriculum with a wide selection of courses and opportunities to wok closely with each of our faculty.
• Our students regularly attend and make presentations of their research at regional and national conferences.
• The Swinny endowment Fund provides our students with financial support for attendance at conferences throughout the country.
• Our Debate program travels nationally and is well recognized throughout the country for excellence in policy debate.
• We are currently developing a Communication Across the Curriculum (CXC) program to enhance the oral communication skills of students across campus.