Speech Communication Department

Speech Communication is a field of study inviting students to engage in the theoretically-informed practice of communication in their personal, professional, and public lives. Students who succeed in Speech Communication can expect to meet the following goals:

1. Presentations: Increased confidence and competence in public presentations.
2. Relationships: knowledge of the manner in which communication creates, maintains and transforms relationships, and the ability to engage in effective and productive relational communication.
3. Contexts: knowledge of the crucial role communication plays in community, professional and civic contexts, and the ability to use communication behaviors ethically and effectively in various contexts.
4. Diversity: Knowledge and respect for the role of culture and diversity in communication, and the ability to effectively communicate within and across cultures.
5. Influence: Competency in reflective construction and analysis of arguments and discourse intended to influence beliefs, attitudes, values, and practices.
6. Technology: Ability to effectively use communication technology and to critically evaluate how technology affects communication.
7. Research: Competency in systematic inquiry, including the process of asking questions, systematically attempting to answer them, and understanding the limitations of the conclusions reached.