Communication and Rhetoric - Major

Communication and rhetoric prepares students to become versatile communicators in spoken, written, and visual forms. Building on the College’s liberal arts core, and housed within the English department, the communication and rhetoric major produces proactive learners who are efficient and effective problem-solvers, proficient in the analysis of their own and others’ visual and graphic communication in both print and digital media. Graduates are well-positioned for a variety of careers, not only in typical communication-related fields such as journalism, media, advertising, and public relations, but also in the wide range of other fields that require excellent reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. In addition to classroom instruction, all students receive direct pre-professional training in the form of internships and seminar projects conducted in consultation with local businesses and communication professionals.

Communication and Rhetoric Major Requirements

All Communication and Rhetoric Majors are required to take the following:

(24 Credits)

*For students majoring in Inclusive Childhood/Middle Childhood Education, their student teaching will count as their internship, although they may choose to do a separate internship.

ENGW 253 - Foundation of Communication and Rhetoric Theory I Credits: 3
ENGW 254 - Foundations of Communication & Rhetoric Theory II Credits: 3
COMM 201 - Introduction to Mass Communication Credits: 3
COMM 202 - Communication Ethics & Law Credits: 3
COMM 301 - Communication Research Methods Credits: 3
COMM 353 - Persuasion Credits: 3
COMM 450 - Communication and Rhetoric Senior Seminar Credits: 3
COMM 482 - Communication and Rhetoric Internship I Credits: 3
COMM 499 - Senior Experience Credits: 0

Communication and Rhetoric Praxis Strand

Communication and Rhetoric students choose one or two praxis strands. (6 Credits)
**If the schedule permits, a student seeking Teacher Certification may choose one praxis strand.

ART 154 - Digital Imaging Foundation Credits: 3 and
ART 355 - Web-Based Visual Design
COMM 356 - Fundamentals of Video Production And Editing Credits: 3 and
COMM 357 - Advanced Video Production and Editing
COMM 374 - Public Relations Credits: 3 and
MKT 216 - Principles of Marketing
ENGW 270 - Journalism Credits: 3 and
ENGW 271 - Advanced Journalism
or
ENGW 375 - Feature Writing
ENGW 340 - Fundamentals of Screenwriting Credits: 3 and
ENGW 341 - Advanced Screenwriting
ENGW 351 - Technical and Professional Writing Credits: 3 and
ENGW 356 - Editing for Publication

Communication and Rhetoric Major Electives

Students are also expected to take 9 credit hours of elective courses. Some of these courses are:

COMM 101 - Theories of Human Communication Credits: 3
COMM 203 - Speechmaking and Society Credits: 3
COMM 204 - History of Communication Technologies Credits: 3
COMM 389 - International Graphic Narrative Credits: 3
COMM 410 - Gender, Sexuality, and the Media Credits: 3
COMM 340 - PII Cinema Studies Credits: 3
COMM 341 - Race and Ethnicity in Media Credits: 3
COMM 352 - Linguistics and Communication Credits: 3
COMM 440 - Rhetoric of Popular Culture Credits: 3

Communication and Rhetoric Major Senior Experience

The Communication and Rhetoric Senior Experience allows students to design and present a project/portfolio of work that bridges the academic and professional worlds. Students are expected to design a project that will apply what they have learned over the course of their study. The Senior Seminar class will provide a community in which to work on this project. Projects will be presented at the end of the semester in a public forum.