Communication and Rhetorical Studies
Faculty Richard W. Buttny, Anne Demo, Craig A. Dudczak, Cynthia Gordon, Diane Grimes, Arthur D. Jensen, Kenneth M. Johnson, Amos Kiewe, Kendall Phillips, Amardo Rodriguez, Bradford Vivian
This program allows students to integrate their individual professional interests with a thorough background in communication and rhetorical studies and a selection of arts and sciences courses. The 120 credits required for the B.S. degree are divided into 36 credits in communication and rhetorical studies, 54 credits in arts and sciences, and 30 credits in University-wide electives.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Students must complete a total of 120 credits. Of these, 36 credits must be in communication and rhetorical studies, including CRS 181,183, 225,284, and 287. Students must also take 54 credits in arts and sciences, including 6 credits in writing (English); 6 credits in the natural sciences and mathematics; 6 credits in the social sciences; 6 credits in the humanities, including foreign language proficiency at a 200 level (American Sign Language does not fulfill this requirement, although it can be taken as an Arts and Sciences elective); and 30 credits in areas supporting their studies in communication.
As of the academic year 2005-06, all communication and rhetorical studies majors who also pursue a second major, an additional minor, or attend one of theSU Abroad centers for a semester, are allowed to enroll in up to 57 credits in non-arts-and-sciences courses. This modification means that communication and rhetorical studies majors who fall under one or more of the above categories (double major, minor, or SU Abroad) are no longer required to pursue 54 credits in arts and sciences courses but are given greater flexibility in taking more non-arts-and-sciences courses. Please note that the current requirements, including WRT 105, WRT 205, two humanities courses, two science courses, two social science courses, and a language proficiency at the 200 level (for a total of 27 credits), remain intact.
Minor in Leadership/Stewardship Communication
Leadership skills are inherently tied to one’s ability to communicate effectively in a variety of situations, including formal presentations, meetings, the media, and informal conversations. Competent use of one’s skills is predicated on a sophisticated understanding of culture, context, process, audience, and principles of rhetoric. The minor in Leadership/Stewardship Communication is designed to enhance the student’s understanding of the relationship between communication and leadership and to develop appropriate skills for enhancing leadership. The minor complements many of the University’s professional and liberal arts programs, especially those that prepare students for leadership roles in specific professions (law, politics, management, media, community services, and so on).
Admission Requirements
• 3.0 GPA (based on completion of 30 credits)
• Must enter program no later than first semester of junior year
• Complete petition and submit to department chair for approval
• Petitions accepted at any time, but normally reviewed and approved after October 15 (fall semester) and March 1 (spring semester) deadlines for applications.
Curricular Requirements
Students must complete the following six courses for a total of 18 credits:
CRS 225 Public Advocacy,
or
CRS 325 Presentational Speaking
CRS 333 Small Group Communication
CRS 335 Leadership/Stewardship Communication
and any three of the following:
CRS 334 Introduction to Argumentation
CRS 355 Political Communication
CRS 426 Persuasion
CRS 430 Intercultural Communication
CRS 466 Ethics in Human Communication
CRS 568 Rhetoric of Social Change
PSC 336 Political Leadership
PAF 420 Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Skills
PAF 422 Negotiation: Theory and Practice
PAF 423 Leadership: Theory and Practice
Minor in Communication and Rhetorical Studies
The minor in communication and rhetorical studies serves as an excellent complement to almost any major. Students have the opportunity to enhance their communication skills as well as develop a sophisticated understanding of communication processes in a variety of social and professional contexts. To complete the minor, students take one of two introductory survey courses, one of five 200-level theory/skills/application courses, and four elective offerings at the 300-500 level.
Admission Requirements
• 3.0 GPA (based on completion of 30 credits)
• Must enter program no later than second semester of sophomore year
• Limited to 30 students
• Applications accepted at any time, but will adhere to an October 15 deadline for processing and approval in the fall semester (March 1 for spring semester)
• To enroll in the communication and rhetorical studies minor, students must complete a petition form available from the department secretary) and submit it to the department chair for approval.
Curricular requirements
18 credits, including the following:
Two required courses (6 credits):
One 100-level course:
CRS 181 Concepts and Perspectives in Communication Studies
or
CRS 183 Concepts and Perspectives in Rhetorical Studies
One from the following:
CRS 225 Public Advocacy
CRS 331 Interpersonal Communication
CRS 333 Small Group Communication
CRS 334 Argumentation
Four elective courses (12 credits):
• Must be 300-level or above (but may not include experience credit courses)
• Must be taken from the following list of courses:
CRS 313 Nonverbal Communication
CRS 335 Leadership/Stewardship Communication
CRS 338 Communication in Organizations
CRS 355 Political Communication
CRS 425 Advanced Public Speaking
CRS 426 Persuasion
CRS 430 Intercultural Communication
CRS 435 Interviewing
CRS 455 Rhetorical Criticism
CRS 456 Empirical Methods of Speech Communication Research
CRS 458 Applied Communication Research
CRS 514 Language and Meaning
CRS 531 Interpersonal Communication: Theories and Research
CRS 532 Family Communication
CRS 535 Communication and Community
CRS 538 Advances in Organizational Speech Communication
CRS 545 Issues in Argumentation
CRS 546 Seminar Legal Communication
CRS 552 History of Rhetorical Theory
CRS 567 Rhetoric and Philosophy
CRS 568 Rhetoric of Social Change