SPE - Speech
From the perspective of speech as a visual/performing art, this course provides an overview of the various communication skills and topics that affect the human experience across a variety of relationships and situations. This includes fundamentals of communication in personal and professional relationships, with special emphasis on interpersonal, computer-mediated, organizational, intercultural, and health communication, as well as listening skills. Students who complete this course will improve their ability to create, maintain, and cultivate meaningful relationships in the workplace, in social settings, and other contexts.
Credit Hours: 4
An independent study that provides first-year students with an opportunity to pursue a topic or project under the guidance of a communication and speech studies faculty member. By permission of instructor and department director.
Credit Hours: 1-4
Develops and improves skills in speech composition and delivery by exposure to various speech types and situations, and concentrates on poise in group speaking situations.
Credit Hours: 4
Offers practice in briefings, interviews, problem-solving conferences and communication management. Covers techniques for speaking situations commonly encountered in business and the professions, and also includes formal and informal professional writing assignments.
Credit Hours: 4
Offers practice in briefings, interviews, problem-solving conferences and communication management. Covers techniques for speaking situations commonly encountered in business and the professions, and also includes formal and informal professional writing assignments.
Credit Hours: 2-4
Prerequisites
Approval of instructor and registration with the Office of International Programs
Offers practice in briefings, interviews, problem-solving conferences and communication management. Covers techniques for speaking situations commonly encountered in business and the professions, and also includes formal and informal professional writing assignments.
Credit Hours: 2
This course is designed to explore the impact of public speaking in the changing course of history in the areas of human rights and social justice. The focus of the course will be evaluation of exemplary speeches, how they were reported and received. Students will analyze speeches by human rights activists and political leaders through in-class writing assignments, discussions, analysis and research.
Credit Hours: 4
Health communication is a field of study that encompasses theories, research, and applications of the symbolic processes by which people, both individually and collectively, understand and share ideas about health. This class is designed to be an overview of significant concepts and issues that have emerged in health communication scholarship.
Credit Hours: 4
This survey course will discuss and analyze current messages related to U.S. politics. Students will critique how messages and speakers are strategically framed within our current political, social, and economic climate.
Credit Hours: 4
An independent study that provides second-year students with an opportunity to pursue a topic or project under the guidance of a communication and speech studies faculty member. By permission of instructor and department director.
Credit Hours: 1-4
This course includes practical application of ideas toward writing and performance of personal stories.
Credit Hours: 4
This course will help students become more effective and confident communicators within a group structure. It emphasizes the development of skills that will enable students to contribute to a collective message. Theories of group decision-making and leadership will be explored to analyze group interaction. Preparation for organizational communication contexts will be highlighted through critical thinking and problem-solving projects.
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisites
SPE 200,
SPE 208 (or equivalent), or consent of instructor.
This course focuses on communication in relationships. The emphasis of the course is on the application of interpersonal communication theory, research, and practical skills to everyday life. We pay particular attention to the impact interpersonal communication has on individual identity, and personal, social, and professional relationships. In addition, this course examines trends that affect interpersonal communication in the 21st century: social diversity, the increasing number of long-distance relationships, and the influence of technology on interpersonal interaction.
Credit Hours: 4
This advanced public speaking skills course examines the constitutional, statutory and cases affecting communication professions and individuals. Through research and performance students will analyze the historical context of free speech in the United States and international speech issues. A broad range of issues will be considered, including blasphemy, commercial speech, free press, hate speech and privacy, other contexts such as the personal dissemination of speech (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Activities include professional presentations, class discussion and academic writing. Critical thinking and deductive reasoning will be highly utilized in this course.
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisites
AWR 201 or instructor permission
Special Topics in Speech will offer instruction and experiences in specialized speech-related courses such as forensics, more advanced speech courses, and analysis of public political rhetoric speech.
Credit Hours: 2-4
An independent study that provides third-year students with an opportunity to pursue a topic or project under the guidance of a communication and speech studies faculty member. By permission of instructor and department director.
Credit Hours: 1-4
This course launches students into the powerful world of persuasion. Emphasis is on the interdisciplinary generation of persuasion theories from post World War II to the present that empower us to recognize, analyze and evaluate persuasive messages and social influence communication. Students will learn how to increase persuasive appeals through verbal strategies, nonverbal influence, and compliance-gaining that will culminate in a persuasive campaign.
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisites
At least 8 credits of SPE AND either
SPE 200 or
SPE 208. OR CSS Director permission
This course explores principles and structures of argumentation. Students will demonstrate an understanding of argument, disagreement, and dialogue. Assignments and activities include classroom debates and analysis of public policy debates to identify and practice reasoning and refutation.
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisites
At least 8 credits of SPE AND either
SPE 200 or
SPE 208. Or CSS Director permission.
This class will introduce students to the field of conflict resolution using both theory and through communication skills development. It will explore the nature of conflict, the reasons why conflict occurs, and conflict resolution strategies. Topics include power dynamics, the role of culture and perception in conflict, conflict management styles, and third-party intervention. The course will challenge students to develop a deeper understanding of conflict and skills to manage conflict through readings, lectures, group discussions, simulated conflict situations, role plays, and critical reflections.
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisites
At least 8 credits of SPE AND either
SPE 200 or
SPE 208. Or CSS Director permission.
This course will train students to critically evaluate argument by studying types of argumentation, debate, proof, refutation; and learn the essential skills to prepare, organize and assess persuasive statements. In addition to theory and practical strategy, students will engage in various forms of conflict resolution, as well as mock debates, negotiations, and mediation practices. Students will also gain advanced public speaking skills and learn to critically evaluate arguments in real time.
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisites
AWR 101 and
AWR 201 (or equivalent), or consent of instructor.
This Culminating Experience course is designed for students interested in advanced public speaking in the technological context. Students will study the theory and practice of formulating public messages for the technology channel of the communication model and specific attention will be paid to the analysis of the receivers. Moreover, students are asked to utilize the knowledge and skills that they have acquired over the course of their Spartan Studies experiences and within their CSS Major courses. In this interdisciplinary course, students will apply their knowledge of rhetoric, social sciences, and the humanities to demonstrate their growth as a local citizen and a global thought leader.
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisites
At least 2 CSS Introductory Courses (SPE 101, SPE 200, or SPE 208), SPE 212, SPE 310, COM 301, and at least 1 CSS Advanced course (SPE 401, SPE 402, or SPE 403). Spartan Studies core completed. Communication and Speech Studies majors only. Senior Standing. Spartan Studies First-Year Seminar, mathematics,
AWR 101,
AWR 201,
UTAMPA 200,
UTAMPA 201, core humanities, core social science.
An independent study that provides fourth-year students with an opportunity to pursue a topic or project under the guidance of a communication and speech studies faculty member. By permission of instructor and department director.
Credit Hours: 1-4