Bachelor of Arts
Laurie Arliss, Professor and Chair
Speech communication focuses on how, why, and with what effects people communicate through spoken language and associated nonverbal messages. Just as politics majors are concerned with political behavior and economics majors with economic behavior, the student of speech communication is concerned with communicative behavior. A major in speech communication develops competence in theoretical analysis and practical implementation of communication. He or she develops skills in small group, public, and interpersonal communication, and probes such varied topics as leadership, argument, cultural variations, and social change.
Departmental honors are awarded based on a senior project done under the sponsorship of a faculty member and its successful defense in an oral examination conducted by a faculty committee. A cumulative GPA of 3.50 is required. Students must propose the project by the end of the penultimate semester before graduation and must complete it by the middle of the semester they plan to graduate.
The forensics program and its organization, the Forensics Association, enable students to gain experience in all forensics activities. The association strives to promote the highest standards of oral argument and other communication skills. It sponsors events on campus and represents the College at intercollegiate events. Ithaca College is home to the New York State Alpha chapter of Pi Kappa Delta, the national honorary forensics society. Contact the director of forensics for more information.
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SPCM 11000 |
Public Communication |
3 |
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SPCM 12000 |
Communication, Culture, and Rhetoric |
3 |
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SPCM 14000 |
Small Group Communication |
3 |
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SPCM 14900 |
Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication |
3 |
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SPCM 21500 |
Argumentation and Debate |
3 |
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SPCM 23000 |
Analysis and Performance of Literature |
3 |
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Total, credits in the major |
18 |
Select 12 credits in applications in speech communication
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SPCM 22500 |
Health Communication (3) |
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SPCM 24300 |
Interviewing (3) |
|
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SPCM 31100 |
Advanced Public Communication (3) |
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SPCM 32400 |
Rhetoric and Social Order (3) |
|
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SPCM 33200 |
Folklore and Cultural Performances (3) |
|
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SPCM 33300 |
Analysis and Performance of Prose (3) |
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SPCM 33400 |
Group Performance of Literature (3) |
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SPCM 33500 |
Analysis and Performance of Poetry (3) |
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SPCM 34600 |
Gender and Interpersonal Communication (3) |
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SPCM 34700 |
Intercultural Communication (3) |
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SPCM 34800 |
Family Communication (3) |
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SPCM 38900 |
Selected Topics (3) |
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SPCM 39700 |
Directed Readings (3) |
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SPCM 42900 |
Seminar in Public Communication (3) |
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SPCM 43900 |
Seminar in Literary and Cultural Performance (3) |
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SPCM 44900 |
Seminar in Interpersonal Communication (3) |
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SPCM 45100 |
Communication and Social Influence (3) |
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SPCM 49500 |
Internship (3) |
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Total, applications in speech communication |
12 |
Select 6 credits in theories of speech communication
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SPCM 32600 |
Classical Theories of Rhetoric (3) |
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SPCM 32700 |
Modern and Contemporary Theories of Rhetoric (3) |
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SPCM 35300 |
Language and Social Interaction (3) |
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SPCM 45900 |
Seminar in Communication Theory (3) |
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Total, theories of speech communication |
6 |
Select 3 credits in research methods in speech communication
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SPCM 32800 |
Uses and Methods of Communication Criticism (3) |
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SPCM 34100 |
Communication Research Methods (3) |
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Total, research methods in speech communication |
3 |
Select 6 credits of electives in speech communication
At least 3 credits must be at level 3 or 4, and 1 credit must be taken at level 4.
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Total, electives in speech communication |
6 |
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Total |
75 |
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Total, B.A. in speech communication |
120 |
Speech communication majors have 75 elective credits, but they are encouraged to elect at least one 18- to 27-credit sequence outside the department as a minor concentration or cognate area. No more than two grades below a C (2.00) will be accepted in courses toward fulfilling requirements of the major.
A minor concentration in speech communication is offered to provide opportunities for students to develop a systematic knowledge of the discipline. Minors must be declared through consultation with the departmental chair. Minor advisers will guide students in course selection.
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Levels 1 and 2 electives |
9 |
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Levels 3 and 4 electives |
9 |
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Total, minor in speech communication |
18 |