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Structure of the Speech Communication Major and Minor

Course Requirements

Course work for the major emphasizes basic communication theory, basic research methods (in either the social scientific tradition or the humanistic, rhetorical criticism tradition), as well as context-specific training in areas such as interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, persuasion, and argumentation. Some supportive electives outside the department also count toward the major and allow students to explore areas closely related to the field. The speech communication major requires a minimum of 42 semester hours. All majors complete a 26-unit core requirement, of which 10 or more units are upper division. Students choose an additional 16 hours of upper-division course work from the approved lists below. With assistance from an advisor, students are required to complete a senior project. The project consists of either a social scientific research study or a rhetorical criticism project, depending on the methods course the student chooses.

The minor requires a minimum of 24 semester hours. All minors must take SPCM 100 and 110. With assistance from an advisor, all minors select one course from 210, 220, 240, or 250, at least two courses from SPCM 350, 410, 452,and 332, and any two other upper division courses from the SPCM department or from approved, supportive electives in other departments. Following is a list of course requirements for the speech communication major or minor.

Core Requirements for Majors

Core Requirements:
SPCM 100	Fundamentals of Public Speaking	2
SPCM 110	Introduction to Speech Communication Theory and Practice	2
(Choose at least three of the following: SPCM 210, 220, 240, 250)
SPCM 210	Interpersonal Communication	4
SPCM 220	Intercultural Communication	4
SPCM 240	Persuasion and Social Influence	4
SPCM 250	Rhetoric: Public Controversy and Criticism	4
PSYH 305	Statistics (or SOC 305)	4
BHV 390	Research Methods (or) SPCM 452 Rhetorical Theory and Criticism (or) SPCM 410 Advanced Interpersonal and Family Communication (or) PSY 390 (or) SOC 390	4
	(or) SPCM 452 Rhetorical Theory and Criticism (or) SPCM 410 Advanced Interpersonal Theory and Practice *Note: If SPCM 452 or 410 is taken to fulfill this Core requirement, it does not additionally fulfill an upper division elective requirement.
SPCM 499	Senior Project	2-4

Core Requirements for Minors

Core Requirements:
SPCM 100	Fundamentals of Public Speaking	2
SPCM 110	Introduction to Speech Communication Theory and Practice	2
(Choose at least one of the following: SPCM 210, 220, 240, 250)
SPCM 210	Interpersonal Communication	4
SPCM 220	Intercultural Communication	4
SPCM 240	Persuasion and Social Influence	4
SPCM 250	Rhetoric: Public Controversy and Criticism	4

Additional Upper Division Courses for Majors and Minors

Majors and minors must take a total of 16 upper division units from the following list (at least 8 units from SPCM 350, 332, or 410, or 452 and any other eight upper division units from the SPCM department or from JOUR 330, 430, BHV 320, ECBU 354, 366, 368, ANTH 340, HUM 302 and 310).
SPCM 350	Argumentation and Debate (only 8 units count toward the major and minor although students on the forensics team may sign up for additional hours as electives)	1-4 (A-D)
SPCM 332	Interviewing Principles and Practices	4
SPCM 410	Advanced Interpersonal and Family Communication	4
SPCM 452	Rhetorical Theory and Criticism	4
HUM 302	Conflict Resolution and Nonviolence	3
HUM 310	Peace Studies Colloquium	1
SOC 315	Race and Ethnicity (or) BHV 320 Ethnic Relations	4
ECBU 354	Communications in Organizations	4
ECBU 355	Organizational Behavior in Business	4
ECBU 366	Professional Selling Skills	4
ECBU 350	Principles of Management	4
ANTH 340	Language and Culture	4
JOUR 330	Theory and Practice of Public Relations Prerequisite: SPCM 100, 210, 250, or 350	4
JOUR 430	Public Relations Methods Prerequisite: JOUR 330 and ability to type	4