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 The program in communication and rhetoric
studies prepares students to become critically reflective citizens
and practitioners in professions, including journalism, public
relations, law, politics, broadcasting, advertising, public service,
corporate communications, and publishing. Students learn to perform
effectively as ethical communicators - as speakers, writers,
readers, and researchers who know how to examine and engage
audiences, from local to global situations. Majors acquire theories,
research methods, and practices for producing as well as judging
communication of all kinds - written, spoken, visual, and
multi-media. The program encourages students to understand messages,
audiences, and media as shaped by social, historical, political,
economic, and cultural conditions. Students have the opportunity to
receive hands-on experience in a communication field of their choice
through an internship. A leading center for the communications
industry, Atlanta provides excellent opportunities for students to
explore career options and apply their skills.
The major in communication and rhetoric studies
consists of at least nine courses (36 semester hours) in the
discipline. All majors must complete a minor course of study to
connect their field to a related body of knowledge and to enhance
career possibilities. Students are encouraged to broaden their
knowledge and skills through this required minor in such areas as
art, philosophy, psychology, business administration, politics, and
international studies. The degree awarded is the Bachelor of Arts.
Major
The following courses are required:
CRS 101 Theories of
Communication and Rhetoric
CRS 110 Public Speaking I
CRS 390 Advanced Topics in Communication and Rhetoric Studies
One year of a foreign language at the first-year college level (or
the
equivalent determined through testing)
Two courses selected from the following:
CRS 221 Persuasive
Writing
CRS 240 Journalism
CRS 340 Writing for Business and the Professions
Four courses selected from the following list with at least three of
them bearing the CRS designation. Advanced Topics in Communication
and Rhetoric Studies may be taken more than once.
CRS
111 Public Speaking II
CRS 220 Investigative Writing
CRS 250 Broadcasting and the New Electronic Media
CRS 380 Independent Study in Communication and Rhetoric Studies
CRS 390 Advanced Topics in Communication and Rhetoric Studies
CRS 401 Internship in Communication and Rhetoric Studies
ENG 230 Creative Writing
ENG 23l Biography and Autobiography
ENG 331 Writing Prose, Fiction, and Nonfiction
WRI 381 Independent Study in Writing
WRI 391 Special Topics in Writing
Minor
A student may take a communication and rhetoric
studies minor or writing minor, but not both. The minor consists of
20 semester hours. (For the requirements of the writing minor,
please see the description of the writing minor in alphabetical
order below).
The following course is required:
CRS 101 Theories of
Communication and Rhetoric
One course selected from the following:
CRS 221 Persuasive
Writing
CRS 240 Journalism
CRS 340 Writing for Business and the Professions
Three courses selected from the following.
Advanced Topics in Communication and Rhetoric Studies may be taken
more than once.
CRS 110 Public Speaking
I
CRS 111 Public Speaking II
CRS 220 Investigative Writing
CRS 240 Journalism
CRS 250 Broadcasting and the New Electronic Media
CRS 340 Writing for Business and the Professions
CRS 390 Advanced Topics in Communication and Rhetoric Studies
CRS 401 Internship in Communication and Rhetoric Studies
WRI 391 Special Topics in Writing
The following courses are offered in Communications:
| CRS 101. Theories of Communications and
Rhetoric |
4 hours |
This gateway course to
the major is designed to establish a broad understanding of
various theories used in communication and rhetoric studies.
Students will learn theories about messages themselves as well
as the various contexts in which they occur: interpersonal
communication, public communication, mass communication,
intercultural and gendered communication, and organizational
communication. The ethical implications of these theories will
also be considered.
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| CRS 110. Public Speaking I |
4 hours |
This course is
designed to develop and enhance students' ability to communicate
effectively to any audience. Students will deliver both prepared
and impromptu speeches. They will give humorous and
inspirational speeches as well as informational speeches
focusing on organization and the use of visual aids. Students
develop all the tools necessary to effectively communicate -
their voice, their gestures, their body language, and their eye
contact. They will receive timely written and oral feedback from
the instructor. Speeches will be videotaped and critiqued. The
goal is to become a more polished and confident speaker.
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| CRS 111. Public Speaking II |
4 hours |
This course develops
communication skills gained in Public Speaking I. Students will
learn to convey their messages directly, confidently, and
persuasively. Students will practice delivering persuasive
speeches for a variety of occasions from the classroom to the
boardroom. They will learn to make the closing argument to the
jury, to field the difficult interview question, to close the
sale, to give the congratulatory toast, and to deliver the
inspirational speech. Speeches will be videotaped and critiqued.
Prerequisite: CRS 110.
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| ARC 201. Seminar for Student
Tutors |
1 hour |
Peer tutors at the
Academic Resource Center spend two hours per week assisting
other students, individually or in groups, with course material,
papers, and preparation for examinations. In addition, they
participate in support and training meetings with the ARC
directors and with instructors of the courses in which they
tutor. They discuss how to work with texts in different
disciplines, encourage study group members to help each other
learn, and foster student engagement with and assimilation of
course content. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and Associate
Provost for Student Achievement.
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| CRS 220. Investigative Writing |
4 hours |
This expository
writing course is designed to develop research and writing
skills. Emphasis will be on learning a wide range of library and
Internet-based research techniques and purposefully presenting
information to a variety of audiences in appropriate format and
style. Students will be asked to define their own investigative
projects and to analyze and revise their own writing. This
course is recommended for freshmen and sophomores. Prerequisite:
COR 101.
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| CRS 221. Persuasive Writing |
4 hours |
This course is
designed to develop sophisticated strategies of persuasion for
analyzing and generating arguments responsive to targeted
audiences in a variety of contexts, including civic,
professional, and academic. Students will learn both classical
and contemporary strategies of persuasion. Emphasis will be on
presenting clear, coherent, and logical arguments. Students will
be asked to define their own projects within assigned contexts.
Students will evaluate their own and others' writing to enable
the revision process. This course is open to sophomores,
juniors, and seniors only. It is offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: COR 101 and COR 102.
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| CRS 240. Journalism |
4 hours |
This course teaches
the fundamentals of journalistic news writing and reporting.
From interviews to the Internet, students will learn how to
gather information from a variety of sources and write stories
using different types of leads, endings, and structures. They
will also engage in a critique of today's journalistic
practices. This course is offered in the fall semester.
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| CRS 250. Broadcasting and the
New Electronic Media |
4 hours |
This course is
designed to introduce students to the economic, regulatory, and
creative forces that affect the broadcast industry. The course
will raise theoretical questions and practical concerns about
the different types of media (TV, radio, and the Internet) that
deal with the electronic transmission of information. The focus
will be on industry trends and on current issues facing these
media industries. This course is offered in the fall semester.
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| CRS 340. Writing for Business
and the Professions |
4 hours |
This course is for
students who have mastered the basic skills and insights of
writing and who wish to improve their ability to write clear,
concise, persuasive prose designed for audiences in business and
the professions. Students are required to write a variety of
texts, such as proposals, progress reports, recommendation
reports, and manuals. Other elements of the course may include
oral presentations. Prerequisite: CRS 220, CRS 221, or
permission of the instructor.
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| CRS 380. Independent Study in
Communication and Rhetoric Studies |
1-4 hours |
Supervised independent
communications project. Prerequisites: Submission of a proposed
outline of study that includes a schedule of meetings and
assignments approved by the instructor, the division chair, and
the Provost and Senior Vice President prior to registration. The
student must be pursuing a major in communication and rhetoric
studies.
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| WRI 381. Independent Study in
Writing |
1-4 hours |
Supervised independent
writing project. Prerequisites: Submission of a proposed outline
of study that includes a schedule of meetings and assignments
approved by the instructor, the division chair, and the Provost
and Senior Vice President prior to registration. The student
must be pursuing a minor in writing or a major in communication
and rhetoric studies.
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| CRS 390. Advanced Topics in
Communication and Rhetoric Studies |
4 hours |
This advanced course
will examine selected topics in rhetoric, communication, or
media studies, such as Global Media, Civic Literacy, Global
Culture and Rhetoric, Rhetoric of Human Rights, Gendered
Communication and Rhetoric, Media Culture and Society, Political
Rhetoric, and Mass Media Effects. Prerequisite: CRS 101 or
permission of the instructor. This course may be taken more than
once.
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| WRI 391. Special Topics in
Writing |
4 hours |
Study of a selected
topic in the field of writing, such as Public Relations Writing,
Scientific and Technical Writing, Oral History, and The Art of
the Essay. The topic will vary from year to year and may be
offered by communication and rhetoric studies faculty or English
faculty. Prerequisite for special topics taken with
communication and rhetoric studies faculty: CRS 101 or
permission of the instructor.
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| CRS 401. Internship in
Communication and Rhetoric Studies |
1-4 hours |
An internship is
designed to provide a formalized experiential learning
opportunity to qualified students. The internship generally
requires the student to obtain a faculty supervisor in the
relevant field of study, submit a learning agreement, work 30
hours for every hour of academic credit, keep a written journal
of the work experience, have regularly scheduled meetings with
the faculty supervisor, and write a research paper dealing with
some aspect of the internship. An internship for the writing
minor must be writing intensive. Written work should total five
pages of academic writing for every hour of credit. An extensive
list of internships is maintained by the Career Services Office,
including opportunities at CNN, Fox 5, WSB-TV, Green Olive
Media, and The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Students are
strongly encouraged to do multiple internships, but only
4-semester hours can be applied as elective credits to the
major. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
Prerequisites: Permission of the faculty supervisor and
qualification for the internship program.
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