Rhetoric, Writing & Speech Comm (BA)
Description
Rhetoric is both a classical and modern subject, one that influences and shapes all forms of human communication. While pursuing the B.A. in rhetoric, writing, and speech communication, students will develop skills in persuasion, critical thinking, professional writing, and speaking. The program focuses on the humanistic study of rhetoric and emphasizes practical lessons and applications grounded in theory. Students may select an optional emphasis in Professional Writing or Speech Communication. Graduates will be prepared for advanced study in law, business, education, civil service, and other fields. They will also be prepared for professional positions in publishing, grant writing, and communication. An ideal double major, the B.A. in rhetoric, writing, and speech communication complements many degrees on campus.
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120
Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following First Year Writing I courses: | 3 | |
| Introduction to College Writing | ||
or WRIT 1010 | First-Year Writing I | |
| Select one of the following First Year Writing II courses: | 3 | |
| First-Year Writing II | ||
or LIBA 1020 | First Year Seminar | |
| Select six hours of literature survey from the following: | 6 | |
| Survey in Literary History | ||
| Survey of World Literature to 1650 | ||
| Survey of World Literature since 1650 | ||
| Survey of American Lit to the Civil War | ||
| Survey of American Lit since Civil War | ||
| Survey of British Lit to 18th Century | ||
| Survey of Brit Lit since Romantic Period | ||
| Select six hours at the 2000 level in Ancient or Modern Languages 1 | 6 | |
| Select six hours in History (HIST) 2 | 6 | |
| Select three hours of humanities courses from the following: 3 | 3 | |
African American Studies | ||
Classical Civilizations | ||
| Humanities and the Environment | ||
| Introduction to Gender Studies | ||
| Introduction to Queer Studies | ||
| Topics in Gender and Culture | ||
| Women, Gender & the Environment | ||
| Theories in Gender | ||
| Men, Women, and Greek Life | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in Cinema | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in the Media | ||
| Advanced Queer Studies | ||
Philosophy | ||
Religion | ||
| Southern Studies (any 1000 level only) | ||
| Introduction to Rhetoric | ||
| Interdisciplinary Humanities | ||
| Humanities and the Experience of War | ||
| Advanced Interdisciplinary Humanities | ||
| Select three hours of fine arts from the following: | 3 | |
Art History | ||
| Dance Appreciation | ||
| Introduction to Music Literature | ||
| Fundamentals of Music Theory | ||
| Introduction to Music | ||
| Introduction to World Music Cultures | ||
| Music Theory and Analysis I | ||
| Appreciation of the Theatre | ||
| Introduction to Cinema | ||
| Introduction to the Fine Arts | ||
| Interdisciplinary Arts | ||
| Advanced Interdisciplinary Arts | ||
| Select three hours of Math at the 1000 level or above 4 | 3 | |
| Select six hours of Social Science from the following areas: | 6 | |
Anthropology | ||
Economics | ||
Political Science | ||
Psychology | ||
| Interdisciplinary Social Sciences | ||
| Advanced Interdisc Social Science | ||
| 3 science courses, of which 2 must have labs 5 | 9-11 | |
Astronomy OR Physics (must be 2 courses in Astronomy or 2 courses in Physics) | ||
Biology | ||
Chemistry | ||
Geology | ||
| Integrated Science I | ||
| Integrated Science II | ||
| Interdisciplinary Sciences | ||
| Interdisciplinary Lab Sciences | ||
| Advanced Interdisciplinary Sciences | ||
| Advanced Interdisciplinary Lab Sciences | ||
| Total Hours | 48-50 | |
- 1
-
Modern Languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, & Swahili.
Classics: Ancient Greek and Latin.
Communication Sciences & Disorders: American Sign Language
Philosophy and Religion: Hebrew
- 2
Freshmen may not register for 3000 level courses.
- 3
In addition, gender studies courses that are cross-listed with African American studies, classical civilization, English, modern languages, philosophy, or religion curses will satisfy this requirement.
- 4
-
Except for MATH 2451 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I and MATH 2452 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II.
- 5
Courses may be chosen from astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, LIBA 2050 Interdisciplinary Sciences, LIBA 2051 Interdisciplinary Lab Sciences, LIBA 1500 Integrated Science I, LIBA 1510 Integrated Science II, LIBA 3150 Advanced Interdisciplinary Sciences, LIBA 3151 Advanced Interdisciplinary Lab Sciences and physics. Two semesters of coursework in one subject and one semester in a subject from another department are required. Each course must be a minimum of 3 credit hours. At least two of the courses taken must include laboratories. For some classes, the required laboratory will be an additional 1-hour course. For example, a student might take two 3-hour lecture courses in chemistry along with the two associated 1-hour laboratory courses, and one 3-hour course in biology without laboratory. As a second example, a student might take two 4-hour lecture/laboratory courses in geology and one 3-hour course in astronomy. As a third example, a student might take two chemistry courses, one with lab and one without, and a geology course with lab. Note that a student taking the required 6 hours of one subject (astronomy or physics) from the Department of Physics and Astronomy must take the remaining 3 hours from another department. ASTR 1110 Descriptive Astronomy does not include laboratory work; ASTR 1212 Intro Astronomy of the Solar System and ASTR 1312 Intro Astronomy of Stars and Galaxies include laboratory work and satisfy the requirements for lab-based science credits. A student may not receive credit for taking ASTR 1110 Descriptive Astronomy with either ASTR 1212 Intro Astronomy of the Solar System or ASTR 1312 Intro Astronomy of Stars and Galaxies.
Course Requirements
The B.A. in rhetoric, writing, and speech communication, requires 30 credit hours, including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LIBA 1020 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| or WRIT 1020 | First-Year Writing II | |
| SPCH 1020 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| or SPCH 1050 | Business and Professional Speech | |
| SPCH 3050 | Collaborative Communication | 3 |
| or SPCH 3140 | Intercollegiate Debating | |
| WRIT 2200 | Survey of Rhetoric | 3 |
| WRIT 2500 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| WRIT 3000 | Rhetoric of Professional Communication | 3 |
| Select 12 hours of Rhet, Spch, and Writ electives at the 2000 level or higher. Up to 3 of those 12 hours may be MCOM courses at the 2000-level or higher. | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Only one WRIT WRIT 3999A Topics in Writing Studies on Locationor WRIT 3999B Special Topics course may count toward the major. Students may choose to specialize by using their Spch and Writ electives to add an optional emphasis in professional writing or speech communication, which requires a minimum of three courses from the approved list for the emphasis. The same course may not complete the required courses and an emphasis area. The overall degree requirements remain the same. Students may complete both emphases.
Emphasis - Professional Writing
Course Requirements
For the emphasis in Professional Writing students complete three courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Rhetoric I: Foundations to 1650 | ||
| Responding to Writers | ||
| Writing in Professional Contexts | ||
| Technical Writing | ||
| Contemporary Writing Studies | ||
| Community Writing | ||
| Writing for Digital Media | ||
| Document Design | ||
| Editing and Proofreading | ||
| Scientific Writing | ||
| Topics in Writing Studies on Location | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Writing for Accountancy | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Emphasis - Speech Communication
Course Requirements
For the emphasis in Speech Communication students complete three courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| The Art of the Interview | ||
| Responding to Communicators | ||
| Collaborative Communication | ||
| Intercollegiate Debating | ||
| Speech on Location | ||
| Speech Communication Theory | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Other Academic Requirements
A minimum grade of C is required in all speech and writing courses applied by a student toward the major.
Residency Hours C-min
Student must earn at least 12 hours of their major courses in residence with a grade of C or better.
Overall Major GPA
Please contact your academic advisor for grade point requirements.
Resident Major GPA
Please contact your academic advisor for grade point requirements.