Communication

Requirement:  6 semester credits (3 credits must be written communication; 3 credits must be oral communication)

Written Communication

Skill in Written Communication is essential in today’s information age: a necessity in all academic areas, as well as a means to empower students in their career, social, and civic responsibilities. Courses that satisfy the written communication requirement of the MUS CORE will focus on rhetorical knowledge, knowledge of conventions, and critical thinking, reading, research and writing process skills. Composition, Journalism, Business Writing and Technical Writing generally satisfy the written communications component.

Written Communication core courses will:

  • facilitate competence in the use of the conventions of language and forms of discourse, including; sentence structure, mechanics, organization, and spelling;
  • demonstrate multiple, flexible strategies for writing, particularly inventing, drafting, copyediting;
  • facilitate research as a process of gathering, assessing, interpreting, and using data from multiple sources to compose texts;
  • demonstrate a variety of technologies to facilitate research and drafting.

Upon completion of the Written Communication core, students will be able to:

  • use writing as a means to engage in critical inquiry by exploring ideas, challenging assumptions, and reflecting on and applying the writing process;
  • formulate and support assertions with evidence appropriate to the issues, positions taken, and audiences;
  • use documentation appropriately and demonstrate an understanding of the logic of citation systems;
  • give and receive feedback on written texts;
  • read texts thoughtfully, analytically, and critically in preparation for writing tasks.

Oral Communication

Study in oral communication helps students rationally and systematically cope with the diverse listening, speaking, and presenting opportunities they will encounter in their lives. Courses that satisfy the oral communication requirement of the MUS CORE will focus on listening, speaking, interpersonal, and/or media skills. Public speaking, interpersonal communications and broadcast media may satisfy the oral communications component.

Oral Communications core courses will:

  • Enable an individual to speak with clarity, accuracy, and fluency in a variety of public contexts;
  • facilitate competence in the use of the conventions of language and forms of discourse, including sentence structure, mechanics, organization, and spelling;
  • facilitate research as a process of gathering, assessing, interpreting, and using data from multiple sources to express ideas orally;
  • demonstrate a variety of technologies to facilitate research and drafting.

Upon completion of the Oral Communications core, students will be able to:

  • Use oral communication as a means to engage in critical inquiry by exploring ideas, challenging assumptions, and reflecting on and applying the oral communications process;
  • demonstrate multiple flexible strategies for inventing, drafting, and editing oral presentations;
  • deliver thoughtful oral presentations with clarity, accuracy and fluency;
  • listen actively in a variety of situations and speak effectively about their ideas;
  • adapt content and mode of presentation to fit a given audience and medium;
  • give and receive feedback on oral presentations.

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