COMM 124 - Foundations of Speech Communication [GEEC]

The ability to communicate is fundamental to human life. We spend more time communicating than doing anything else. The ability to communicate effectively has a profound impact on an individual’s personal, social, academic, professional and civic life. Developing the skills of speaking and listening effectively is critical not only to the individual but also to the successful functioning of a growing and increasingly diverse democratic society.

Successful accomplishment of the Fundamentals of Speech course will enable students to prepare, present and evaluate speeches; thus enhancing and developing their ability to communicate effectively. Students will receive the appropriate instruction and have multiple opportunities to demonstrate the ability to conceptualize, analyze and research a topic; organize information; adapt to the audience’ craft the message with an introduction; body, and a conclusion’ create speaking notes; utilize a variety of audio-visual material’ make appropriate choices in both verbal and nonverbal communication during the presentation’ manage speech anxiety’ and listen both critically and emphatically. This course will assist the university in meeting the charge of the Boyer Commission when it stressed in 1998 that “Undergraduate education must enable students to acquire strong communication skills and thereby create graduates who are proficient in both written and oral communication.”

Additional Information:

Keywords: communication , Effective Communication (GEEC)  
Equivalent Courses: CTAC 124
Updates: Change to prefix 7/2019, effective Fall 2020; Change to title and description 4/2012, effective Fall 2012

Winter 2025 Course Sections

Fall 2024 Course Sections