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Speech Communication
The Speech Communication Major at VSU The speech communication program at VSU offers a BFA degree that prepares students for graduate study and direct entry into professional careers in industry, public relations, event planning, human resources, corporate communication, diversity/corporate training, account management, and sales. A balance of theory and practice comprises the program of study in speech communication, thus speech communication faculty teach both the how and why of communication in various contexts. Speech communication majors select their area of emphasis from among the following:
The public relations emphasis is one of only two such programs in the southeastern United Stated certified by the Public Relations Society of American and the only certified program in Georgia. The intercultural organizational communication emphasis is our newest emphasis, preparing students for leadership positions in the 21st century. What makes the major increasingly popular is the career flexibility it allows graduates. Majors are provided with advising handbooks to learn the policies and procedures of the major and to manage their own academic careers. The Speech Communication Minor and Certificate at VSU The minor in speech communication is designed to provide students majoring in disciplines other than speech communication with a set of theories and skills to enhance their opportunities for success in their chosen careers. Speech Communication offers an 18 hour minor with two required courses. The remaining four courses, one of which must be at the 3000- or 4000-level, may be chosen to suit the career path chosen by the individual student. The health communication certificate, first offered in 2011, is intended for speech communication majors and non-majors who are pursuing a career in any aspect of the health care industry. This certificate requires completion of three required courses in speech communication and a fourth class outside the area selected from a pre-approved list. Admissions and Retention Standards New VSU freshman gain admission to the speech communication major by application. Admission for internal and external transfer students requires a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA to be eligible for graduation in the speech communication major. Opportunities for Professional Development In addition to service-learning opportunities associated with course offerings, speech communication majors apply their knowledge in capstone courses specific to each area of emphasis. In addition, students are encouraged to submit their scholarship to academic conferences for presentation. Three student organizations are sponsored by the speech communication program, including the Public Relations Student Society of America, Lambda Pi Eta, and the Student Society of Communication Scholars. The VSU Debate Team is sponsored by the speech communication area and open to all VSU students.
Internship credit is available to speech communication majors during their junior and senior years. Junior-level internships carry three credits, and senior-level internships are available for three, six, or nine credits depending on the time commitment negotiated between the student and the internship placement organization. While students may obtain their own internships, the Speech Communication Internship Coordinator, Dr. Linda Jurczak, provides support and contact information for students interested in completing internships. For information on the requirements and procedures required by the area, contact Dr. Jurczak at lpjurczak@valdosta.edu. |