Undergraduate Bulletin
Document Number 3.03.05

Writing and Speech

Chair and Associate Professor: Dr. Harvey, 450-3344
Professor: Mr. Wright
Associate Professors: Dr. Bolter, Dr. Morgan
Assistant Professors: Dr. Bedner, Dr. Burley, Dr. Corley, Dr. Selting, Dr. Standerfer, Ms. Tucker, Dr. J. Vanderslice, Dr. S. Vanderslice, Dr. Wu
Visiting Assistant Professor: Mr. Powell
Lecturers: Ms. Allen, Ms. Anderson, Ms. Bradford, Ms. Colaianni, Mr. Gifford, Ms. Hamilton, Ms. Henning, Dr. Lance, Ms. Milburn, Ms. Mongno, Mr. Rohweder, Dr. Stengel
Instructors: Ms. Amy, Mr. Baer, Ms. Bowles, Ms. Bray, Ms. Deering, Mr. Enis, Ms. Glauser, Ms. Grate, Ms. Jones, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Scaife, Ms. E. Smith, Ms. S. Smith, Mr. Thurman

[1] Purposes

The Department of Writing and Speech offers general education courses in communication skills supporting the university's emphasis on developing writing, speaking, and thinking skills across the curriculum. The department also offers courses in composition, linguistics, public relations, speech communication, rhetorical theory, and advanced courses in creative, professional, technical, and academic writing and offers majors in public relations, speech communication, and writing and minors in linguistics, speech communication, and writing.

[2] Baccalaureate Degrees

[2.1] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Speech - Major Emphasis in Public Relations or Speech Communication

The degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science with a major emphasis in public relations or speech communication requires the successful completion of 124 hours, including (1) the general education component, (2) specific degree requirements, (3) a major as described below, and (4) a minor as arranged through the student's minor advisor. Majors in public relations or speech communication must earn a grade of C or better in SPCH 1300.

[2.1.1] Major Emphasis in Public Relations (45 hours)

In addition to university requirements, students majoring in public relations are required to complete (1) 18 hours of core courses: SPCH 1310, 2313, 2315, 2341, 3301, and either 3312 or 4311; (2) 24 hours of application courses: SPCH 2305, 3305, 3310, 4305, 4308, 31D3, MCOM 2300, 3305, 1123, 2123; and (3) 3 hours of electives from among the following: SPCH 2310, 2311, 3303, 3307, 3321, 4315, 4316, 4380, MCOM 3301.

[2.1.2] Major Emphasis in Speech Communication (39 hours)

In addition to university requirements, students majoring in speech communication are required to complete (1) 18 hours of core courses: SPCH 1310, 2313, 2315, 2341, 3301, and either 3312 or 4311; (2) 12 hours of application courses: either SPCH 2310 or 2311, 3303, 3307, 4315; and (3) 9 hours of electives from among the following: SPCH 2305, 31D3, 3305, 3310, 3321, 4305, 4308, 4316, 4380, WRTG 4320.

[2.1.3] Minor in Speech Communication (26 hours)

Students seeking a minor in speech are required to complete SPCH 1310, 2310 or 2311, and at least 2 hours of communication applications. The remaining 18 hours are to be selected in consultation with a departmental advisor from courses listed under the emphasis areas of speech.

[2.2] Bachelor of Arts in Writing

The degree of Bachelor of Arts in Writing requires successful completion of 124 hours, including (1) the general education component, (2) specific degree requirements, (3) a major as described below, and (4) a minor as arranged through the student's minor advisor.

[2.2.1] Writing Major (36 hours)

In addition to university requirements, students will be required to take WRTG 2310, 2320, 3305, 3310, 4305; SPCH 3312, 4311; and 15 hours of electives selected in consultation with the student's major advisor.

[2.2.2] Linguistics Minor (24 hours)

Students seeking a minor in linguistics are required to complete WRTG 2320, PHIL 4330, WRTG 4315, and WRTG 4325; one of the following: FREN 2310, GERM 2310, JAPN 2310, LAT 2310, RUSS 2310, or SPAN 2310; and 9 hours of electives selected in consultation with the student's minor advisor.

[2.2.3] Writing Minor (24 hours)

Students seeking a minor in speech are required to complete WRTG 2310, 3300, 3301, 3305, 3310, and 9 hours of electives selected in consultation with the student's minor advisor.

[3] Resources

[3.1] The University Center for Communication Support

The University Center for Communication Support, located in Thompson Hall 109, provides students with resources for improving their written work and oral presentations. Students may schedule time with a trained writing or speech communication assistant and use the center's computers, recorders, cameras, monitors, and writing materials to develop essays or presentations for any course at the university. The center also provides handouts explaining documentation styles, common problems in college writing, and electronic research. Students may also request training on using e-mail, the Internet, and the university local area network. Call 450-5123 for appointments.

[3.2] Online Writing Lab (OWL) and Webster Helpline

The OWL website available at the www.uca.edu/cfac/wrsp/OWL provides students and faculty with information about the University Center for Communication Support and offers links to other pages containing condensed information about common grammar and punctuation problems, documentation styles, and various elements of college writing and presentations. The University Center for Communication Support also operates a grammar helpline, Webster, to answer questions about basic grammar, usage, and style. Webster can be accessed during the writing center's regular hours of operation via e-mail (Webster@cub.uca.edu) or phone (450-3334).

[3.3] The Writing Across the Curriculum Initiative

The University Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Initiative encourages the integration of activities in courses across the disciplines that help students to develop their writing skills as tools both for learning and for communication. The Department of Writing and Speech and the University Center for Communication Support offer a number of resources to assist the UCA teaching community in achieving this integration. These include professional development forums where interested instructors can work with writing-across-the-curriculum specialists, brown bag discussions that focus on more specific WAC topics, consultants from the Department of Writing and Speech who may meet with individual departments and faculty members upon request, and extensive assistance from the University Center for Communication Support. For more information on this initiative, call 450-3340.

[3.4] The Central Arkansas Writing Project

The Central Arkansas Writing Project is one of three Arkansas sites of the National Writing Project, a program that seeks to improve student writing in grades K-12. It has been recognized by the American Association for Higher Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as an "outstanding and nationally significant example of how schools and colleges can collaborate to improve American education." Each year the site offers a five-week summer writing institute for K-12 teachers across subject matter areas during which they study contemporary composition theory, experience the act of writing, devise effective pedagogy, and earn 6 graduate credits. Graduates of this institute become teacher-consultants able to provide in-service workshops to local educators in teaching writing-across-the-curriculum and join a network of colleagues who meet regularly to renew and update skills and knowledge.

[3.5] The Central Arkansas Writing Arts Series

The Central Arkansas Writing Arts Series invites four to six distinguished writers to the campus each year. Visiting writers conduct workshops for students interested in creative writing and perform readings open to the community.

[4] Courses in Speech Communication (SPCH)

Follow this link to SPCH course descriptions: course link.

[5] Courses in Writing (WRTG)

Follow this link to WRTG course descriptions: course link.