An economics professor says, "…we are living in a communications revolution comparable to the invention of printing…In an age of increasing talk, it's wiser talk that we need most."

Rhetoric offers you a pathway to that wiser talk in its myriad contexts:

• deepening interpersonal relationships
• succeeding in interviews
• working in groups and teams
• building intercultural and ethnic relationships
• connecting through public speaking
• analyzing media and mass communication

Our speech communication major helps you improve all forms of communication from expressing feelings and nonverbal signals to creating documentaries and blogs to giving public addresses and interviews. 

Your Future in Speech Communication
If want a career in the communication field the opportunities are endless. Your course work at Coe will help you build an impressive portfolio and resume. Your internship will often lead to a job. One of our communication alumnae ended up working for KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids as a broadcast reporter. Two others are creating brochures and publicity documents for the clients of Stamats Publishing.

Even if your major is in another field, a speech communication major/minor or a couple of courses can help you succeed before and after graduation. Executives with Fortune 500 companies indicate that college students need better communication skills including the ability to work in teams and with people from diverse backgrounds. For example:

• scientists, engineers, business people, coaches, public relations reps and entertainers all work in groups to complete their projects;
• lawyers, teachers, advocates, pastors, and advocates need to communicate clearly to their audiences;
• social workers, translators, medical personnel, and counselors will interact with people from different cultures;
• human service staff, managers in all fields, salespeople, law enforcement, and administrators find increasing amounts of their time speaking and listening to people one-on-one.

Check out the National Communication Association's website at www.natcom.org for more information about the communication field.

You can find details about our curriculum and a four-year plan at these links. You only need ten courses for a major, six for a minor.

View the Catalog listing of Speech Communication courses and requirements here.