GENERAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE
COMMUNICATION-INTENSIVE COURSES
Rationale
A Communication-Intensive course develops students’ abilities to effectively communicate a message to
a broad audience using a combination of multiple modes of communication. Communication in the
modern world comprises multiple modes that support and enhance the impact and effectiveness of the
message. Successful speeches combine aspects of verbal communication, such as word selection, with
nonverbal communication, such as eye contact, to move an audience whether to inform, persuade, or
entertain. An article with supporting visual content and attention to layout, graphics, and font is generally
more rich and engaging than one without. Theatrical plays frequently incorporate costumes, music, and
set designs to transport the audience into the moment. Students must be able to understand and
demonstrate how to combine these modes to meet their personal communication goals or those assigned
to them. Students must also be able to reach multiple audiences such as the visually or hearing impaired.
Guidelines
1. Communication-Intensive assignments will be an integral part of the course.
• Assignments should emphasize formal communication to reach a public audience.
• Assignments should be designed to develop, practice, and demonstrate the student’s ability
to communicate effectively.
2. There will be at least two Communication-Intensive assignments, and they will be distributed
throughout the course.
• Assignments should be discipline-specific and combine at least two of the following modes of
communication:
o aural (sound, musical/instrumental performance, etc.);
o oral (speech, singing, lecture, lesson, etc.);
o tactile (sculpture, Braille, hands-on demonstrations, etc.);
o kinetic (acting, dance, gestures, etc.);
o visual (art, design, information graphics, costume, presentation graphics, sign
language, advertisement, video, graphics-based computer program, etc.); and
o written (research papers, essays, articles, blog postings, Internet pages, etc.).
3. There will be opportunities for feedback and revision.
• Communication-Intensive assignments should be structured so that students can improve
their communication skills through practice and revision. At least one such assignment should
go through a revision process.
• Drafts may be reviewed and critiqued by both the instructor and peers; however, the
instructor should be responsible for providing the most substantive feedback.
• Feedback and revision should involve more than just pointing out surface errors.
4. Communication-Intensive assignments will constitute a significant portion of the course grade and
content. At least 50% of the course grade and content should be based on such assignments.
5. There will be instruction in and evaluation of Communication-Intensive assignments as they relate
to the discipline in which the course is taught.
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