Abstract
This introductory essay outlines the purpose and context of a collection of position papers defending the place of the communication arts and sciences within liberal arts colleges. The author notes that departments in areas such as mass communication, speech communication, speech and hearing sciences, and theatre have increasingly been required to justify budgets, faculty lines, and even their continued existence amid broader financial pressures in higher education. Because these fields are commonly housed in liberal arts units, contributors were asked to articulate the intellectual foundations and educational value that warrant their inclusion in that context. Four scholars prepared essays addressing the significance of their respective areas, and these statements were followed by evaluative responses from an invited dean and from the program chair. The introduction emphasizes that the collection aims both to present reasoned arguments supporting the discipline’s liberal arts legitimacy and to offer persuasive strategies that department leaders may use when responding to administrative or external challenges.
Recommended Citation
Emmert, Philip
(1985)
"In Defense of the Communication Arts and Sciences as a Liberal Art: An Introduction,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 53, Article 4.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol53/iss1/4
