Abstract
This report documents the outcomes of two national conferences (1985 and 1986) convened to develop an essential undergraduate curriculum in speech communication. Against the backdrop of widespread critiques of liberal arts education and rapid enrollment growth in communication programs, the conferences brought together faculty from small colleges to identify core knowledge, courses, and curricular structures for the discipline. Participants affirmed the place of speech communication within the liberal arts and articulated goals of producing effective and ethically responsible communicators. The 1985 conference identified five core courses—public speaking, interpersonal communication, small group communication, understanding media, and communication and rhetorical theory—alongside additional recommended content areas. The 1986 conference advanced this work by developing detailed rationales, objectives, and structures for the core courses. The report concludes with calls for continued curricular development and follow-up conferences to refine the integration of the discipline within undergraduate liberal arts education.
Recommended Citation
Smitter, Roger and Buzza, Bonnie W.
(1987)
"The Essential Undergraduate Curriculum in Speech Communication: A Progress Report,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 60, Article 21.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol60/iss1/21
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