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Rhetorical Communication Concentration

Learn to construct effective and ethically responsible messages.

For more than 2,000 years, the study of communication was the study of rhetoric. The rhetorical communication concentration connects you to the roots of communication study while keeping the conversation relevant and current. Together, we apply rhetorical theory to contemporary forms of delivering messages.

Central to the study of rhetoric is the notion of civic engagement. In a democracy, the opportunity for people to express themselves, present arguments, engage in debate, and praise and blame is critical to the orderly functioning of society. In the church, workplace, and community, such speakers play a critical role in creating solutions to problems, defending the rights of the oppressed and improving the lives of fellow humans. If you are interested in law, politics, and or ministry this concentration will help you discern and construct responsible messages for the audiences you serve.

Rhetorical Communication Concentration - Degree Requirements

Course Highlights

COMM 316 Advanced Presentational Speaking

In this course, you'll prepare to deliver various kinds of problem-solving presentations with an emphasis on content, structure and delivery. This will include problem analysis, policy justification, professional application speech, and argumentative speech.

COMM 319 American Public Address

This course will explore the public discourse of political speeches and popular culture from the Colonial era to the present. You'll carefully analyze speech texts and the historical contexts in which they were delivered. This will help you become a more careful consumer of public messages, build critical skills and improve your understanding of key issues in American history. Discover how issues were debated and the importance of rhetoric in a democratic society.

MIN 324 Preaching and the Church

Explore the role of preaching and proclamation in worship and ecclesiology. This course examines the character and methods of the preacher. You'll focus on the preparation and delivery of sermons while combining theory of organization structure with tools and techniques for biblically based preaching in various sermon genres.