Human Communication Studies
The mission of the department is to provide students with an understanding of communication processes in a culturally diverse society. An in-depth understanding of communication processes brings a number of benefits, including the ability to analyze communication barriers and the competency to facilitate effective communication between individuals, within organizations, between organizations and their customers or constituencies, and across cultures. Understanding communication processes in depth can, with specialized education and training, be used also to diagnose and treat disorders of communication.
Speech Communication
The department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication with emphases in Argumentation and Persuasion, Intercultural Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Organizational Communication, and Communication Studies. It also offers a Master of Arts degree in Speech Communication. Students who complete the bachelor's or master's degree are qualified to enter a variety of rewarding careers in business, nonprofit organizations, government, and education, and they are qualified to pursue advanced degrees in communication studies as well as in other academic and professional fields that are described under the sections on concentrations. The department offers a minor in Speech Communication , which is structured to meet individual students' educational needs and career aspirations.
Communicative Disorders
The department also offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders. These degrees lead to eligibility for a state license in speech-language pathology, national certification in speech-language pathology, and a specialized credential for work within the public school system. The Communicative Disorders Program has been accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for over thirty years. The Communicative Disorders Program has a number of special features, including an emphasis on clinical services for persons from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, alternative and augmentative forms of communication, and diagnosis and management of disorders of swallowing.
communicative disorders Peer Mentoring Program
Grad Check Process
Undergraduate Candidates for the Baccalaureate
Each prospective graduate must file for graduation. A student is eligible to apply for graduation after accumulating 85 units. Undergraduates must pay the $115 graduation/diploma fee and file a request for a grad check with the Office of Admissions and Records one year (two semesters) prior to the date on which they anticipate completing all requirements for a degree.
Forms Available
Pick up application forms in the Admissions and Records Service Center (LH-114). Submit with fee to Student Financial Services (UH-180) by the appropriate deadline. Click here or refer to the current class schedule for filing dates. Once the graduation check has been received by the student (in the mail), undergraduate candidates must have their graduation check forms signed by major department advisors and returned to the Graduation Unit (LH-114) by the appropriate deadline.
Graduate Candidates for the Master's Degree
Every prospective graduate must file for graduation. Graduate candidates must pay the $115 graduation/diploma fee and file a request for a grad check with the Office of Admissions and Records one full semester in advance of the graduation date (for summer graduates, must file prior to the spring semester).
Forms Available
Pick up graduation check application forms in the Admissions and Records Service Center (LH-114) and submit with fee to Student Financial Services (UH-180) by the appropriate deadline.