Studying Speech Communication

Other Information

Associate Degree in Communication

Students who are interested in improving their communication skills in many contexts may be interested in earning an Associate of Arts degree in Communication (A.A.). An A.A. in Communication requires a student to: (1) complete a minimum of 60 units of coursework with a grade point average of "C" or better, (2) complete a minimum of 26 units of general education coursework in English, physical education, natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and communication and analytical thinking, and (3) complete a minimum of 18 units in speech communication or other communication-related courses.

Required Courses:

• SPEECH 100 Elements of Public Speaking
• SPEECH 111 Interpersonal Communication
• SPEECH 140 Small Group Communication OR SPEECH/BUSAD 155 Human Relations in the Workplace

Select nine (9) additional units from the following:

• SPEECH 101 Advanced Public Speaking
• SPEECH 120 Oral Interpretation of Literature
• SPEECH 121 Advanced Oral Interpretation and Readers Theatre
• SPEECH 125 Critical Thinking through Argumentation and Debate
• SPEECH/JOUR 135 Mass Communication in Society
• SPEECH 140 Small Group Communication
• SPEECH/BUSAD 145 Business Communication
• SPEECH/BUSAD 155 Human Relations in the Workplace
• SPEECH 174 Communication in a Diverse World
• SPEECH 246, 247, 248 Special Studies in Communication
• ENGL/JOUR 120 Fundamentals of News Writing
• ENGL 170 The Film Experience
• INTDIS 180 Community Service and Leadership I
• INTDIS 181 Community Service and Leadership II
• MARKET 110 Advertising
• PSYCH 132 Counseling and Interviewing Techniques
• SOC 130 Marriage, Family and Intimate Relationships

An associate degree can be a valuable part of your educational experience. A report released by the U.S. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) in July 2001 stated that two out of five employers, or 40 percent, recruit individuals with associates degrees to fill their organization's workforce needs every year.

Perhaps you are a student who attending CHC to complete your general education requirements before transferring to a four year institution such as Cal State San Bernardino. You may not have even considered earning an associates degree before pursuing a bachelors. Is there value in doing so? The answer is a resounding, "YES!" An associates degree on your transcript and resume recognizes your achievement and success here at CHC. For most students, earning an A.A. before transferring requires little extra work. And an A.A. in communication is a great way to demonstrate to employers you have the communication skills they are looking for, even if your bachelors is in a different area, such as business, engineering or law. Also, speech communication courses at CHC fulfill a variety of general education requirements for students transferring to CSU.

For more information on earning an A.A. in communication, contact Rick Hogrefe, director of the speech communication program at Crafton Hills College.

Bachelor Degree and Beyond

Thousands of students each year graduate with bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in communication-related fields. Students who pursue a degree in communication have several courses of study to choose from: human communication theory, journalism and broadcasting, advertising and public relations, rhetoric and public address, media studies, and telecommunications just to name a few. Likewise, the career opportunities for those who major in communication are endless. Individuals with communication degrees have jobs in education, business, counseling and social work, government, public service, entertainment, law and any number of other fields. Locally, Cal State San Bernardino offers both bachelors and masters degrees in communication studies.