Communication Research

I wrote this little piece to respond to some concerns voiced on the Basic Course List and I thought it might be relevant more generally. The recent posts about increasing class size and the new student learning objectives/outcomes are alarming. And, as the economic pressure on colleges continues, it only looks like it�s going to get worse. Now may be the time to reconsider and reconceptualize the basic course. Traditionally, the basic course in communication has been a course designed to teach the skills of public speaking. Then in the early 70�s courses in interpersonal communication were developed, again to teach basic skills. For those who wanted a broader spectrum of skills, there was the hybrid course, designed to teach the skills of interpersonal communication, interviewing, small group and leadership, and public speaking�with varied emphases.             These skills courses are most departments� �bread and butter.� Consequen...