B.A. DEGREE WITH A MAJOR IN RHETORIC

Organizational Rhetoric Track

It is recommended that students who choose the Organizational Rhetoric Track also enroll in the American Humanics program through the

Office of Experiential Learning.

Cultural Rhetoric Track

It is recommended that students who choose the Cultural Rhetoric Track choose a minor in Art, Black Diaspora, English, Mass Communication, Music, Philosophy, Religion, Theatre, or Women's Studies.

Public Rhetoric Track

1. RHET 2315 Voice for the Public Speaker (3 hours)
2. RHET 3000 Persuasive Speaking
3. RHET 3100 Informative Speaking (6 hours)
4. RHET 3005 Service learning or RHET 3390 Rhetoric Practicum (3 hours)
5. RHET 3310 Perf. Studies or RHET 3315 Personal Narr. and Rhetoric (3 hours)
6. RHET 4500 Rhet. Criticism or RHET 4400 American Public Discourse (3 hours)
7. RHET 4300 Rhet. Theory or RHET 4100 Instructional Communication (3 hours)
8. RHET 4950 Spec. Topics, or RHET 4980 Study Abroad, or RHET 4990 Rhet. Practicum (3 hours)

Students must show competence in a foreign language at the level of the fourth university course (2002). Students do not get credit for the first level of the language they took in high school. (0-12 semester hours)

NOTE: Rhetoric majors may count up to three foreign-language courses (0-9 hours) in Area F.

Rhetoric majors may meet the GCSU Senior Capstone Experience in any of the following ways:

1. Study Abroad undertaken after completion of at least 72 hours of coursework (met through RHET 4980 or participation in any study abroad program approved by the Department Chair);
2. Completion of any approved IDST Senior Capstone Course;
3. Completion of a Senior Research/Thesis Experience scholarly project on a topic chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor or group of faculty advisors. This option requires registration for RHET 4999, Undergraduate Research (2 hours), usually in the Summer or Fall of the senior year, and RHET 4970, Thesis (1 hour) usually in the Spring, and presentation of the thesis project at the spring Student Symposium, an appropriate professional meeting or conference, or a public presentation at GCSU. This requirement may also be met through completion of a Scholars Project, as outlined in the Honors and Scholars Program section of the Catalog; or
4. Completion of an approved Senior Service Learning Experience project in an area chosen with a faculty advisor or group of advisors and the Office of Service Learning, and approved through a competitive application process through the Office of Service Learning. This option requires registration for RHET 3005, Service Learning (1 hour) in the semester the project is undertaken (usually the Fall semester of the senior year), and for RHET 4970, Thesis (2 hours) in the following semester to write a scholarly and reflective paper placing the service-learning project into a disciplinary and interdisciplinary context, and/or to compile a documentary portfolio of the experience. Both the paper option and the portfolio option require presentation of the project's results at either the spring Student Symposium, a Service Learning Symposium, or an appropriate professional meeting or conference.

Other Requirements

1. Completion of the First-Year Academic Seminar with a passing grade. Students who transfer to GCSU after the first term are exempt from the requirement.
2. A grade of C or better is required in all Rhetoric courses.
3. A minimum of 39 semester hours overall must be at the 3000-4000 level.
4. Fulfillment of University-wide Senior Capstone Experience requirement, as explained above.

Rhetoric majors who need more than one language courses to meet the University B.A. requirements may have a lower number of elective hours.