Requirement – A student will be required to have two OC courses.
Requirement Purpose
In order to be a well-engaged global citizen, individuals must be able to express ideas effectively to others. Oral communication skills help the communicator redefine and shape his or her values and facilitate change in others. Specifically, oral communication skills are a set of abilities enabling individuals to become confident and competent speakers by the time of their graduation. These skills develop over time through a carefully planned process. OC courses will engage students in both formal and informal uses of communication. OC courses will equip students to comprehend, critique, and analyze information in order to be able to effectively and efficiently communicate their ideas to others.
In an OC course, students can expect to receive, process, and disseminate information; learn to appropriately cite evidence to support their claims; and demonstrate critical thinking skills used to examine, analyze, critique, and convey thoughts, ideas, and opinions. Students will learn the basic principles for organizing ideas appropriately in order to express them through oral communication.
Definitions: These terms are used in the Course Characteristics and Student Learning Outcomes below.
Formal communication: Formal oral communication will have the following characteristics: a major project that entails a significant amount of out of class preparation, such as a research presentation, accompanied by appropriate activities used to develop necessary skills systematically; or a set of smaller projects that accomplish the same goals
Informal communication: Informal oral communication will have the following characteristics: numerous shorter activities that may include class discussions, research updates, etc. consisting of activities that emphasize the appropriate oral communication skill
Required Course Characteristics
A course in this area will
| OC CC1. | offer explicit instruction in both the process and the product of oral communication and listening skills |
| OC CC2. | include several opportunities for students to develop oral communication skills in both formal and informal situation |
| OC CC3. | provide feedback that is designed to help students evaluate and improve oral |
Embedded Skill Learning Outcomes
Through completion of an OC course, students should be able to
| OC SLO1. | communicate orally in response to a prompt |
| OC SLO2. | evaluate arguments given through oral communication |
| OC SLO3. | provide credible evidence to support claims and arguments in oral communication |
| OC SLO4. | organize information logically in oral communication |
| OC SLO5. | incorporate elements to engage an audience in oral communication |
Faculty Resources