Speech Communication Program
The speech major at Minnesota State University Moorhead focuses on how people use messages to generate meanings within and across various contexts, cultures, channels, and media. Students acquire communication skills through courses in public speaking, oral interpretation, rhetorical criticism, persuasion, and argumentation and debate. In addition, the speech major studies communication in contexts such as organizations, groups, and relationships. Students become effective producers and thoughtful consumers of communication after taking courses which emphasize both the theory and practice of communication. Speech majors are highly valued by employers because they possess communication skills and have a broad understanding of communication.

Majors in speech communication must declare a concentration in one of these areas:

• The Professional Communication concentration is designed for students who plan a professional career in areas demanding effective verbal communication skills such as law, sales, communication consulting, business management, ministry or public relations.

• The B.S. Degree in Speech Communication and Theatre Arts is for students who wish to teach in high schools and middle schools. Study in English and theatre arts as well as speech is necessary for employment in most schools. MSUM's degree is designed to meet requirements for secondary education certification. Students must complete education department requirements, including one semester of student teaching. Most students interested in teaching will declare a dual major in English and Speech/Theatre which is required by many area secondary schools. To satisfy state of Minnesota requirements for secondary education certification, students declaring the B.S. teaching major must also participate in at least two of these speech activities: forensics, theatre, oral interpretation or broadcasting.

Department Benefits
• The average size of a performance class is 20-25; upper division classes are smaller, enabling students to receive the attention they deserve from faculty.

• The faculty offers students a broad range of knowledge including: Asian-American

intercultural communication, small group and interpersonal communication, public speaking, argumentation/debate, oral interpretation of literature, business, organizational and professional communication, film and telecommunication arts.

• Students are encouraged to enhance their classroom education with an approved internship. Faculty members help students find internships in a variety of community and government organizations. In the past, students have found internships at chambers of commerce, in Moorhead City Hall, in Washington, D.C., and local offices of members of Congress, in the Minnesota Legislature, in radio and television stations, and in business and industry.
• Students receive real life experience when they participate on the speech and debate team. The team participates in 20 speech tournaments a year in a district covering Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska.

• Speech communication students use facilities in the Center for the Arts, including a forensics workroom/practice room/lounge and videotape equipment for recording and playback/critique of students preparing for speech contests.

• Pi Kappa Delta is the university chapter of a national honorary speech fraternity dedicated to "the art of persuasion, beautiful and just." Admission to the fraternity is open to students who participate in at least 10 rounds of intercollegiate speech competition.

Career Opportunities
Students who graduate in speech communication choose from a wide variety of career areas including education, media, business, religion, government and graduate school.

Teaching has offered many graduates positions in area high schools. Non-teaching majors work in jobs such as human resources, sales, marketing, and management. Speech majors are prepared for careers in the ministry, law, or politics. MSUM speech alums also work in the media as announcers, producers, and writers.

Graduate or professional education is also an option for speech graduates. Departmental faculty will assist students in pursuing post-graduate degrees.

Students Succeed at MSU Moorhead
• Jolynn Friborg, sophomore, National Champion in Persuasive Speaking at the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament in 1997.

• Mandy Thompson, junior, State Champion in After Dinner Speaking at the Minnesota State Intercollegiate Speech Tournament in 1997.

• Cami Arvidson and Helen Jantzer presented research papers at the College of St. Thomas Undergraduate Research Conference in April 1997.

Alumni in Graduate and Professional Schools

• Tim Loatman, `95, Master of Arts degree at Colorado State University in 1997, Fort Collins, Colorado.

• Audra Colvert, `90, is completing her dissertation at Ohio University in the Department of Interpersonal Communication, Athens, Ohio.

• Mindy Fenske, `91, doctoral program at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

• Penni Pier, `93, doctoral program at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri.

Alumni at Work

• Robert Littlefield, `74, is Professor of Speech Communication at North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota.

• Gary Western, '79, is an attorney who specializes in corporate litigation in Seattle, WA.

• Jill Farden, '97, is a Human Resources Specialist with Great Plains Software in Fargo, ND.

• Mike Sullivan, '90, is a pharmaceutical sales representative with the Pfizer Company in Sauk Rapids, MN.

• Sally Thompson, '93, is Marketing Director for Kandi Mall in Willmar, MN.

• Jonathan Zylstra, '91, is a travel consultant with Council Travel in Minneapolis, MN.

Careers
Students who graduate in speech communication choose from a wide variety of career areas including education, media, business, religion, government and graduate school.

Teaching has offered many graduates positions in area high schools. Non-teaching majors work in jobs such as human resources, sales, marketing, and management. Speech majors are prepared for careers in the ministry, law, or politics. MSUM speech alums also work in the media as announcers, producers, and writers.

Graduate or professional education is also an option for speech graduates. Departmental faculty will assist students in pursuing post-graduate degrees.

Important Information
Admissions
1-800-593-7246

Speech Communication and Theatre Arts Department
Center for the Arts 116
(218) 477-2126
speech@mnstate.edu

Chair
David Wheeler - (218) 477-4618
wheeler@mnstate.edu

Email
dragon@mnstate.edu

Degree Requirements

• B.A. Degree in Speech Communication

• B.A. Degree in Speech Communication and Theatre Arts

• Emphasis in Professional Communication

• Minor in Speech Communication

• Minor in Speech Communication - Teaching