Human Communication Studies, Department of

Introduction
Degree Descriptions

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes
Programs and Courses Offered

Department Chair

Gary Ruud

Department Office/Website

College Park 420-1
657-278-3617
communications.fullerton.edu/departments/hcomm/

Faculty

Claudia Anguiano, Kristofer Brock, Jon Bruschke, K. Jeanine Congalton, Michael Davis, Tenzin Dorjee, Robert Gass, Nise Bloomfield Frye, Javette Hayes, Zac Johnson, Minjung Kim, Kurt Kitselman, Patty Malone, Summer Martin, Irene Matz, Gary Ruud, Terry Saenz, Alyssa Samek, HyeKyeung Seung, Daniel Sutko, Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, Jason Teven, Erika Thomas, Stella Ting-Toomey, Kenneth Tom, Ying-Chiao Tsao, Phil Weir-Mayta, Toya Wyatt.

Introduction

The mission of the department is to provide students with an understanding of communication processes in a culturally diverse society. An in-depth understanding of communication processes brings a number of benefits, including the ability to analyze communication barriers and the competency to facilitate effective communication between individuals, within organizations, between organizations and their customers or constituencies, and across cultures. Our vision is to train good men and women speaking well to solve communication problems by studying the ways in which messages link participants during transactions. Understanding communication processes in depth can, with specialized education and training, also be used to diagnose and treat disorders of communication.

Degree Descriptions

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies is designed to provide students with an understanding of communication processes in a culturally diverse society across a variety of contexts. The curriculum provides specific instruction in argumentation, persuasion, intercultural communication, interpersonal communication and organizational communication as a means of facilitating effective communication between individuals and groups. The program’s vision is to train good men and women speaking well to solve communication problems by studying the ways in which messages link participants during their interactions. Upon completion of the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies, students are prepared to pursue graduate studies or apply their knowledge and skills to their professional careers.

The Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders is designed to provide students with specialized education and training that can be used to diagnose and treat disorders of communication. The curriculum provides specific instruction in speech/language development, child language and speech sound disorders, audiology and audiometry, neurology and neurogenic communicative disorders, fluency disorders, communication development/disorders in children from culturally/linguistically/diverse backgrounds and other related areas. The learning goal for the Communicative Disorders major is for students to acquire the accumulated essential knowledge in the major courses so that they can apply their expertise to clinical issues in graduate school or in their work settings.

The Master of Arts in Communication Studies is designed to give students broad exposure to theory and research and, at the same time, allow them to specialize in one area (i.e., argumentation and persuasion, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, organization communication, rhetorical studies). The objectives of the degree include improving the student’s academic and professional competence, preparing the student for advanced graduate work toward the doctoral degree, developing the student’s research capabilities, increasing student’s knowledge in the area of specialization, preparing students to apply their knowledge and skills to a professional setting beyond academia, and providing the opportunity to develop teaching skills for those students who plan a teaching career at the college or university level. Students are expected to demonstrate a high degree of intellectual competence and scholarly discipline, to evaluate messages critically and to demonstrate mastery of the field of specialization.

The Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders is designed to provide students with specialized education and training that can be used to diagnose and treat disorders of communication. The curriculum provides specific instruction in speech/language development, child language and speech sound disorders, audiology and audiometry, neurology and neurogenic communicative disorders, fluency disorders, Augmentative/Alternative Communication, communication development/disorders in children from culturally/linguistically/diverse backgrounds and other related areas. Most graduate classroom instruction is provided by doctoral-level faculty members who have specific expertise in the clinical sub-disciplinary areas required by ASHA for the Certificate of Clinical Competence. In addition, students are able to acquire their clinical skills in an exceptional array of high-quality, well-known clinics and hospitals, including major teaching hospitals and public schools across Southern California counties. Finally, the program is distinctive in providing its students access to a clinical population of exceptional linguistic and cultural diversity. In addition, upon the completion of the M.A. degree, graduates may obtain their Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential in Language, Speech and Hearing to serve students in the public schools, state license and national certificate of clinical competence.

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

Programs and Courses Offered

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Master of Arts

Non-Degree

Certificate

Courses

Human Communication Studies

Courses are designated as HCOM in the class schedule.