Return to: College and School Hierarchy

This area is in the School of Design and Communication  within the COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION .

Professional Communication

Rhonda Sprague, Area Coordinator/Professor
Office: CAC 208
Email: rsprague@uwsp.edu​
Web: https://www3.uwsp.edu/schoolofdesign/Pages/major/Professional-Communication.aspx

Faculty: T Bodor, S Hill, R Sprague

Definition: The Professional Communication major facilitates the development of skill sets to prepare graduates for success in contemporary workplaces.

Academic Standards for Professional Communication

Retention and Graduation

1. In order to graduate with a major or minor in professional communication, you must achieve a 2.50 GPA in all communication classes taken, regardless of a declaration of academic forgiveness.
2. Once you complete 12 credits toward your professional communication major (excluding 101), you must maintain a 2.50 GPA for your major coursework. If your professional communication major GPA falls below a 2.50, you will be placed on probation for one semester. If you fail to regain a 2.50 GPA after the next semester in which you complete a professional communication course, you will be dismissed from the major.
3. Courses with a grade below C- DO NOT fulfill the major or minor requirements, but are included in the calculation of the major or minor GPA. See the Grade-related Policies section of this catalog for the policy on repeating courses.
4. Transfer credit policy: Certain courses taken at other universities may substitute for courses in the major. Credits from these courses will be counted when calculating your GPA in professional communication.

Test-out, Credit-by-Exam, and Retroactive Credit Policy

If you think you qualify for the above, contact the Professional Communication Area coordinator who will determine whether the exam will be for test-out, credit-by-exam, and/or retroactive credit. A designated instructor will administer a written exam that evaluates your level of ability with the content of the course. A grade of B or better will qualify for test-out.

Courses that involve applied skills and/or oral performance may also require a second performance exam if you score well enough on the written exam.

Graduate Programs

Elizabeth Fakazis, Graduate Coordinator
Room 327, Communication Arts Center
Phone: 715-346-2238
Email: Liz.Fakazis@uwsp.edu
Web: www.uwsp.edu/comm/Pages/grad/default.aspx

Communication: Project Option, M.A.

27 credits of coursework, plus 3 credits for project, and one colloquium credit. This option allows you to conduct a study (approx 50 pages) of a work situation, write about and direct a production, or examine a topic of interest from a more applied perspective. After you have completed at least 15 credits, the advisory committee approves the selection of your project topic, rationale, and method to be used for conducting the project. When the advisory committee approves your project proposal, you must enroll in one or more hours of project credit to maintain your status as an MA candidate. We count no more than 3 project credits toward your 31 credit degree requirement.

PLEASE NOTE: Entry of new students into this M.A. program has been suspended as of Spring 2021.

Process for Completing the Thesis/Project

1. With the chair of your committee, write a prospectus (a proposal of 20-30 pages) that outlines the thesis/ project topic and the methods you will use to conduct the study. After the remaining committee members have read your prospectus, you must orally defend it to your committee.
2. After approval of the prospectus, conduct your study and write the thesis or project. Once you and your chair feel the written thesis/project is ready, have the remaining committee members read it and set a date to orally defend the thesis/project to the committee. You must defend your thesis/project at least 30 days prior to the commencement ceremony to be eligible to participate in the ceremony.
3. Make any final revisions that are required by the committee. At least 10 days prior to the commencement ceremony, arrange with the library to have at least four hardbound copies made. The library then certifies that your thesis/project is complete. The graduate coordinator and registrar then conduct a final audit of your work before approving you for graduation.

Communication: Thesis Option, M.A.

24 credits of coursework, plus 6 credits for thesis, and one colloquium credit. This option allows you to conduct a research project (approx 100-150 pages) that can help you prepare for entering a PhD program or complete a more detailed and/or theoretical examination of a topic of interest. After you have completed at least 15 credits, the advisory committee approves the selection of a thesis topic, rationale, and method to be used for the study. When the advisory committee approves your thesis project proposal, you must enroll in one or more hours of thesis or project credit to maintain your status as an MA candidate. We count no more than 6 thesis credits toward your 31 credit degree requirement.

PLEASE NOTE: Entry of new students into this M.A. program has been suspended as of Spring 2021.

Process for Completing the Thesis/Project

1. With the chair of your committee, write a prospectus (a proposal of 20-30 pages) that outlines the thesis/ project topic and the methods you will use to conduct the study. After the remaining committee members have read your prospectus, you must orally defend it to your committee.
2. After approval of the prospectus, conduct your study and write the thesis or project. Once you and your chair feel the written thesis/project is ready, have the remaining committee members read it and set a date to orally defend the thesis/project to the committee. You must defend your thesis/project at least 30 days prior to the commencement ceremony to be eligible to participate in the ceremony.
3. Make any final revisions that are required by the committee. At least 10 days prior to the commencement ceremony, arrange with the library to have at least four hardbound copies made. The library then certifies that your thesis/project is complete. The graduate coordinator and registrar then conduct a final audit of your work before approving you for graduation.

Programs

• Communication: Professional Communication Emphasis, BS

• Professional Communication Minor

• Communication: Project Option, MA
• Communication: Thesis Option, MA

Courses

• COMM 100 - Orientation to Professional Communication
• COMM 101 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication
• COMM 103 - Introduction to Communication and Culture
• COMM 110 - How to Win an Argument
• COMM 130 - Introduction to Public Relations
• COMM 180 - Foundations of Workplace Communication
• COMM 201 - Communication Research
• COMM 212 - Writing for Professional Communication
• COMM 334 - Public Relations Writing
• COMM 336 - Communication and Promotional Strategies
• COMM 338 - Topics in Public Relations
• COMM 345 - Small Group Communication
• COMM 385 - Workplace Communication Laboratory
• COMM 387 - Interviewing
• COMM 388 - Topics in Workplace Communication
• COMM 390 - Seminar
• COMM 391 - Persuasion
• COMM 393 - Political Campaigns
• COMM 394 - Business and Professional Communication
• COMM 395 - Special Topics
• COMM 399 - Practicum in Professional Communication
• COMM 430 - Professional Communication Capstone
• COMM 480 - Internship in Professional Communication
• COMM 485 - Externship in Professional Communication - London
• COMM 499 - Special Work
• COMM 538 - Topics in Public Relations
• COMM 545 - Small Group Communication
• COMM 585 - Workplace Communication Laboratory
• COMM 588 - Topics in Workplace Communication
• COMM 590 - Seminar
• COMM 591 - Persuasion
• COMM 593 - Political Campaigns
• COMM 595 - Special Topics
• COMM 780 - Project Credit
• COMM 790 - Seminar
• COMM 796 - Independent Study
• COMM 797 - Colloquium
• COMM 799 - Thesis Credit

Return to: College and School Hierarchy