2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Nov 23, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Communication Studies (B.A./B.S.) - Speech Education Specialization

Location(s): Brookings Main Campus


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Program Coordinator/Contact

Rebecca A. Kuehl, Associate Director
Erica Quam, Professional Academic Advisor
School of Communication and Journalism
Yeager Hall 211
605-688-4171

Program Information

This area of specialization is designed for the person who plans to become a communication educator. While the emphasis is primarily on secondary education, the area can serve as a specialization for teaching higher education as well.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Accreditation

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
South Dakota Department of Education

Certification and Licensure

  • Completion of an approved bachelor’s Secondary preparation program.
  • Completion of an approved South Dakota Indian studies course.
  • Pass the state designated content knowledge test or 2.7 GPA in content major coursework.
  • Pass the state designated pedagogy test.
  • Completion of a Suicide Awareness and Prevention training, available free online through the South Dakota Department of Education.
  • Apply online with the South Dakota Department of Education.
  • Written recommendation from institution of higher education (SDSU) verifying program completion.

Course Delivery Format

Courses utilize lecture, laboratory, small group, collaborative and integrative techniques.

Student Learning Outcomes


Graduates will be prepared to:

  • Describe the Communication discipline and its central questions by employing communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts.
  • Engage in Communication inquiry.
  • Create and critically analyze messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context.
  • Demonstrate the ability to accomplish communicative goals (self-efficacy).
  • Prepare for ethical public influence that embraces differences.

Academic Requirements


  • A grade of “C” or better is required in CMST 101 ENGL 101 PSYC 101 , and MATH 103   or higher (if these courses are in your plan of study), and all courses for the major (classes with department/program prefix).
  • An overall GPA of 2.5 is required to enroll in any education courses.

Requirements for Communication Studies Major - Speech Education Specialization: 120 Credits


Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements


College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements


  • One declared minor outside of the major discipline OR a second major OR a teaching specialization. The minor may be a traditional minor within one department or school or it may be interdisciplinary involving more than one department or school. The minor can be in a different college. The minor must be declared no later than the student’s third semester of enrollment.
  • Capstone course in the major discipline
  • Upper division coursework Credits: 33

Bachelor of Arts Requirements: 6+

  • Modern Foreign Language Including the 202-Level Credits: 6+

Bachelor of Science Requirements: 10+

  • Natural Sciences   Credits: 10+
    • Any two lab sciences.
    • Coursework must include 2 prefixes.
    • MATH and STAT courses do not count toward the science requirement.

System General Education and/or major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Consult program advisor for details. See the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences  for additional information about Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science specifications.

Electives


Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120


Summary of Program Requirements


Bachelor of Arts

System General Education Requirements* 30 Credit Hours
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements** 6+ Credit Hours
Major Requirements 38 Credit Hours
Teaching Specialization Requirements 34 Credit Hours
Electives*** 12 Credit Hours

Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements* 30 Credit Hours
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements** 10+ Credit Hours
Major Requirements 38 Credit Hours
Teaching Specialization Requirements 34 Credit Hours
Electives*** 14 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree shall include a minimum of 30 credit hours. Some general education coursework may be counted for Major Requirements, Supporting Coursework, and College Requirements.
**System General Education Requirements, Major Requirements, and Supporting Coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements.  
***Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet


The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.

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