Major: Communication and Rhetoric
Do you love nothing more than a good debate? Have you made a sport of picking apart everything from presidential speeches to class lectures? If you’ve answered yes, you may want to consider majoring in communication and rhetoric.
You’ll learn much more than how to be a powerful, persuasive speaker. You’ll study the complex ways in which we communicate with each other, through the media and face-to-face, with words and without, at work and at play.
Communication and rhetoric majors study and practice the exchange of messages in all their variety.
“I love the fact that the classes aren't lectures. There's a lot of talking and sharing of ideas, a lot of group work. I feel like that actually prepares us for the real business world. ”
Carol, junior, communication, University of Colorado
Are You Ready To...?
- Learn the art of argumentation
- Learn to read between the lines
- Learn to read gestures and facial expressions
- Roleplay person-to-person communication situations
- Write a paper on the hidden meanings of popular music
- Write and deliver a speech on cultural differences in communication
- Join the debate team
It Helps to Be...
Someone who loves words and uses them well. In this major, your verbal skills will frequently be on display. Being a good listener is equally important.
College Checklist
- Does the department offer concentrations in which you have an interest, such as political rhetoric or public address?
- Is there an active campus chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, a communication studies honor society?
- What kinds of internships will you be able to choose from?
- Do the professors have substantial experience in the field?
- Will the department help you find work after graduation?
“Rhetoric … breaks everything down to pieces, smashes it even to grounds, and then somehow manages to rearrange it into this awesome new image.”
Seema, senior, rhetoric, political science, and German,
UC Berkeley
Course Spotlight
If you know what a spin doctor is, you already have an idea of what you’ll study in a class on the art of persuasion. It’s a requirement of most communication and rhetoric programs.
You’ll study theories of persuasion such as reinforcement theory and social-impact theory. You’ll probably be asked to bring in newspaper articles, ads, and other illustrations of these theories. And you can expect to do some persuading of your own: putting theory into practice as you write and deliver speeches is a great way to learn.
Explore this major in more depth on MyRoad™