COMM 4000 Baccalaureate
Exit Examination in Communication

The Course: Communication majors take this course to fulfill a university baccalaureate requirement.

To fulfill the requirements of this course, the student must prepare a satisfactory portfolio based on work in eight courses; make a satisfactory eight-to-twelve minute presentation (including computer-generated slides or web-based components) to a faculty panel, and respond satisfactory to the faculty panel's interview about the student's portfolio and presentation.

Satisfactory completion of the course is required for graduation. Rationale: This class represents an opportunity for both students and faculty to reflect on what a communication degree represents. It examines the quality of the education students receive in the communication major. That provides the student with a better picture of possible career opportunities and the means to demonstrate individual potential value to employers and to the community. For the faculty, the exam demonstrates the program's strengths and needs.

Preparation of a highly selective portfolio under the guidance of the course instructor ensures that the course's desired outcome for the student is met. The student's decisions and strategy in the preparation of that portfolio provide the means for the faculty to evaluate the degree plan.

This also represents the student's opportunity to provide faculty with specific information to be retained and used later for recommendations to employers, professional schools, and graduate programs.

Requirements: The student will prepare a portfolio representing his/her work based on at least eight communication or related courses. The portfolio may contain audio, visual, or computer materials as well as traditional text. The portfolio should be organized, written, illustrated, and bound in a manner appropriate for a beginning professional. The portfolio will remain on file in the department. If the student wants to keep a copy, two copies should be submitted.

The student's work should reflect his/her success in completing the curriculum and achieving its goals. The curriculum seeks to develop:

1. Communication skills (e.g., writing, speaking, and listening)

2. Production skills (e.g., computer application, multimedia presentations)

3. Research skills (e.g., documentation, literature reviews, surveys, research design, data collection and analysis)

4. Adaptability in responding to people (e.g., history, theories, concepts, models, and career opportunities)

5. Knowledge of communication (e.g., history, theories, concepts, models, and career opportunities)

6. Critical/analytical skills (e.g., problem analysis, theoretical understanding and application)

Presentation Guidelines

The exit presentation should be developed using a public speaking model (introduction, body, and conclusion) and delivered extemporaneously within a timeframe of 8-12 minutes. This timeframe should be sufficient for content purposes while allowing members of the panel to ask questions and/or clarify concepts.

The Communication 4000 presentation should have a central theme or focus. Please do not simply review the courses presented in your portfolio. Your presentation should embody many elements of your coursework. You may wish to prepare your oral presentation as if it is being given at a job interview or to a panel of professors from other departments or colleges. The presentation needs to be descriptive rather than evaluative, e.g., instead of saying something was useful or important, show the panel something which is useful or important.

The following suggestions and questions may serve as a guide for you when developing your presentation:

• A particular theory or theories (please limit to three) that applies across all areas of study and have come to be most influential or important to your understanding of communication problems

• A research project that embodies many elements from your coursework (e.g., research, internship, travel abroad)

• What learning experience has been the most significant for you and why?

• When asked to work for an employer in the future, what will you contribute that you think would be different from what you think an English major or Biology major might contribute?

• What themes, threads, and commonalities do you see running through courses taught in the department?

• What else might you have been taught that you would like the department to consider teaching and why?

• What were your expectations about the Communication major?

• How has the Communication Program affected you?

• How have you changed during the course of your college experience?

• What are some important lessons you learned as a Communication major?

• What are your most important accomplishments as a Communication major?

• What are the most important problems you have experienced as a student of Communication?

• Explain how the Communication Program has prepared you for your current job, career, or graduate/professional school. A student who is selecting or has selected a graduate or professional school might tell how they evaluate these programs.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

1. Are the eight courses listed in the guidelines required to be all upper level courses?
   
   Yes, all eight courses must be 3000 level or above.

2. Can I include a course that I am currently taking but will not complete by the deadline to turn in my final portfolio?
   
   Yes, simply insert a notice that the section will be added pending course completion. Be sure to insert this section before grades are due at the end of the semester or your grade will be turned in as incomplete.

3. Will I be required to submit a CD-ROM version of my portfolio and will training on CD-ROM be offered?
   
   Yes, students will be required to submit a CD-ROM version of their final portfolio. A CD writing workshop will be announced for students during the semester term.