Speaking Emphasis Requirement

Speaking Emphasis courses are designed to develop students’ oral/language-based communication skills in ways that are deemed important and desirable within a specific academic discipline or more generally across disciplines. The skills developed can range from performance-based speaker-audience interactions to one-on-one or group interactions based on the focus of the discipline. The emphasis of each SE course is to develop personal and professional advantages through the ability to put thoughts together and communicate effectively in a meaningful way.

Students must complete 9 credits of Speaking Emphasis coursework, 3 credits of which must be at the 300-400 level.

Courses in American sign language may meet the Speaking Emphasis requirement if they are designated as such.

NOTE: A Speaking Emphasis designation may only transfer into WCU if the course from a student's prior institution has been submitted to and approved by the Speaking Emphasis Committee of the Curriculum and Academic Policies Council (CAPC). To receive credit for this type of course, students must submit a Course Substitution Request to the Office of the Special Assistant for Academic Policy. For a course substitution to be granted, the substituting course must demonstrate not just that speaking was assigned or completed by students in the course, but that speaking was a significant part of course content and that direct instruction in speaking skills took place in the course. Ideally, a substituting course meets all of WCU’s speaking-emphasis designation criteria.

All transfer students who enter with fewer than 40 college-level credits must complete 9 credits of Speaking Emphasis coursework. Transfer students who enter with 40-70 college-level credits, must take at least 6 credits of Speaking Emphasis coursework. Students who transfer more than 70 college-level credits must take at least 3 credits of Speaking Emphasis coursework at the 300-400 level.