This comprehensive review of the assessment of oral communication in the communication discipline is both descriptive and empirical in nature. First, some background on the topic of communication assessment is provided. Following the descriptive background, we present an empirical analysis of academic papers, research studies, and books about…

Reviews published assessments of oral communication across the curriculum programs in higher education. Reports activities and results from a faculty and student development program at a midsized comprehensive state university. Suggests that this approach holds significant promise for curricular development and improvement of student communication…

Investigates the productivity of communication programs by ranking doctoral institutions (1) globally, based on top award winning National Communication Association and International Communication Association conference papers, and (2) according to selected specialties in communication studies. Argues that these results can be used in conjunction…

This paper discusses the development of a measure designed to assess student acquisition of communication competencies. It reports on a study assessing 180 students who took pre- and mid-program assessment tests, and the analysis of 33 questions taken from those tests. The specific components examined included critical thinking, interpersonal,…

Provides information concerning the program quality of departments offering master's degrees in speech communication. Employs the subjective approach to measuring quality through the use of peer evaluations. (PD)

Investigates the status of Ph.D. communication education in research ethics. Analyzes research issues and reading materials used in coursework offered in research ethics. Finds that no program surveyed currently devotes an entire course to communication research ethics and that overall instruction in ethics is not extensive. (KEH)

A survey was conducted to update previous rankings of speech communication doctoral programs. Subjects were a random selection of every sixth name on the Speech Communication Association (SCA) membership list, and members of the SCA who have been the first authors of journal articles in the SCA journals in the past 10 years. In addition to…

A program was designed to reduce communication apprehension by using systematic desensitization, rhetoritherapy, and selected instructional strategies. Rhetoritherapy refers to the development of appropriate communication behaviors through a goal-setting procedure in which students learn to establish reasonable goals, ascertain behavior indicative…

Acknowledging that one of the most difficult challenges postsecondary educators must face is the maintenance of adequate student enrollment, this paper describes the creation of a speech communication laboratory as one component of a university-wide effort to maximize student retention. The paper first discusses several suggestions researchers…