Pre-Communication

  What is Pre-Communication?

The pre-communication program offers the first two years of college-level courses, allowing a student to transfer to McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) as a communication major.   Program graduates can find employment in business, government and the public sector, education and non-profit organizations. 

  Success Factors

Those who enter the area of communication will practice oral presentations,  learn listening skills,  become effective persuaders, and improve communication in a variety of venues: interpersonal relationships, public relations, organizational enterprises and cross-cultural environments.  

  Career Possibilities

Career opportunities include organizational training and consulting, public relations, human resource development, sales and training.

  Majoring in Pre-Communication

The pre-communication program is offered through the English and communication department at Raymond Walters College (RWC) and can be completed by a full-time student in two years.  After all requirements are completed, the student is eligible to receive an associate degree.  At any point during the two years (providing the grade point average meets minimum requirements), a student may apply to transfer to the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences.  After applying to and being accepted by the College of Arts and Sciences, students must also apply within the communication department in order to be accepted into the communication program.

  Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this program. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently confirmed or enrolled, you can check your degree requirements online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the Course Applicability System (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

FIRST YEAR

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
English Composition	ENGL 101, 102, 103	9
Foreign language (see note 1 below)     French, German or Spanish	Sequence 101, 102, 103 OR 104, 105, 106	9-15
Natural science sequence	BIOL 126, 127, 128 OR BIOL 107, 108, 109	15
College-level math	MATH 155, 156, 157	9
Effective Public Speaking	COMM 171	3
Persuasive Speaking	COMM 202	3
Interpersonal Communication	COMM 176	3
TOTAL		51-57

SECOND YEAR

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
Foreign language (see note 1 below)    French, German or Spanish (if needed)	Sequence 201, 202, 203	9
Humanities sequence     History of Art or Philosophy	ARTH 111, 112, 113 OR PHIL 104, 105, 105	9
Social science sequence    Psychology, Sociology or Economics	PSYC 101, 102, 103 OR SOC 141, 142, 143 OR ECON 101, 102, 103	9
Literature (two courses required)	ENGL 201, 202, 203	6
History sequence	HIST 110, 111, 112 OR HIST 215, 216, 217 OR HIST 130, 131, 132 OR HIST 151, 152, 153	9
Communication electives (see notes 2 & 3 below)		9
TOTAL		42-51

1. Foreign language requirement can be satisfied by completing a one-year, 15-credit sequence OR a two-year, 18-credit sequence.  Students with at least two years of foreign language should schedule a placement test by calling RWC at 745-5783. 
2. Students may choose from a variety of communication program electives, such as Introduction to Nonverbal Intercultural Communication, Introduction to Communication Theory, Introduction to Rhetorical Theory, Communication in Organizations, Introduction to Mass Communication, Intercultural Communication, Communication in Problem Solving Groups, and Business Communication.
3. The UC main campus communication department offers a variety of courses at RWC each quarter. However, students must use a different process than the typical RWC “Schedule of Courses” to find which A&S courses are offered each quarter at the Raymond Walters College campus. To discover which courses will be offered at RWC by main campus faculty, please follow these instructions:
   1. Go to the One Stop Student Services opening page at http://www.onestop.uc.edu
   2. Click on "View Class Offerings"
   3. Select the desired quarter and click "Continue"
   4. Select the college "McMicken College of Arts & Sciences" and click "Continue"
   5. Then select RWC and click "Continue"
   6. Scroll down the page to discover the communication courses on the RWC  campus offered that quarter by main campus faculty 

Of Special Interest:
Students who complete this program may also apply to bachelor's degree programs at other four-year colleges and universities.

Transfer programs are specially designed so that students successfully completing work at Raymond Walters College may transfer into a four-year program with advanced standing.

The A&S communication program on UC's main campus requires students who wish to transfer to apply for the communication major by calling the College of Arts and Sciences at 556-5860. In order to be accepted as a communication major, you must also schedule an appointment with another advisor within the communication department by calling 556-4440.

Raymond Walters College is conveniently located in suburban Blue Ash and is accessible from I-75, I-71, I-275 and the Ronald Reagan Highway. Most courses are offered both day and evening to fit your schedule

  UC Advantages and Special Opportunities

The small-campus atmosphere at Raymond Walters College offers excellent rapport between students and faculty.  Communication courses offered include Effective Public Speaking, Introduction to Interpersonal Communication, Persuasive Speaking, and Introduction to Nonverbal Intercultural Communication. In addition, the UC main campus communication department offers courses at the RWC campus on a regular basis. 

  Special Programs

Students who enter the pre-communication program need no prior courses in public speaking.  The program "begins at the beginning," with an introductory course in effective public speaking, an introductory course in interpersonal communication, and an introductory course in persuasive speaking.  In addition, students can take a basic course combining the areas of intercultural communication and nonverbal communication before entering the advanced courses.  For information on this latter course, go to the Web site www.crossculturalnonverbals.com and view a sampling of the material covered.  

Improvement in speaking skills helps an individual in most areas of life: personal, social and professional.  Beginning courses can be taken as an elective by students in any major.

  Admission Requirements

The University of Cincinnati has established academic success criteria for first-year applicants to bachelor’s degree programs. All students are encouraged to apply. Each individual’s admissibility will be evaluated based on these criteria and on the supplemental information required as part of the application (personal statement and list of co-curricular activities).

Students who meet one of the following criteria will be admitted, subject to space availability:

Top 10% class rank
OR
ACT score of 22 or higher OR SAT score of 1010 or higher, counting only Critical Reading and Math scores
OR
Top 70% class rank
AND
High school GPA of 2.6 or higher (unweighted)
AND
ACT score of 20 or higher OR SAT score of 930 or higher, counting only Critical Reading and Math scores 

Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following college preparatory subjects:

• English (4 units)
• College-preparatory mathematics (3 units)
• Science (2 units)
• Social Science (2 units)
• Foreign Language (2 units)
• Fine Arts (1 unit)
• Additional college-preparatory subjects (2 units)

  Accreditation

The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.