Speech Communication

The field of communication, as an academic discipline, focuses upon all aspects of verbal and nonverbal messages which generate meanings within and across cultures, channels, and contexts. It embraces a large body of knowledge, rooted in extensive and diverse research. Communication involves various skills including speaking, listening and comprehension.

Skills are learned through modeling, direct observation, education and practice. Effective communication skills are essential to personal, academic and professional success.

The Department of Speech Communication offers a large variety of courses in the Communication Arts including Interpersonal Communication, Listening Theories and Applications, Business and Professional Communication and Advanced Speech Communication. In addition, the Department offers several theatre courses including Fundamentals of Acting, Play Production and American Musical Theatre. The Suffolk Theatre courses are held in The Clare Rose Playhouse, the site of renowned community theatre.

The Department also offers courses in the Communication Sciences. Specifically, the Department offers all prerequisite courses for graduate study in Communicative Disorders. These courses include Speech-Language Pathology I and II, Audiology, Aural Rehabilitation, Sign Language, and Clinical Procedure and Practice. Such courses help prepare students to become speech-language pathologists, audiologists and teachers of the hearing impaired.

- The Speech Communication department also offers a minor in Theatre. This minor is enhanced by the campus's close proximity to the Brooklyn Academy of Music, as well as to Broadway and off-Broadway offerings.