A Whole New Experience - Discover Yourself
Today's communication technology makes the globe a village where understanding the communication process and developing good communication skills are essential. Professionals from business, government, education and many other fields testify to the importance of communication skills in their work, family life and citizenship.
Speech Communication courses enable you to develop professional skills and understand the role of communication in today's society. The program offers four distinct specializations.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Public relations is not a warm smile, a firm handshake, dinners on the company or fancy parties. It is a demanding, highly competitive field requiring hard work and long hours. Professionals must know how to write and speak well. 
They use communication to build relationships between an organization and the group of people the organization depends upon, e.g. employees, customers, shareholders, legislators, etc.
Public relations professionals need knowledge of the field, communication skills, business knowledge, organizational skills, management ability and self-confidence.
Public relations professionals' work is varied. They write news releases, speeches, feature stories, letters, fact sheets and proposals; create newsletters, brochures and other organizational publications; speak persuasively and informationally; work with the media; conduct research; and organize and publicize events. This work is done in public relations agencies, associations, corporations, nonprofit organizations, financial institutions, government bodies, utilities, educational institutions and health care facilities. Our recent graduates are working in tourism, fund raising, PR and advertising agencies, corporations, hospitality and health care public relations.
To position yourself for entry to the field, you'll need to distinguish yourself from the many other graduates who are also seeking public relations positions. In other words, create your own competitive edge. Most students with a public relations degree have taken similar classes. Your activities beyond the classroom can make you stand out and appear more attractive to employers. These activities include internships, independent study, volunteer work, developing a portfolio and joining and participating in activities of the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter on the UW-Whitewater campus.
ELECTRONIC MEDIA
Television, radio and new communication technologies play an important and exciting role in our lives. If you are interested in:
- developing and producing television or radio programs
- announcing or performing
- broadcasting sports events
- creating educational and instructional media
- owning, managing or selling media products
- using media in corporate or industrial settings
- developing new technologies such as cable television satellite communication and integrated computer technology
An emphasis in electronic media may be right for you. This emphasis 
combines training in video and audio production with an understanding of media law, economics, effects, broadcast journalism, management, history, criticism and related areas. Students work with an adviser to design an program related to their interests and career goals.
Students have excellent opportunities to gain professional experience at the campus television station, Cable 6, and the campus radio station,WSUW. Students develop their skills as managers, programmers, program producers and directors, performers, announcers and technical staff.
Whitewater's close location to Madison and Milwaukee makes possible a variety of opportunities for professional internships and work experience. The national broadcasting society, Alpha Epsilon Rho, also promotes field trips, guest speakers and other media activities on campus.
If you are interested in a dynamic and creative field and if you have the commitment and talent, electronic media may be the right area of study for you.
ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
Countless surveys of organizations of all sizes, in all industries, in both profit and nonprofit sectors have identified "effective communication" not only as the skill most employers look for, but also as the variable most likely to determine one's success in an organization.
The organizational communication emphasis can develop your understanding of how communication is used to accomplish tasks, develop relationships, solve problems, generate ideas, motivate and integrate members in organizational settings. You will learn not just to be more proficient at such activities, but also to acquire the ability to diagnose problems and develop procedures for improving communication within the organization.
Possible career paths include:
- sales representative, recruiting officer or management trainee, using your communication skills to help the organization meet its objectives
- corporate communication specialist, manager of employee relations or director of internal media, using your communication skills to keep employees informed about organizational activities or ensuring that members are satisfied with organizational operation and procedures.
- organizational trainer, organizational development specialist or management or communication consultant, using your knowledge of communication and your presentation skills to diagnose problems, plot solutions and deliver training programs that improve the communication practices within an organization.
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Students in this emphasis focus on skills training in listening, nonverbal communication, persuasion, intercultural communication, small group leadership, gender, health communication and family communication. There are two tracks of study to choose from: Applied Persuasion and the Health and Wellness. The Applied Persuasion track is ideal for students who are interested in areas such as law, diplomacy, civil service, advertising, sales, fundraising, politics, lobbying and other not-for-profit work. Students interested in careers in health care, family support and advocacy, and/or community education and programming should choose the Health and Wellness track.
Electronic Media: Dr. Peter Conover (262) 472-5659, conoverp@uww.edu
Interpersonal Communication: Dr. Sally Vogl-Bauer (262) 472-1025, voglbaus@uww.edu
Organizational Communication: Dr. SA Welch (262) 472-5722, welchs@uww.edu
Public Relations: Dr. Peter Smudde, (262) 472-5049, smuddep@uww.edu