Communication
To thrive as citizens of the contemporary world, we all need the capacity to communicate effectively and responsibly in written, oral, and digital/multimedia modes.
While these forms of expression are distinct, they are also complementary, with each supporting and even including the others. Among them, writing remains the foundation. But oral communication and digital/multimedia communication are also important, not only in their traditional forms but also in new forms engendered by the technologically driven expansion of communicative capacities. By graduation, all students will be able to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and in a variety of situations, using appropriate media and modes of expression, in addition to demonstrating special proficiency in those forms of communication most relevant to their particular majors or prospective professions.
Students are required to fulfill six units in this capacity:
- First-Year Writing Seminar (1 unit)
- Writing, Research, and Inquiry (1 unit)
- Writing-Intensive Course (2 units)
- Oral and/or Signed Communication (1 unit)
- Digital/Multimedia Expression (1 unit)
Note: The First-Year Writing Seminar is a prerequisite for both Writing, Research, and Inquiry and Writing-Intensive Courses.
First-Year Writing Seminar
Writing is fundamental, the most important form of expression that BU undergraduates must develop.
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In almost every professional setting, BU graduates must be able to express their ideas in clear, coherent prose. Effective writing demands the honing of skills, but it also cultivates ways of thinking, evaluating evidence, constructing responsible and convincing arguments, and generating creative ideas. As effective writers, BU graduates will pay close attention to the potential readers of their writings; as responsible writers, they will take ownership of their message and the means of communicating it, and hold their writing to high standards of truth, accuracy, validity, and humaneness.
This is the first of two required writing courses for incoming freshmen. Most students will take CAS WR 120, “First-Year Writing Seminar,” in the CAS Writing Program to fulfill the Hub requirement in this area. There are additional select courses that also fulfill this area.
Students are required to fulfill one unit in this area.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to craft responsible, considered, and well-structured written arguments, using media and modes of expression appropriate to the situation.
- Students will be able to read with understanding, engagement, appreciation, and critical judgment.
- Students will be able to write clearly and coherently in a range of genres and styles, integrating graphic and multimedia elements as appropriate.
Writing, Research, and Inquiry
Writing as both a means and an expression of inquiry and research is essential to personal, professional, and civic life.
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View Learning Outcomes for Writing, Research, and Inquiry
In almost every professional setting, BU graduates must be able to express their ideas in clear, coherent prose. Effective writing demands the honing of skills, but it also cultivates ways of thinking, evaluating evidence, constructing responsible and convincing arguments, and generating creative ideas. As effective writers, BU graduates will pay close attention to the potential readers of their writings; as responsible writers, they will take ownership of their message and the means of communicating it, and hold their writing to high standards of truth, accuracy, validity, and humaneness.
Writing, Research, and Inquiry courses are the second of two required writing courses for incoming freshmen and have the First-Year Writing Seminar as a prerequisite. Most students will take CAS WR 150, “Writing, Research, and Inquiry,” or its versions with Oral and/or Signed Communication (CAS WR 151) or with Digital/Multimedia Expression (CAS WR 152) in the CAS Writing Program to fulfill the Hub requirement in this area. There are additional select courses that also fulfill this area.
Writing, Research, and Inquiry courses also develop the learning outcomes of the Research and Information Literacy area (found in the Intellectual Toolkit capacity) and fulfill one Hub unit in each of these areas.
Students are required to fulfill one unit in this area.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to craft responsible, considered, and well-structured written arguments, using media and modes of expression appropriate to the situation.
- Students will be able to read with understanding, engagement, appreciation, and critical judgment.
- Students will be able to write clearly and coherently in a range of genres and styles, integrating graphic and multimedia elements as appropriate.
Writing-Intensive Course
Writing-Intensive Courses enable students to build upon and practice skills learned in the First-Year Writing Seminar and, in some instances, in Writing, Research, and Inquiry courses.
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View Learning Outcomes for Writing-Intensive Course
Writing is fundamental, the most important form of expression that BU undergraduates must develop. In almost every professional setting, BU graduates must be able to express their ideas in clear, coherent prose. Effective writing demands the honing of skills, but it also cultivates ways of thinking, evaluating evidence, constructing responsible and convincing arguments, and generating creative ideas. As effective writers, BU graduates will pay close attention to the potential readers of their writings; as responsible writers, they will take ownership of their message and the means of communicating it, and hold their writing to high standards of truth, accuracy, validity, and humaneness.
While learning to craft written arguments is essential in the First-Year Writing Seminar, the Writing, Research, and Inquiry courses, and most courses designated as Writing-Intensive, the latter also accommodate students’ learning to write to the standards of majors and professions, such as journalism, that place a premium on the difference between arguments and expository accounts.
Writing-Intensive Courses have the First-Year Writing Seminar as a prerequisite and develop at least learning outcomes 1 and 2 below.
Students are required to fulfill two units in this area.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to craft responsible, considered, and well-structured written arguments, using media and modes of expression appropriate to the situation.
- Students will be able to read with understanding, engagement, appreciation, and critical judgment.
- Students will be able to write clearly and coherently in a range of genres and styles, integrating graphic and multimedia elements as appropriate.
Oral and/or Signed Communication
Public presentation serves an essential civic function as a means of participating in collective debate and decision-making.
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View Learning Outcomes for Oral and/or Signed Communication
BU students should be able to communicate information in a clear and coherent formal oral and/or signed presentation, to engage responsibly with others, and to make use of a range of disciplinary-appropriate informal oratory. As with writing, effective oral/signing communicators should prepare remarks with an awareness of their purpose and their audience. Because oral and/or signed communication is generally interactive, students should be able to attend and respond thoughtfully to others.
Students are required to fulfill one unit in this area.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to craft and deliver responsible, considered, and well-structured oral and/or signed arguments using media and modes of expression appropriate to the situation.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding that oral/signed communication is generally interactive, and they should be able to attend and respond thoughtfully to others.
- Students will be able to speak/sign effectively in situations ranging from the formal to the extemporaneous and interact comfortably with diverse audiences.
Digital/Multimedia Expression
Communication through means other than words—whether spoken or written—requires a distinct set of skills.
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View Learning Outcomes for Digital/Multimedia Expression
In a world where messages are routinely conveyed through audiovisual media, BU students need to develop an understanding of the role and impact of color, composition, rhythm, and acoustics that matches their mastery of verbal syntax and rhetoric. Today, in addition to live performances and installations, BU graduates receive information and experience the world through websites, videos, and podcasts. They must be able not only to consume and appreciate these and other forms of digital expression, but to evaluate and produce them.
Students are required to fulfill one unit in this area.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to craft and deliver responsible, considered, and well-structured arguments using media and modes of expression appropriate to the situation.
- Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the capabilities of various communication technologies and be able to use these technologies ethically and effectively.
- Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of visual communication, such as principles governing design, time-based and interactive media, and the audio-visual representation of qualitative and quantitative data.
