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GE/ULO Assessment

Communication Courses (GE Area A)

The Communication Courses have been updated for the 2013-15 online catalog.


Cal Poly Catalogs 2001 - 2015

  • GE Area A: Communication Course Descriptions are listed as a guide for your convenience.
  • GE credit will ONLY be given IF the course was approved for GE in the quarter in which it was taken.
  • GE Quarterly Course Offerings are listed on PASS, which can be accessed through the Cal Poly Portal.
  • The "Start Date" (quarter and year) is listed under the course description.
    • Expository Writing (GE Area A1)
    (updated for 2013-15 catalog)
    Course Prefix Course Title Course Description
    ENGL 133 Writing and Rhetoric for ESL Students

    		 Rhetorical principles and tactics applied to written work. Writing as a recursive process that leads to greater organizational coherency, stylistic complexity, and rhetorical awareness with an emphasis on grammatical elements appropriate for English as a Second Language students. 4 lectures.
    Prerequisite: ENGL 111, 112, and 113, or satisfactory score on the English Placement Test, or consent of instructor.
    Fulfills GE A1.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    ENGL 134 Writing and Rhetoric
    		 Rhetorical principles and tactics applied to written work. Writing as a
    recursive process that leads to greater organizational coherency, stylistic
    complexity, and rhetorical awareness. 4 lectures.
    Prerequisite: Satisfactory score on the English Placement Test.
    Fulfills GE A1.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    Oral Communication (GE Area A2)
    (Updated for 2013-15 catalog)
    Course Prefix Course Title Course Description
    COMS 101 Public Speaking
    		 Introduction to the principles of public speaking. Practical experience in thedevelopment, presentation, and critical analysis of speeches to inform, to persuade, and to actuate. Not open to students with credit in COMS 102. 4 lectures.
    Crosslisted as COMS/HNRS 101.
    Fulfills GE A2.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    COMS 102 Principles of Oral Communication
    		 Introduction to the fundamentals and principles which underlie effective oral communication. Practical experience in various types of speaking situations: informative speaking, persuasive speaking, and panel discussion.
    Not open to students with credit in COMS 101. 4 lectures.
    Fulfills GE A2.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    HNRS 101 Public Speaking
    		 Introduction to the principles of public speaking. Practical experience in thedevelopment, presentation, and critical analysis of speeches to inform, to persuade, and to actuate. Not open to students with credit in COMS 102. 4 lectures.
    Crosslisted as COMS/HNRS 101.
    Fulfills GE A2.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    Reasoning, Argumentation, and Writing (GE Area A3)
    (Updated for 2013-15 catalog)
    Course Prefix Course Title Course Description
    COMS 126 Argument & Advocacy
    		 The nature of critical thinking as applied in written and oral argument. Analysisof inductive and deductive reasoning. Analysis of reasoning, argument, forms of support and fallacies of argument and language. Instruction in and practical experience in writing sound persuasive arguments and engaging in oral argumentation assignments. 4 lectures.
    Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A1 with a C- or better, or consent of instructor. Recommended: Completion of GE Area A2.
    Fulfills GE A3.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    COMS 145 Reasoning, Argumentation, and Writing
    		 The principles of reasoning in argumentation. Examination of rhetorical principles and responsible rhetorical behavior. Application of these principles to written and oral communications. Effective use of research methods and sources. 4 lectures.
    Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A1 with a C- or better, or consent of instructor. Recommended: Completion of GE Area A2.
    Crosslisted as COMS/ENGL/HNRS 145.
    Fulfills GE A3.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    ENGL 145 Reasoning, Argumentation, and Writing
    		 The principles of reasoning in argumentation. Examination of rhetorical principles and responsible rhetorical behavior. Application of these principles to written and oral communications. Effective use of research methods and sources. 4 lectures.
    Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A1 with a C- or better, or consent of instructor. Recommended: Completion of GE Area A2.
    Crosslisted as COMS/ENGL/HNRS 145.
    Fulfills GE A3.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    ENGL 148 Reasoning, Argumentation, and Professional Writing
    		 The principles of reasoning in professional writing. Discussion and application of rhetorical principles, both oral and written, in professional environments. Study of methods, resources and common formats used in corporate or research writing. 4 lectures.
    Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A1 with a C- or better, or consent of instructor.
    Recommended: Completion of GE Area A2.
    Crosslisted as ENGL/HNRS 148. Fulfills GE A3.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    ENGL 149 Technical Writing for Engineers
    		 The principles of technical writing. Discussion and application of rhetorical principles in technical environments. Study of methods, resources and common formats used in corporate or research writing. 4 lectures.
    Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A1 with a C- or better, or consent of instructor. Recommended: Completion of GE Area A2.
    For Engineering students only.
    Crosslisted as ENGL/HNRS 149.
    Fulfills GE A3.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    HNRS 145 Reasoning, Argumentation, and Writing
    		 The principles of reasoning in argumentation. Examination of rhetorical principles and responsible rhetorical behavior. Application of these principles to written and oral communications. Effective use of research methods and sources. 4 lectures.
    Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A1 with a C- or better, or consent of instructor. Recommended: Completion of GE Area A2.
    Crosslisted as COMS/ENGL/HNRS 145.
    Fulfills GE A3.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    HNRS 148 Reasoning, Argumentation, and Professional Writing
    		 The principles of reasoning in professional writing. Discussion and application of rhetorical principles, both oral and written, in professional environments. Study of methods, resources and common formats used in corporate or research writing. 4 lectures.
    Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A1 with a C- or better, or consent of instructor.
    Recommended: Completion of GE Area A2.
    Crosslisted as ENGL/HNRS 148.
    Fulfills GE A3.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    HNRS 149 Technical Writing for Engineers
    		 The principles of technical writing. Discussion and application of rhetorical principles in technical environments. Study of methods, resources and common formats used in corporate or research writing. 4 lectures.
    Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A1 with a C- or better, or consent of instructor. Recommended: Completion of GE Area A2.
    For Engineering students only.
    Crosslisted as ENGL/HNRS 149.
    Fulfills GE A3.
    Start Date: Summer 2001
    PHIL 126 Logic and Argumentative Writing
    		 Principles of argument analysis, evaluation and construction. Deductive and inductive reasoning, including analogical arguments, universal and statistical generalizations, and causal inferences. Principles of organizing and writing argumentative essays. Moral dimensions of rational discourse. 4 lectures.
    Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area A1 with a C- or better, or consent of instructor.
    Fulfills GE A3.
    Start Date: Summer 2001