Getting up in front of a group of people and communicating with them is something that some fear. Then there are those who are comfortable interacting with others. The latter might have a future in Communication Arts.
Lori Zakel, a professor and chair of the Communication Arts department at Sinclair Community College said all degree-seeking students at Sinclair are required to take at least one oral communications course. Classes include effective public speaking, interpersonal communication and small group communication.
Zakel and David Bodary, a communication professor, stress the importance of the Communication Arts program.
“The ability to communicate is so foundational to our success as employees and as citizens,” Bodary said. “You get hired because of the degree and promoted because of the communication skills.”
Zakel echoed this idea. She said the better a person’s interpersonal skills are, the better they are at their jobs.
“(Communication is) the best minor bar none,” Zakel said. “You gain a useful set of skills and theories that you can use every day.”
Bodary said those who have good writing skills seem to do better, as they show critical thinking skills that help in outlining and developing speeches.
Zakel said Sinclair has articulation agreements for both institutes so that any student who follows the Associate degree program and Ohio transfer module can be confident that their courses will transfer seamlessly.