Department of Communication Studies Writing-in-the-Major Program

The department’s Writing-in-the-Major program is designed to:

1. Make CST students aware of the importance of writing in career pursuits

2. Facilitate CST students’ taking ownership and pride in their writing

3. Facilitate ‘writing to learn’ activities that integrate writing across our curriculum

4. Show the importance of writing as a developmental process that helps achieve professional competency

For the past two years, the Department of Communication Studies has pursued an active assessment program through which we are attempting to determine how well Writing-in-the-Major meets the goals established for it.

In Fall, 2003, the department’s Writing-in-the-Major committee surveyed CST students. Students were asked a series of questions that relate to their knowledge and understanding of writing skills – and the application of Writing-in-the-Major expectations in their courses. The results of that survey were tabulated by Dr. Mike Tollefson and can be found at fall03results.

In that same survey, CST students were asked about their career goals. A total of 27 different responses were offered careergoals.

Further assessment of Writing-in-the-Major and its outcomes is being planned. For additional information, please contact any of the members of the department assessment committee. Those faculty members are Dr. Linda Dickmeyer, Dr. Doug Swanson, and Dr. Mike Tollefson.

Undergraduate Research in Communication Studies

The Communication Studies faculty and staff are here to help you learn more about the undergraduate research process. In many of our classes, students get hands-on research experience as part of the course content. Our capstone course, CST 499 Senior Project in Communication Studies, allows students to design, conduct, and present their own professional-quality research project.

Here are some helpful links to get you started. Want to know more? See any CST faculty member.

CST 499 (Fall Semester 2004) Research Projects

CST 110 Research Pool

 UW-L’s guideline for research on human subjects http://www.uwlax.edu/provost/grants/gandc_irb.html

 UW-L’s ‘Celebration of Undergraduate Research’
http://www.uwlax.edu/urc/

 Be sure you understand the importance of appropriate scientific conduct in research
http://www.uwlax.edu/provost/grants/gandc_misconduct.html

 Check out the Communication research section at the Murphy Library website
http://www.uwlax.edu/murphylibrary/subject/communication.htm