SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Forensics. University Debate and Forensics. With a rich tradition of excellence, debate and speech activities at UNL offer the opportunity to develop analytical and communicative skills to the level where you are recognized as the best. As a member of the Nebraska's Forensics Program, you will become an important part of one of the nation's finest debate and speech teams. At the state, regional, and national levels, forensics students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln consistently emerge as champions. UNL students have earned national championships in debate, extemporaneous speaking, oratory, student congress, and oral interpretation. Whatever your forensic interest, you will discover at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln a group of dedicated students and coaches with whom to develop your talents.
Honors. Superior students are encouraged to explore opportunities. Receiving one of these honors is based upon a recommendation by the College of Arts and Sciences Academic Distinction Committee. Highest distinction calls for students to be in the top five percent of their graduating class and to successfully complete a senior honor thesis. Students maintaining a grade point average over 3.5 who would like to graduate with honors should consider writing an honors thesis. Students wanting to do a thesis should contact a faculty member in the department the first semester of their junior year. See the current UNL Undergraduate Bulletin for complete details on graduating with honors.
Internships. The Department of Communication Studies and the Office of Experiential Education work together to provide students practical work experiences in their chosen career area of interest. Students may receive up to six credits through Communication Studies 490. The department also offers instructional internships for qualified students. Students are invited or request to intern in Comm 109 Fundamentals of Human Communication or Comm 311 Business and Professional Communication as instructor assistants. Students who do instructional internships can receive up to six credits. All internships must be approved and supervised by a departmental representative. Only three hours of internship credit can count toward the major.
Clubs and Honoraries. The Communication Studies Club at UNL is open to majors, minors, and other students interested in Communication Studies. The purpose of the club is to promote knowledge of communication studies through guest speakers, to work with the department on undergraduate issues and concerns, to hold social events, and to inform others about communication studies. Lambda Pi Eta is our national honorary society. It is open to full time students who have completed 60 semester hours, have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0, have completed 12 semester hours of Communication Studies courses with a grade point average of at least 3.25 and have displayed commitment to the field of communication studies.
