Student Organizations

Forensics Program
Through its forensics program, the School of Communication Studies provides the opportunity for all University students to meet outstanding undergraduates from 300 or more colleges or universities in intellectual competition. Approximately 20 tournaments at other schools and several held on campus enable a student to develop skills in debate, extemporaneous speaking, oratory, rhetorical criticism, and oral interpretation. Excellence in scholarship and superior performance in speech communication are rewarded in several ways. Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha national honorary is open to students in the upper third of their class who excel in forensics. The Lorin C. Staats Award is given to the outstanding senior who has participated with distinction in several forensic areas. The outstanding junior or senior in debate receives the Francis McVicker Maxwell Award. A student need not be a Communication Studies major to participate in the forensics program. For more information regarding Ohio University forensics, contact the John A. Cassese Director of Forensics, Mr. Dan West, at westd1@ohio.edu.

National Communication Association Student Club
The National Communication Association (NCA), founded in 1914, is the oldest and largest national organization to promote communication scholarship and education. NCA Student Clubs offer students an opportunity to experience the field of communication outside the classroom. As well as practical and professional experience, NCASC also offers quarterly networking trips, professional speakers, informational newsletters, and access to professionals through other NCASC and NCA chapters. If you are interested in joining NCASC or would like more information, please contact Dr. Jennifer Bute, Faculty Advisor, at bute@ohio.edu.

Lambda Pi Eta Honorary Society
To recognize the excellent academic accomplishments of undergraduate communication majors, the School of Communication Studies has a local chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the national communication honor society. To qualify for membership, students must have completed at least 60 hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and be presently enrolled as a full time student. Additionally, students must have completed at least 12 credit hours in communication courses with a minimum GPA of 3.25 in those courses.

Lambda Pi Eta provides its members with academic recognition as well as with opportunities to participate in chapter-sponsored social and professional events. On the national level, LPE provides an academic outlet for communication research through regional and national conventions. If you are interested in learning more about Lambda Pi Eta, please contact Dr. Christie Beck, Faculty Advisor, at beck@ohio.edu.

Preparation for Law School
The Association of American Law Schools states that the goals of prelegal education are: (1) comprehension and expression in words, (2) critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals, and (3) creative powers in thinking. Students in the School of Communication Studies who plan to enter law or paralegal school will find excellent opportunities for meeting these goals. In addition, all Ohio law schools require an undergraduate degree from an approved institution before admission.

A prelaw student in Communication Studies will be individually counseled and advised in developing a total course of study to meet the intellectual challenges of the legal profession. Suggested areas of study include communication theory and practice, argumentation, legal oratory and communication, English composition and literature, history, political science, business law, behavioral sciences, humanities, comparative arts, economics, and philosophy. Prelaw students are encouraged to investigate the Communication and Public Advocacy concentration of the Communication Studies major.