Persuasive and Rhetorical Communication

Effective: Fall 2020
Certificate of Achievement Program Map
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This program map from the 2024-2025 catalog year represents one possible pathway to complete this program. Your pathway may vary depending on your transfer plans and also previous college credit, including AP Test scores, concurrent enrollment courses and high school articulated courses.

I'm ready to get started. What do I do next?

  1. Review this program map to get an overview of the required courses
  2. Meet with a counselor to develop your customized student education plan www.chabotcollege.edu/counseling
  3. Use DegreeWorks, an online student education planning tool, to track your progress toward graduation www.chabotcollege.edu / admissions / degreeworks
Program Description

This certificate develops student skills to become strong communicators by providing a foundation in the available means of persuasion (Rhetoric).


What can I do with this major?

Communication skills are vital in all industries. In particular, students who study Rhetoric often go into legal careers, but many students pursue careers in advertising, public relations, film, tv, and other emerging technological fields. Rhetoric students are often very successful in gaining acceptance into graduate programs, especially in Communication, Business, Law, and Media Studies.


Learning and Career Pathway
  • Communication, Language & Media

Icon Key

= Critical Course = Prerequisite for Other Courses = Prerequisite Required = Required for Major GE = General Education

Semester 1

9 units

COMM 1
Fundamentals of Speech Communication

3 units
Fundamentals of speech communication; emphasis on developing, stating, organizing, and researching ideas, and presenting to an audience; includes developing the faculties of critical listening and problem-solving.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1A
  • Transfers to CSU

    • COMM 20
    Persuasion and Communication

    3 units
    Investigation and development of persuasive techniques, strategies, and theories throughout ancient and modern times. Topics will include rhetoric, propaganda, and formal/informal argumentation.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1A
      2. and
    2. Strongly Recommended: COMM 1

    COMM 50
    Introduction to Communication Studies

    3 units
    A survey of the discipline of Communication Studies with emphasis on multiple epistemological, theoretical, and methodological issues relevant to the systematic inquiry and pursuit of knowledge about human communication. This course explores basic history, assumptions, principles, processes, variables, methods, and specializations of human communication as an academic field of study.
    Course Details:

      Semester 2

      7-11 units

      COMM 46
      Argumentation and Debate

      3 units
      Analysis of contemporary questions through written and spoken discourse. Analysis, criticism, and synthesis of contemporary moral, political, economic and philosophical issues of a diverse, multicultural society, using traditional and modern models of argumentation.
      Course Details:
      1. Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1A

      COMM 48
      Activities in Forensics

      1-4 units
      Intercollegiate competition in the areas of public address, evidence-based and limited preparation debate, and oral interpretation of literature. Preparation of events includes research, writing, practice, and performance. Other activities may include performance in workshops, festivals, concert reading and the community.
      Course Details:
    1. Transfers to CSU

      2. Major Elective Course

      3-4 units
      Choose one course from the Major Electives list below
      See the full list: (Click here)

      Major Electives

      Choose one course from the list below

      MCOM 40
      Introduction to Broadcasting

      3 units
      Introduces the history, theory, structure, function, economics, content and evolution of radio, television, film, the Internet, new media and their impact on culture and society. Includes, technological development, programming, ratings, legal aspects, and political and social control of broadcasting in America, and cross-cultural, international comparisons. Regulatory, ethical and occupational impact of the electronic media are also studied.
      Course Details:

      MCOM 41
      Introduction to Mass Communications

      3 units
      Survey of the interrelationships of media with society including history, structure and trends in a digital age. Discussion of theories and effects, economics, technology, law and ethics, global media, media literacy, and social issues, including gender and cultural diversity.
      Course Details:
    2. Transfers to CSU

      3. MCOM 43
      Advertising Sales & Media Management

      3 units
      Introduction to media advertising sales, including research, sales presentation, and airing of the commercial campaign. Media managerial objectives and procedures, including leadership, motivation, dealing with personnel and operations problems; and managing departments within media organizations.
      Course Details:

      ENGL 4
      Critical Thinking and Writing about Literature1

      3 units
      Develops critical thinking, reading, and writing skills as they apply to the analysis of fiction (short stories and novel), poetry and drama.
      Course Details:
      1. Prerequisite: ENGL 1A
        2. or
      2. Prerequisite: ENGL 1

      ENGL 4A
      Critical Thinking and Writing about Literature

      4 units
      Develops skills in close reading, critical thinking, analytical and argumentative writing, research, and information literacy through the study of works from major literary genres. Works will include poetry, fiction (short stories and novel), and drama, but may also include alternative genres such as creative nonfiction, graphic novels, spoken word, flash fiction, and lyrics. Primary texts will showcase diverse writers, including marginalized voices.
      Course Details:
      1. Prerequisite: ENGL 1
        2. or
      2. Prerequisite: ENGL 1A
    3. Transfers to CSU

      4. ENGL 7
      Critical Thinking and Writing Across Disciplines2

      3 units
      Develops critical thinking, reading, and writing skills as they apply to the analysis of primary and secondary non-fiction books, articles, and essays from a range of academic and cultural contexts. Theme based. Emphasis on the techniques and principles of effective written argument in research-based writing across disciplines.
      Course Details:
      1. Prerequisite: ENGL 1A
        2. or
      2. Prerequisite: ENGL 1

      ENGL 7A
      Critical Thinking and Writing across Disciplines

      4 units
      Develops critical thinking, reading, and writing skills as they apply to the analysis of primary and secondary non-fiction books, articles, and essays from a range of academic and cultural contexts. Primary texts will showcase diverse writers, including marginalized voices. Theme based units will emphasize the techniques and principles of effective written argument in research-based writing across disciplines.
      Course Details:
      1. Prerequisite: ENGL 1
        2. or
      2. Prerequisite: ENGL 1A
    4. Transfers to CSU

      5. PHIL 70
      Introduction to Political and Social Philosophy

      3 units
      Philosophical-political analysis of value conflicts in the area of political thought and theory. Philosophical investigation of political principles which affect our lives as well as the role of theory in regard to the nature of the individual in a modern technological democracy. (Formerly PHIL 25)
      Course Details:

      POSC 25
      Introduction to Political Theory

      3 units
      An introduction to various theoretical approaches to politics, including selected political thinkers from ancient times to the present, and the application of political theory to current political realities.
      Course Details:
      1. Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1A
    5. Transfers to CSU
      • 1 - ENGL 4A is now offered in place of ENGL 4
      • 2 - ENGL 7A is now being offered in place of ENGL 7
      Total Units: 16-20 units
      This program map is not a guarantee of course availability or financial aid applicability.