The Communication Requirement consists of four Communication Intensive (CI) subjects sequenced throughout a student's undergraduate career. Students must take two CI subjects in the humanities, arts, and social sciences (CI-H), and two CI subjects within their major program (CI-M). Usually, students will take one CI subject each undergraduate year: two CI-H subjects in their freshman and sophomore years, and two CI-M subjects during their junior and senior years. Only one CI-H subject per term may be counted toward completion of the Communication Requirement; however, this restriction does not apply to a CI-H and a CI-M subject or two CI-M subjects taken in the same term.

CI-H subjects

CI-H subjects provide a foundation in general expository writing and speaking. These subjects require at least 20 pages of writing divided among three to five assignments, of which at least one must be revised and resubmitted. CI-H subjects also offer students substantial opportunity for oral expression through presentations, student-led discussion, or class participation. In order to guarantee sufficient attention to student writing and ample opportunity for oral expression, the maximum number of students per section is 18, except when a subject is taught without sections (where the faculty member in charge is the only instructor). In this case, enrollment can rise to 25 if a writing fellow is attached to the subject.

Proposing or modifying CI-H subjects

CI-H subjects are reviewed and designated by the HASS Overview Committee. A list of current CI-H subjects is available online. Faculty members wishing to propose new CI-H subjects or substantial revisions to existing ones should contact their department head and the HASS Office. Proposals are due to the HASS Office by December 1st.

CI-M subjects

Each undergraduate degree program should be designed so that students take at least two CI-M subjects within their major program. Beginning with the Class of 2007, one CI-M subject must offer substantial instruction and practice in oral presentation. CI-M subjects fulfill the CI component for the designated major(s). Non-majors who enroll in these subjects will have the same educational experience, but will not receive CI credit for completing these subjects. A list of current CI-M subjects by undergraduate major is available online.

Undergraduate programs should be designed to have students take the two CI-M subjects in their junior and senior years at the Institute. Departmental Major programs may, however, place one of the CI subjects in the sophomore year of their degree programs. Students may take two CI-M subjects in the same year, although this model is less desirable.

Most CI subjects are modified existing subjects in the major programs, and, in most cases, both of the CI subjects will be offered by the major department. When degree programs find it necessary to designate a CI-M subject in another department as a part of their major, this subject must be educationally coherent with the objectives of the degree curriculum.

Proposing CI-M subjects

Faculty members interested in proposing a CI-M subject should contact the Undergraduate Officer in their department to discuss this possibility. All CI-M proposals are submitted through the department to the Office of the Communication Requirement using the Word proposal form or the PDF proposal form and should be submitted no later than December 1st. Proposals are reviewed by the Subcommittee on the Communication Requirement (SOCR) for their CI content before being forwarded to the Committee on Curricula (COC) for the curriculum review. Typically, proposals are reviewed in the year before the subject will be offered as a CI-M; for proposals that fall outside this cycle, please contact the Office of the Communication Requirement to discuss the possibilities. Communication Intensive subjects in the major should:

• require at least 5000 words of writing including one mandatory revision, an equivalent amount of oral presentations, or an equivalent combination of the two;
• include substantial instruction and feedback on student work;
• integrate writing and speaking assignments that relate to the professional discourse in the major field; and
• count communication-intensive activities as a substantial portion of the final grade (> 25%).

Modifying CI-M subjects

If a faculty member proposes major modifications to a subject serving as a CI-M, the department should submit a proposal to SOCR to have the subject re-evaluated. Major modifications include changes to the number or type of communication-intensive assignments, the instruction in communication skills, or the number of units. Departments may use the same Word proposal form or PDF proposal form to propose new CI-M subjects and modifications. These proposals should be submitted to SOCR by December 1st.

Resources to support CI-M subjects

A range of resources are available to support faculty members teaching CI-M subjects. Resource requests must come through the department. Please contact the Office of the Communication Requirement for more information.

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