GCOM Credit by Examination

To receive credit for GCOM 121, a student must complete both a written examination and an oral presentation following the guidelines specified below in each section. Please note the following:

  • Every student has ONE opportunity to attempt the 'credit by exam' for GCOM121
  • No student may attempt the exam - any portion of the exam - while currently registered for GCOM121.

Written Test

The written test is the first step in a two part process by which a student may earn three credits for GCOM 121: Fundamentals of Human Communication. Students will be allowed to take the written test only once. To pass the current GCOM final a student MUST have a minimum score of 75%. If a student doesn't pass the written portion, the process ends and the student must take the class. Passing the test demonstrates that the student has achieved an appropriate level of competence with the knowledge portion of the course. Passing the test at a 75% is a necessary, but insufficient in and of itself, requirement to receive credit for GCOM121.

Passing the test qualifies a student for the second portion of the process - the oral presentation. All students who meet these criteria will be sent information about the oral presentations, which are required to complete the School of Communication Studies' credit by exam program. The written test covers basic principles of communication such as:

  1. What is communication?
  2. The elements of communication
  3. What makes a good speaker a good speaker?

Students who wish to review these concepts should look at the basic speech text used in GCOM/SCOM 121 In the Company of Others by J.D. Rothwell (2004), or a similar basic communication book.

Students may take the exam in Ashby Lab during regularly scheduled lab hours.

Oral Presentation

To be eligible to give an oral presentation you MUST HAVE PASSED the written portion of the Communication Studies' Credit By Exam Program. A student must pass the oral performance portion with a 75% average. The oral performance portion of the exam will be judged by a minimum of two appropriate evaluators whose scores will be averaged together. Both portions of the credit by exam much be completed within a single semester (in Sept. for fall semester and in Feb. for spring semester).

The specific requirements for the oral presentation are as follows:

  • 8 to 10 minute time requirement
  • Informative or persuasive speech format
  • Utilizes one of the specified speech topics
  • Extemporaneous delivery (i.e.. minimal notes; not read from a prepared script)
  • Effective use of appropriate delivery techniques
  • Typed outline of presentation with topic, title, and references to be handed in when you make your oral presentation (sample outline provided in speech packet)

All presentations are given during one of the scheduled one-hour presentation sessions in September and February. Students who have passed the written test will receive an informational packet with the specifics regarding oral presentation requirements. All presentations are given in a pre-arranged room and students should report to the assigned room at least 10 minutes before their presentations are scheduled to begin. They should be sure to bring their typed outline of presentation with topic, title, and references to be handed in when you make your oral presentation, results from the written test, and application for credit by exam with them to the presentations. Computer/projection equipment is available for PowerPoint presentations as well as standard overhead projector and TV/VCR equipment for students augmenting their presentations with these types of visual aids.

Any other questions may be addressed to Tim Ball at the School of Communication Studies (540) 568-6859 or via e-mail at balltc@jmu.edu.