Charting a Communication Pathway: Using Assessment to Guide Curriculum Development in a Re-Vitalized General Education Plan

Abstract

The scope and function of general education is perhaps one of the most volatile issues in higher education (Shires, 1996). Many academic institutions are in the process of reassessing and redefining the standards that constitute core academic or general education curricula (Goldstein, 2001; Shires, 1996). Since communication courses are often offered as a part of general education, issues related to accountability, assessment, and change in general education should be a concern of communication departments that contribute to general education programs. Arguing that communication skills are foundational to students' fundamental academic skills and critical to students' success in college and beyond, this essay addresses the question: “What is the role of a communication curriculum in general education?” The current essay demonstrates how a systematic assessment plan was utilized to refine a curriculum and to provide evidence and fortify arguments for the role of communication in general education. Finally, issues and recommendations for assessment and curriculum development in general education are addressed.