Through coursework in Writing, English, Philosophy, and more, students develop written and speaking skills about to be effective culturally responsive communicators in their career and civic life. In completing 24 credits in the WSCR minor, students gain experience in:

• Describing the role of language, identity, and power in community/public communication contexts;
• Examining one’s own critical communication process, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking;
• Practicing culturally responsive deliberation with others on contemporary issues in the public sphere;
• Examining writing, speaking, and other critical communication forms in a variety of disciplines and public contexts using ethical rhetorical analysis;
• Composing and delivery of relevant, purpose-driven documents, speeches, and other forms/genres for audiences beyond the classroom.

Course Requirements

Students must take a total of 24 credits to earn the WSCR minor. Download a copy of WSCR-satisfying courses for the current term: Fall 2024 Course List. Please note the following guidelines:

• To count toward the minor, all classes must be taken for a grade of mid-C or better except for ENG 404 Community Literacy Internship, which can be taken with a P.   
• Only two courses taken for the minor may be used to fulfill any other minor or major. WR 123 may be used for the minor and to complete the University writing requirement.
• All upper-division coursework for the minor must be taken in residency at the University of Oregon.
• Students must declare the minor by using the Add/Drop Form.
• No more than 12 credits may be taken in lower-division courses.
• Any substitutions must be approved by the WSCR minor program director.

Required Core Course (4 credits)

Students must take one of the following introductory public speaking courses. The other can be taken as a speaking elective. 

• ENG 200 Public Speaking as A Liberal Art
• ENG 330 Oral Argument and Advocacy

Writing Electives (8 credits)

Select two writing electives from the following courses:

• WR 123 College Composition III
• WR 320 Scientific and Technical Writing
• WR 321 Business Communication
• WR 423 Advance Composition
• ENG 413 Theories of Literacy
• ENG 420 The Art of the Sentence

Public Speaking Rhetoric Electives (4 credits)

Select one course from the following public speaking/rhetoric electives. You must take either ENG 200 or ENG 330. Select an additional course from the following:

• ENG 200 Public Speaking as a Liberal Art
• ENG 330 Oral Controversy and Advocacy
• ENG 492 History of Rhetoric and Composition
• ENG 493 Modern Rhetorical Criticism

Critical Reasoning Electives (8 credits)

Select two critical reasoning electives from the following:

• PHIL 103 Critical Reasoning
• ENG 335 Inventing Arguments

Additional Electives

The following courses may be taken to satisfy a writing, public speaking, or critical reasoning requirement:

• ENG 494 Reasoning, Speaking, Writing
• ENG 404 or WR 198 Community Literacy Internship/Independent Writing Projects (4 credits total needed)

Electives Requiring Approval

The following courses may be substituted for writing, public speaking, or critical reasoning requirements with WSCR Director approval. Email srust@uoregon.edu to request approval of substitutions.

• ENG 407 St. Louis Seminar (select CRNs)
• ENG 491 Rhetoric and Ethics
• LING 201 Language and Power
• PHIL 102 Ethics
• PHIL 225 Logic

WSCR Certificate Program 

The WSCR Certificate Program is under revision. Check back soon for more details about how to earn area-specific certificates while you complete the minor.