Friday, November 19, 2004

WRITER: Phil Williams, 706/542-8501, phil@franklin.uga.edu

SOURCE: Jerold Hale, 706/542-4893, jhale@uga.edu

RHETORIC DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION NAMED TOPS IN U.S.

ATHENS, Ga. – The doctoral program in rhetoric in the University of Georgia’s department of speech communication has been named America’s best. The number-one ranking was announced during the national meeting of the National Communication Association in Chicago last week.

In addition, the department’s doctoral program in health communication was ranked fifth nationally, and its doctoral interpersonal communication program was ranked 15 th.

“This is a major coup for us and will help our recruiting immensely,” said Dr. Jerold Hale, head of the speech communication department. “While three areas of emphasis were singled out, our success is due to a concerted effort by the entire faculty to raise the bar and enhance our graduate programs.”

The rankings are part of a survey done by the Association (NCA), which is a non-profit organization of approximately 7,100 educators, practitioners and students who work and reside in every state and more than 20 foreign countries.

“The survey also shows that our department has improved over the last five years,” Hale said.

The purpose of the Association is to promote study, criticism, research, teaching and application of the artistic, humanistic and scientific principles of communication.

The NCA is the oldest and largest national organization to promote communication scholarship and education. Founded in 1914 as the National Association of Academic Teachers of Public Speaking, the society incorporated in 1950 as the Speech Association of America. The organization changed its name to Speech Communication Association, in 1970. It adopted its present name in 1997.

The NCA publishes seven academic journals, which are the leading publications in their area of specialty.