Bachelor of Arts Rhetoric and Public Address

The ability to speak clearly, eloquently, and effectively has been recognized as the hallmark of an educated person since the beginning of recorded history. Under the label rhetoric, the study of the theory and practice of communication was a central concern of Greek, Roman, medieval, Renaissance, and early modern education. In the United States, rhetorical training has been a part of formal education since Harvard's founding in 1636. As a new millenium dawns, rhetoric has once again assumed a central role in discussions of the post-modern world.