English, communication and theatre arts

At Concordia, we believe the starting point for all studies in English, communication and theatre is the development of the individual student’s voice. Both in and out of the classroom, you will find space to examine who you are, what you believe and how you can impact others. Together, we learn to exercise our voices in prose and poetry, drama and debate, and research and relationships. Although we discuss challenging ideas and explore diverse viewpoints, we maintain a focus on individual students learning in a supportive atmosphere. Learn more about the English, communication and theatre arts programs at Concordia.

Studying the mechanics of language has been indispensable to my job, but the deeper life application I obtained through my coursework at Concordia is less tangible. My life has been enriched by the study of other people’s thoughts in a Christian context...” Ellissa Fowler ’04

In brief from the Department of English, communications and theatre arts

[POSTED 2007-12-04]
Four students had research papers accepted for presentation at the National Communication Association Annual Convention in November. Competing against chiefly master's and doctoral student writing, the honored students were Violet Spader Kirk with “Gender Identity and Religious Language: An Analysis of Lutheran Worship,” Stephanie Roehrig with “Children, Gender and Toys: A Qualitative Study of Children and Gender Targeted Toys,” Andrew Swenson with “Rhetoric as Becoming:  Rethinking Origins” and Greta Wendelin with “Connecting Worldviews: Hymenoplasty as Symbol in Western and Islamic Culture.” 

[POSTED 2007-11-02]
2008 Summer Courses: Profs. Bryan Moore and Bruce Creed have been given the go-ahead to develop three innovative courses for next summer. Moore will teach Theatre for Social Engagement, a course in which students learn to use improvisational theatre to involve audiences in discussion of social issues. Students will start on campus and then take their show on the road.

Creed is working on two courses. The first, Effective PowerPoint Presentations, will be designed to help proficient PowerPoint users better utilize the software in the context of public address. This course will reacquaint the student with the theories of effective visual messages, the fundamentals of the effectiveness of visual aids in public address, and the foundational concepts of graphic design in the presentation and use of images in PowerPoint. Creed plans to develop and teach the course with help from adjunct business professor Kristy Plander and art professor Paul Berkbigler.

Creed is also developing a course called City As Rhetorical Text. Contemporary rhetorical scholars are looking beyond the written word to consider texts that are primarily visual and spatial – spaces like cities which are created as expressions of rhetorical ideals. Washington, D.C. is one such idealized city. Students will analyze and codify the rhetorical elements of urban space in search of the textual messages that engender and sustain them.

[POSTED 2007-11-02]
Julie (Kult) Meyer, a 2004 Concordia graduate, reports that she's launching her own freelance design company, 410creative, in Las Vegas. Meyer graduated with a communication emphasis in journalism/public relations and a minor in graphic design. She reports that although she decided to pursue a career in design, her journalism background has opened many doors for her. Erin Armknecht, a 2002 graduate, is now writing features for the Webster-Kirkwood Times. Her first story in the St. Louis area daily was titled "Dog Scouts to the Rescue."  

[POSTED 2007-08-02]
Bryan Moore and Laurie Zum Hofe joined the ECTA faculty on Aug. 1.

[POSTED 2007-05-02]
Students Andrew Swenson, Greta Wendelin, Stephanie Roehrig and Violet Spader have had their papers accepted for presentation at the National Communication Association Annual Convention to be held in Chicago, Ill., in November.