Every York College student must successfully complete two Foundations Communication requirements: Rhetorical Communication and Advanced Communication.
Foundations Communication (FCO) courses introduce students to rhetoric—the art of effective communication and persuasion—and give students practice using writing, visual design, and speaking to accomplish their goals with a wide range of audiences.
What You'll Learn
Students who complete the Foundations Communication program will build useful skills and gain essential knowledge.
Make Your Point Effectively
Produce and present rhetorically effective oral, visual, and written content for a variety of defined academic, professional, and public audiences.
Understand the Communication Process
Practice communication as a recursive process and develop effective strategies for researching, collaborating, drafting, revising, and editing.
Apply Skills In a Variety of Settings
Use reading, writing, and communication to participate in and contribute to academic, professional, and public conversations.
Build Your Argument With Facts
Effectively and ethically locate, use, acknowledge, and synthesize appropriate, credible content/evidence from sources to support and enrich their communication-related work.
Customize Messaging for Your Audience
Use discipline-specific written, oral, and visual genres and conventions to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences.
Show What You Know
Use research, writing, and communication processes to advance, integrate, and/or apply disciplinary knowledge.
Foundations Communication Program Overview
FCO 105: Rhetorical Communication
The Rhetorical Communication course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful, goal-driven written, oral, and visual communication in academic and professional contexts.
All subjects and professional fields require effective (i.e., rhetorical) communication directed at well-defined audiences to explain information and to offer a compelling rationale, and this course illustrates the process-oriented approach needed to achieve rhetorical objectives. Rhetorical Communication also introduces students to the knowledge-producing and critical thinking potential of language, the impact of technology on language and information, and the nature of communication as ethical action.
The course is typically taken in a student’s second semester at the College and is intended to prepare them to meet the demands of writing in their college classes and prepare them to be effective communicators beyond the classroom.
3 credit hours
Satisfies Foundations Communication for Generation Next with a grade of 2.0 or better
Prerequisites
Cumulative high school GPA of 3.20 or higher or concurrent enrollment in FCO 103.
FCO 103: Rhetorical Communication Studio
The Rhetorical Communication Studio course is taken in the same semester as FCO 105 (Rhetorical Communication). The course meets for only one hour each week and focuses on guided instruction that complements and supports students’ work in FCO 105.
In weekly workshops, students share their work, giving and receiving feedback on projects for FCO 105. The course addresses the following elements of the writing and communication process:
- Interpreting assignment prompts
- Invention strategies
- Use of sources
- Organization
- Style
- Audience considerations
- Delivery
- Revision
- ...and more.
This course is offered pass/fail only. To receive credit, students must meet FCO 103 requirements and also must pass the FCO 105 class in which they are concurrently enrolled with a 2.0 or better.
1 credit hour
Placement
Students with a cumulative high school GPA below 3.20 are required to take FCO 103 at the same time they are enrolled in FCO 105.
Required Corequisite: FCO 105: Rhetorical Communication
During their second year, students take one of our Advanced Communication courses, which reinforce the communication and research skills students develop in FCO 105: Rhetorical Communication and help students deepen and transfer those skills to specific professional or academic contexts.
Because our Advanced Communication courses focus on discipline-specific communication, we offer several options:
- FCO 210: Communication in Professional Cultures
- FCO 215: Scientific and Technical Communication
- FCO 225: Interdisciplinary Communication
Check your catalog and talk with your advisor to see if your major requires a specific Advanced Communication course.
All Advanced Communication courses build on the rhetorical concepts students learn in FCO 105, but ask students to think about and practice responding to the types of rhetorical situations they will face in their future careers or education. In Advanced Communication courses, students consider why what is considered “good” or “effective” communication changes from one situation to another and explore the norms for writing, speaking, and visual design within their professional communities. Advanced Communication courses are designed to be taken during a student’s second year in college.
FCO 210: Communication in Professional Cultures
FCO 210 begins preparing students for the demands of communicating in professional settings (including business or government offices). Students practice communicating specialized knowledge to and persuading a wide range of audiences (including customers/clients, colleagues, supervisors, and the public). Many students taking FCO 210 are majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Business, Economics, or Intelligence Analysis.
3 credit hours
Satisfies Foundations - Advanced Communication for Generation Next with a grade of 2.0 or better
Prerequisite
FCO 105 with a grade of 2.0 or better
FCO 215: Scientific and Technical Communication
FCO 215 begins preparing students for the unique demands of communicating in medical, technical, and scientific contexts (such as hospitals, tech firms, or research labs). Students practice conducting user research/usability studies and communicating specialized knowledge to non-expert audiences. Students also practice making arguments that are persuasive in STEM contexts. Many students taking FCO 215 are majoring in Nursing, Computer Science, Medical Imaging, or Mathematics.
3 credit hours
Satisfies Foundations - Advanced Communication for “Generation Next” with a grade of 2.0 or better
Prerequisite
FCO 105 with a grade of 2.0 or better
FCO 225: Interdisciplinary Communication
FCO 225 focuses on academic, research-informed communication. The course gives students insight into the ways different expert communities produce knowledge. Rather than teaching “generic” library research, faculty guide students in considering subjects using a range of sources, media, and genres appropriate to different disciplinary communities. FCO 225 introduces students to a variety of research methods (quantitative, qualitative, and archival) and gives them practice posing research questions, identifying and analyzing sources, and presenting information, analysis, and conclusions to academic and public audiences. Many students taking this class are majoring in History, Philosophy, or Writing.
3 credit hours
Satisfies Foundations - Advanced Communication for “Generation Next” with a grade of 2.0 or better
Prerequisite
FCO 105 with a grade of 2.0 or better
The number one predictor of students' grades during the first year of college is their cumulative high school GPA (this is true for your college grades overall and in individual classes, including first-year writing and speaking courses).
York College's FCO program uses students' cumulative high school GPAs to identify students who would benefit from additional support (FCO103, a one-credit workshop course) to succeed in FCO105: Rhetorical Communication.
It is important that you provide YCP with your final, official high school transcript to make sure you're able to register for the right courses during your first year.
| Cumulative High School GPA | FCO Course Placement |
|---|---|
| 3.20 or higher | FCO 105 only |
| below 3.20 | FCO 103 and FCO 105 |
FCO 105 Placement
Students with a cumulative high school GPA of 3.20 are not required to enroll in FCO 103.
FCO 103 Placement
FCO 103: Rhetorical Communication Studio is a one-credit studio that supports students in FCO 105: Rhetorical Communication. Students with a cumulative high school GPA below 3.20 are required to take FCO 103 at the same time as they are enrolled in FCO 105.
Students who are required to take FCO 103 must first register for FCO 103 before they can register for FCO 105.
Requesting a Waiver for FCO 103
Students who take the FCO 103 course report feeling more confident in their academic writing and speaking. Since the course is meant to support you in developing these skills, the application for a waiver will ask for information from you and your advisor to make sure the waiver is the best option for your education.
Only students who transferred to YCP with at least 45 college credits can apply for a waiver of the FCO 103 corequisite.
Waiver Application Requirements
Students requesting a waiver must complete the following steps:
- Meet with your advisor to discuss the course and your interest in obtaining a waiver for FCO 103.
- If you transferred to York College with at least 45 college credits, you’ll be required to provide two academic writing samples.
- Complete the online application form and upload all required documentation.
Waiver Application Review Process
- Dr. Emily Cope, Director of the FCO program, will review your application, writing samples, and transcript. Dr. Cope may contact your academic advisor to discuss your application.
- Dr. Cope’s determination will be sent to the Director of General Education, and you and your advisor will be notified of the decision.
- If the corequisite is waived, you and your advisor will be sent a copy of the notification submitted to the Registrar’s Office.
FCO 105: Rhetorical Communication — Transfer Credits
Transferring Credits from Another School
York College of Pennsylvania has transfer agreements in place with several colleges and universities. Please check with our Admissions Office and your current school to see if there is an agreement in place. Visit the Transfer Resource Center for more information.
York College of Pennsylvania may accept an introductory writing course with a passing grade equivalent to a 2.0 or a Grade of “C” to satisfy the FCO105 requirement.
To satisfy this requirement from a school that does not have a formal agreement with York College of Pennsylvania, please submit your transcripts to the College and have your current school’s writing program email a syllabus for the course you believe should count for FCO 105 credit to Dr. Emily Cope at ecope1@ycp.edu.
International Baccalaureate (I.B.) English A: Language and Literature Higher Level
York College of Pennsylvania will accept an English A: Language and Literature Higher Level score of 6 or better to satisfy the FCO 105: Rhetorical Communication requirement.
Advanced Placement (A.P.)
York College of Pennsylvania will accept an A.P. Language/Composition score of 4 or above to satisfy the FCO 105: Rhetorical Communication requirement.
Resources for Writing and Speaking
Writing and Communication Studio
The Writing and Communication Studio supports learning at York College by offering free, individual consultations (face-to-face or online) for students working on written, oral, or visual communication projects.
Library
The Schmidt Library supports student researchers at YCP. Students may want to check out the discipline-specific research guides and take advantage of their individualized research assistance.
Career Development Center
The Career Development Center coaches York College students in the written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills it takes to land a great job and build a successful career.