Participating in the OCCE does not guarantee passing and therefore you may not be completing the university's requirement in oral competency. It is recommended that graduating seniors register for a section of COM 1010 and attend class until both Part I and Part II of the exam are completed and it is certified that you have passed. The Department of Communication and the university are not responsible for non-refunded monies as a result of registering for, and then dropping, COM 1010.

While you may attempt to pass Part I multiple times, you may only attempt Part II once. If you do not pass Part II on your first attempt, you will not be able to fulfill the OC requirement through the Oral Competency Examination.

Your class rank within the university does not affect your liklihood of passing either Part I or Part II. For example, having a senior status and nearing graduation does not give you an advantage over having junior status. In addition, your status within your own program (e.g., needing to fulfill an OC requirement to remain in your program) does not effect your liklihood of passing. For Part II, the evaluation panel is focused on whether your speech meets all of the criteria as outlined in the Part II instructions and requirements, and on whether or not your speech represents a capstone speech as would be expected in a 3 credit hour public speaking class.

PART I

Oral Communication Competency Exam Part I will be administered by the Department of Communication.

Students interested in taking the Oral Competency Equivalency Examination for Winter 2012 need to register for Part I of the exam through the Department of Communication. There will be a $20 test fee for Part I.

Test Schedule for Part I.

Part I Test Date
Tuesday, January 31, 10:00 AM
MANO 43

Registration Deadline
Hand deliver:  Friday, January 27 to MANO 585—2:00 p.m.
Postmark:  Monday, January 23, 2012

The Department of Communication is responsible for the content and construction of the exam.

There are two ways to register for Part I of the Oral Competency Exam through the Department of Communication:

1. In Person Registration:  Come to the Department of Communication, Manoogian Hall 585, during regular business hours. The examination fee and the completed, typed Part I registration form (see below) are required to register and must be paid by check or money order payable to Wayne State University. Cash and other forms of payment will not be accepted. The deadline for in-person (hand-deliver) registration is Friday, January 27, 2:00 PM.

2. Mail Registration:  Send your request to Rebecca Mahfouz, Department of Communication, 906 W. Warren Ave., 585 Manoogian Hall, Detroit, MI 48201. Your postal registration must be postmarked by Monday, January 23. Please also include the “Part I Registration Form” (see below) filled out in typed form in its entirety. Your request must include both the typed registration form and the testing fee. The fee must be paid by check or money order payable to Wayne State University.

Click here for OCE Part I registration form (.doc).
Click here for OCE Part I instructions and study guide (.pdf).

ORAL COMPETENCY EQUIVALENCY EXAM - PART II

Part II of the Oral Competency Equivalency Exam will be administered by the Department of Communication.

Those students who pass Part I of the Oral Competency Exam must register for the Oral Component (Part II) by Friday, February 17, 2012, 2:00 PM. (Or, if you mail in your registration, it must be postmarked by Monday, February 13.) Speech performance will be held Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 10:00 AM, MANO 43.

Both parts must be completed and passed within the same academic year (e.g., Fall 2011, Winter 2012 and Spring/Summer 2012) in order to achieve oral competency equivalency. An “academic year” begins with the Fall semester and ends with the Spring/Summer semesters. Therefore, in order to qualify to take Part II in February 2012, you must have passed Part I during the Winter 2012 semester (January). Note that both parts of the OCCE occur during the semester in which they are recorded (e.g., Parts I and II during January and February 2012 will be recorded during the Winter 2012 semester).

Click here for OCE Part II instructions, requirements, and speaker statement (.pdf).
Click here for OCE Part II registration form (.doc). 

Typed registration forms should be delivered to the Department of Communication, 585 Manoogian Hall by the deadline to register. There will be a $20 fee for Part 2 of the OCE exam. (This is in addition to the $20 fee paid for Part 1). Your check or money order (please, no cash) made payable to Wayne State University must be received, along with your typed registration form, by the Department of Communication by the deadline date.

Please note:  If you major or minor (or will major or minor) in communication, you will have to take COM 1010 regardless of whether or not you pass both parts of the OCE.

If additional information is needed, contact:

Rebecca Mahfouz
Assistant Introductory Course Director
Dept. of Communication
(313) 577-2943
ea3891@wayne.edu