Oral Communication Competency Examination

Student Resources/Information for the OCCE:

• General Testing Information
• Part I Instructions and Study Guide
• Part I Registration Form
• Part II Instructions
• Part II Registration Form
• Public Speaking Resource Center
• Payment Form

Please note:

• 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 Public Speaking Resource Center within the Department of Communication, the Department of Communication itself, 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 (once attempt per semester), 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 Communication Competency Examination.
• Your class rank within the University does not affect your likelihood 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 affect your likelihood 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.
• We offer one testing date to complete Part I and one testing date to complete Part II of the OCCE each semester (Fall/Winter). Therefore, students may only participate in one round of testing per semester. If you fail Part I in the Fall semester and you want to attempt the exam again, you must wait until the Winter semester test date. As a reminder, failure of Part II results in the automatic failure of the OCCE.
• The date and time of the Oral Communication Competency Exam are firm. We cannot accommodate scheduling conflicts for any reason.

PART I

Oral Communication Competency Exam Part I will be administered by the Public Speaking Resource Center within the Department of Communication.

Students interested in taking the Oral Communication Competency Examination need to register for Part I of the exam through the Public Speaking Resource Center within the Department of Communication. There will be a $10 test fee for Part I.

Test Schedule for Round I FALL 2024 INFORMATION:

The Public Speaking Resource Center within the Department of Communication is responsible for the content and construction of the exam.

Registration: To register, complete the Part I registration form (top of the page) electronically and email it to the Public Speaking Resource Center (publicspeaking@wayne.edu). There is a registration fee of $10 for Part I of the exam. Payment for Part I of the exam must be made in-person to the Cashier’s Office located on the 2nd floor of the Welcome Center. Please complete and submit an Oral Communication Competency Exam Payment Form along with your payment. Payment must be submitted by the deadline to complete the registration process.

PART II - ORAL COMMUNICATION COMPETENCY EXAM

Part II of the Oral Communication Competency Exam will be administered by the Public Speaking Center within the Department of Communication.

Test Schedule for Round II FALL 2024 INFORMATION:

Part II Registration Form (top of the page) must be filled out electronically and emailed to the Public Speaking Resource Center (publicspeaking@wayne.edu) by the deadline to register. There is a registration fee of $10 for Part I of the exam. Payment for Part I of the exam must be made in-person to the Cashier’s Office located on the 2nd floor of the Welcome Center. Please complete and submit an Oral Communication Competency Exam Payment Form along with your payment. Payment must be submitted by the deadline to complete the registration process.

Payment for the exams can be made through the payment form at the top of the page, instructions available on the form.

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 OCCE.

If additional information is needed, contact publicspeaking@wayne.edu