Northern Illinois University
Department of Communication
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

COMS 100 is a basic course in speech communication required for all undergraduates at Northern Illinois University. It is part of NIU’s Foundational Studies, and completing it meets the university’s foundational studies oral requirements. You can also see if you qualify to take the Oral Communication Competency Exam (OCCE). If you pass, you'll fulfill NIU’s oral requirements and won’t need to enroll in COMS 100. Skills in oral communication are vital for meeting educational, professional and societal needs for all students.

You may want to consider taking the OCCE if you meet one of the following criteria:

• Scored 24 or higher on the English portion of the ACT.
• Excelled in a rigorous high school speech class.
• Excelled in high school forensics.
• Are a transfer student who completed communication courses that did not transfer to NIU as equivalent to COMS 100.

In the COMS 100 classroom, you will learn various rhetorical skills that enhance both speaking and listening abilities, along with speech preparation skills. This course is unique because it values cultural diversity as a source of different perspectives from which communicators can learn from each other. The course offers structured instruction in communication skills that builds on your existing knowledge and helps develop well-rounded oral communication abilities.