When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 7 modules in this course
Taught by Rice University communication faculty from the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL). This course covers core topics in oral communication: Communication strategy, content, data visualization, and delivery. You’ll learn key principles in
• Creating a communication strategy
• Developing a clear message and organizing persuasive content
• Creating strong visual support
• Presenting data effectively
• Presenting professionally and confidently
• Handling formal presentations, giving pitches, speaking extemporaneously, managing online presentations, and lowering
public speaking anxiety
Selected materials courtesy of Communication Faculty at Rice University - all rights reserved.
What's included
3 videos4 readings
Show info about module content
3 videos•Total 8 minutes
Meet the Professor - Dr. Beata Krupa•1 minute
Meet the Professor - Dr. Gayle Moran•2 minutes
Introduction to Specialization•4 minutes
4 readings•Total 33 minutes
Course Icon Legend•10 minutes
Required Materials and Other Info•10 minutes
Personal Communication Improvement Plan - Introduction•3 minutes
Pre-Course Survey•10 minutes
Course Introduction - Oral Communication for Engineering Leaders
Accessibility and Accommodations Statement•10 minutes
Week 1: Introduction and Communication Strategy: It Is All About Audience and Purpose
Module 3•4 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you’ll learn how to lay the foundation for a variety of communication modes with a discussion on developing a communication strategy and the importance of knowing your audience, your purpose, and your key message before you start communicating.
Record an Impromptu Speech - P/F Assignment•10 minutes
4 discussion prompts•Total 50 minutes
Introduce Yourself•10 minutes
Think About It•10 minutes
Example of Persuasion•15 minutes
Project Lead with Potential Problems•15 minutes
Week 2: Presentations: What to Say so that Your Audience Listens
Module 4•5 hours to complete
Module details
In today’s workplace, formal and informal presentations are a major communication tool, and leaders give them frequently for different purposes. In this module, you’ll learn how to create different types of oral presentations. You will also practice building strong, cohesive, visually interesting, and convincing persuasive presentations that will get your audience on board with your ideas.
Week 3: Creating Visual Support: A Picture Is Worth a Lot of Words
Module 5•5 hours to complete
Module details
Develop good visual support for your content. Learn how to create attractive slides and other types of visuals. Especially important for engineers, you’ll find out how to show and explain complex data so your audience understands it.
Week 4: How to Speak so that Your Audience Listens
Module 6•5 hours to complete
Module details
Once you have your content developed and your visual support finished, you need to deliver the presentation. That means you have to stand in front of an audience, small or large, and keep them interested in what you have to say. Many things contribute to an engaging presentation, from professional body language to how fast you talk. In this module, you’ll learn and practice the many aspects of delivering a professional presentation with confidence.
Building Mental Habits - P/F Assignment•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Think About It•10 minutes
Week 5: Elevator Pitch, Impromptu, Online Presentations, and Managing Public Speaking Anxiety
Module 7•5 hours to complete
Module details
Have you ever had someone ask you about your job when you aren’t expecting it? How good are you at thinking on your feet? In this module, you’ll learn about other types of presentations that require different preparation and approaches. These different types are valuable additions to your communication toolkit and learning them can help set you apart as a leader.
Rice University is consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the U.S. and the top 100 in the world. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.