2011–2012 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES AND
COMMUNICATION
Robert A. Taylor, Ph.D., Head
Assistant Department Head
Alan M. Rosiene, Ph.D.
Degree Programs
Communication, B.S.
Military Science, B.S.
Humanities, B.A.
Prelaw, B.A.
Technical and Professional Communication, M.S.
Undergraduate Minor Programs
Communication
History
Prelaw
Professors
Randall L. Alford, Ph.D., general linguistics, language education, German,
English as a second language.
Gordon M. Patterson, Ph.D., 19th- and 20th-century intellectual history,
American history, history of science and technology.
Edmund Skellings, Ph.D., University Professor of Humanities, English,
poetry.
Judith B. Strother, Ph.D., business communication, scientific and technical
communication, applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, intercultural
communication, customer service communication.
Robert A. Taylor, Ph.D., modern American history, American Civil War,
Florida history.
Associate Professors
Andrew J. Aberdein, Ph.D., logic and philosophy.
H. Hatfield Edwards, Ph.D., public relations, health communication,
communication and social issues.
Lisa Perdigao, Ph.D., American literature, literary theory, cultural studies.
Robert L. Shearer, Ph.D., history of philosophy, existentialism, logic, music
history and performance.
Assistant Professors
Gabriella I. Baika, Ph.D., foreign languages, humanities.
Marcia Denius, M.F.A., poetry, creative writing, scriptwriting, women
writers.
Jason M. Harris, Ph.D., freshman composition, English literature, folklore.
Lars R. Jones, Ph.D., medieval and renaissance European art,
photojournalism, iconography.
John F. Lavelle, Ph.D., freshman composition, American literature, creative
writing.
Jo Ann Parla-Palumbo, Ph.D., languages and linguistics.
Theodore G. Petersen, Ph.D., popular culture, literary journalism, civil rights
movement, journalism history.
Alan M. Rosiene, Ph.D., medieval rhetoric, science fiction film, literary
theory, freshman composition.
Youngju Sohn, Ph.D., strategic communication, public relations.
Angela Tenga, Ph.D., scientific and technical communication, Old and
Middle English literature, English, German.
Jamie A. Younkin, Ph.D., music and humanities.
Wanfa Zhang, Ph.D., political science, international relations, Asian studies.
142 Florida Tech
Instructors
Penny Bernard, M.S., languages
Annie Caza, M.A., languages
Zohra Fazal, M.S., communication
Bill Leach, Ph.D., communication
Anna Montoya, M.A., Spanish
Matthew Ruane, M.A., history
Fontaine Wallace, M.Ed., communication
Adjunct Faculty
D. Bailey, Ph.D.; A. Belyi, M.A.; J. Dobos, M.S.; K. Mazo, M.S.;
K. Nelmes, M.Phil.
Professor Emerita
Jane E. Patrick, Ph.D.
Mission Statement
The department provides the foundation on which students build
practical skills of writing and critical thinking, intellectual objectivity
and analysis. These are preparations not only for a career but
also for anyone who wants to write a book or start a corporation,
pursue graduate studies or serve as a management consultant.
Florida Tech provides a work environment that is richly diverse,
ethnically, linguistically and politically. The goal of the department
is to provide a program that succeeds in its commitment to its students,
and shows them how to wonder at the genius of great literature
in the same way that it shows them how to write proposals or
launch a public relations campaign. It must also convince students
that careful thinking, meticulous writing and imaginative planning
are essential not just for success but for corporate survival, and that
all jobs in the 21st century will require solid writing and analytical
skills, computer proficiency and intellectual openness.
Fast Track Master’s Program in Technical and
Professional Communication
This program allows undergraduate students of any major
to complete a master’s degree in technical and professional
communication in one year by earning graduate-level credit
hours during their senior year, and applying up to six credit
hours to both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The program
is available to undergraduates who have completed a minimum
of 35 credit hours at Florida Tech with an earned GPA of at least
3.2, and who have completed at least 95 credit hours toward
their undergraduate degree by the time the approved student
begins taking graduate-level courses. The credit hours are treated
as transfer credit (GPA does not apply) when applied toward
the master’s degree. Interested students should consult their
department head for more information about this program.
NONDEGREE PROGRAM
Languages and Linguistics ____________________
Program Chair
Alan Rosiene, Ph.D.
Organization
Florida Tech’s division of languages and linguistics is operated by
the department of humanities and communication. It administers
and teaches all foreign language courses offered by the university
and provides training in English for students whose home language
is not English and who have been admitted into a Florida Tech
degree program.