Fundamentals of Public Speaking | Self-Paced Enroll Anytime

Build confidence and clarity as a speaker while learning public speaking fundamentals—from elevator pitches to persuasive speeches—in this flexible, self-paced  communication course.

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What You'll Learn 

COMM 110 – Fundamentals of Public Speaking (Online) is an introductory course designed to help students develop essential public speaking skills through a fully online, interactive format. Emphasizing real-world application and ethical communication, this course guides students through the process of crafting and delivering speeches tailored to diverse audiences.

Students will complete a series of speaking assignments—including an elevator pitch, special occasion speech, informative speech, and persuasive speech—using the YuJa video platform to submit presentations. Emphasis is placed on audience analysis, message organization, effective delivery, the use of visual aids, and critical self-reflection.

By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped not only with the tools to succeed in academic and professional speaking situations but also with the confidence to express your ideas in any public setting.

Course Organization

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Fundamentals of Public Speaking

Lesson 2: Elevator Speeches

Lesson 3: Listening Effectively

Lesson 4: Supporting Evidence & Outline

Lesson 5: Special Occasion Speech

Lesson 6: Critical Thinking, Introductions & Conclusions

Lesson 7: Introduction to Informative Speaking

Lesson 8: Using Visual Aids Effectively

Lesson 9: Informative Speech

Lesson 10: Audience Analysis and Self-Reflection

Lesson 11: Persuasive Outlines

Lesson 12: Persuasive PowerPoints

Lesson 13: Persuasive Speech and Final Self-Reflection

What's Required for This Public Speaking Course?

This course uses a free online textbook from The Public Speaking Project. 

• Students need to assemble a three-person live audience for each speech. 
• To film speeches, students may use a web-camera accessible computer, a mobile device camera, or other camera that can capture video and be uploaded to the course website.

How will the course appear on my transcript?

You may enroll at any time and have up to 9 months to complete this online course. The credits earned will be recorded on your UND transcript based on the date you registered for the course. It will appear on your transcript in the same way as a course taken during a regular semester. There is no indication that the course was taken online or that you completed it at your own pace. 

Consult the table on our How Enroll Anytime Courses Work page for a current listing of Enroll Anytime Registration Dates and the semester information that will appear on a UND transcript.

Why Take Online Classes at UND?

Here are a few reasons why you should take an online enroll anytime course at UND:

• Great customer service – Our registration team is ready to answer questions quickly so you can focus on your coursework.
• Affordable – UND's enroll anytime courses are priced at North Dakota's affordable, in-state tuition rate.
• Accredited – UND is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
• Easily transfer credits – Transferring credits is always at the discretion of the institution to which the credits are being transferred. In general, credits from schools/universities that are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission transfer to other regionally accredited institutions. UND's online courses appear on your UND transcript in the same way as other courses.

Flexible 100% Online Course

You'll take this online course at your own pace. Some students thrive in this environment, while other students may struggle with setting their own deadlines. If you have successfully taken an independent study or correspondence course previously, UND’s enroll anytime courses may be right for you. Still not sure? Take our online quiz to help determine if online enroll anytime courses are right for you.

Course information including tuition, technology requirements, textbooks, lessons and exams is subject to change without notice.