The Department of Speech and Theatre at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice offers an array of exciting elective courses as well as one of the college’s core requirements: Speech Communications, SPE 113. Course offerings include communication arts for the criminal justice professionals, as well as courses in drama literature, theatre performance, film studies and video production. Students can earn a minor in Speech and Media, Theatre, or a combined minor in Speech, Theatre and Media Studies. Additionally, the Department presents two professional caliber theatrical productions each year in the state-of-the-art John Jay College Gerald W. Lynch Theatre, and a faculty member advises the John Jay Theatrical Players, a student club that produces plays, holds staged readings, and runs theatre trips for students. Every semester, the Department hosts student debates and a speech contest for outstanding student speakers, who are honored for exceptional performances in the categories of Informative and Persuasive Speaking.