The Cerritos College Forensics Team

forensics (Speech and debate) team

You are invited to join the forensics, or competitive speech and debate, team! The forensics team will hold practice meetings this semester on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30pm-5:30pm in Social Science 224. All students are welcome to join; no try-outs are required.

For questions related to the team, or if you are interested in joining the team, please contact team director Nick Matthews at nmatthews@cerritos.edu

What is the forensics team?

Forensics is competitive speech and debate. Forensics students compete in various events, such as persuasive speaking, impromptu speaking, interpretation of literature, and debate. Tournaments are typically held on weekends. Beginners are welcome! Tournaments have a division just for people who have very little speaking experience but want to learn and improve.

What does the forensics team offer me?

You can earn CSU transferable elective credit, learn to present your ideas dynamically, overcome the fear of public speaking, meet new friends at Cerritos and other colleges, and have the opportunity to attend state and national speech championships. Cerritos speech students can earn scholarships to four-year colleges and valuable experience for their job resumes.

What can I expect from the forensics team?

You can expect individualized coaching assistance, all-expenses paid tournament competition, numerous speaking opportunities, fun, and skills that will really make a difference in your life.

Forensics Communication Studies Courses

Forensics is a co-curricular activity, meaning students receive course credit for participating on the forensics team. The forensics courses are open to all students, regardless of major or degree plan, and include coaching support and speaking opportunities before audiences at intercollegiate speech tournaments. Students can enroll in a one-unit, two-unit, or three-unit section of the course, with the number of units corresponding to the minimum course requirements. 

Forensics Activity 1: Communication Studies 231

Provides training and supervised preparation for participating in collegiate competitive and noncompetitive speech activities, such as debate, public speaking and oral performance of literature. Requires coaching hours outside of the classroom and participation in interscholastic competition at one or more forensics tournaments (held on weekends). [1 unit]

Forensics Activity 2: Communication Studies 232

Provides intermediate training and supervised preparation for participating in collegiate competitive speech activities, such as debate, public speaking and oral performance of literature. Requires coaching hours outside of the classroom and participation in interscholastic competition at two or more forensics tournaments (held on weekends). [2 units]

Forensics Activity 3: Communication Studies 233

Provides advanced training and supervised preparation for participating in collegiate competitivespeech activities such as debate, public speaking and oral performance of literature. Requirescoaching hours outside of the classroom and participation in interscholastic competition at three or more forensics tournaments (held on weekends).[3 units]

How do I get more information about the Forensics Team?

Contact Nick Matthews, Director of Forensics at nmatthews@cerritos.edu