The Department of Psychology at State University is considered an academic discourse community. They have a stated objective, conditions of membership and exercise intercommunication techniques. Additionally, they shared common knowledge that they use to advance their discipline and attract new members. Eleanor Kutz, a leading expert in the field of language and literacy, argues that academic discourse communities differ from informal communities in the critical area of ​​supposedly shared knowledge. She states that “relying on supposedly shared knowledge… affects how people participate in academic communities, including introductory ones” (Kutz 344). That is, teachers introduce basic concepts when students enter the community. These concepts form the basis that will eventually give rise to greater functionality within the desired academic discipline. The purpose of the academic discourse community is to foster the development of novice members and, therefore, ensure that the community has the resources necessary to sustain itself. The purpose of my research stems from this concept of shared knowledge and its connection to membership and survival. John Swales theorizes that “the survival of the community depends on a reasonable relationship between novices and experts” (Swales 27). Building on this notion, my goal is to show how freshmen and faculty depend on each other and how this community achieves its goal of sharing common knowledge. I will do this by focusing on their modes of academic advancement, their intercommunication techniques, and their shared public goals. Additionally, my research also reveals insight into how a bachelor's degree in psychology translates to employment. Methodology: experiments, observation and documentation... middle of article ...... comments” (Swales 26). This function supports the idea that within any academic discourse community there must be ways of transmitting knowledge and feedback. It is the action that maintains life within the community. The shared information transmission exercise allows the Department of Psychology to grow, stay relevant, attract new members, help the community, and function in unity to achieve its stated purpose and objectives. Works Cited Kutz, Eleanor. Exploring Literacy: A Guide to Reading, Writing, and Research. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2004. Print. “Lots of Opportunities for Psychology Students in Akron.” The University of Akron: Psychology. Np, and Web. March 20, 2014. Swales, John M. Gender Analysis: English in Academia and Research. Cambridge: Cambridge United Press, 1990. Print.