A method and apparatus for control channel transmission and reception is provided herein. In particular, the use of a partitioned and structured control channel is provided that leverages the benefits of common control while maintaining favorable aspects of dedicated control. During operation, control information is distributed over a number of partitions (201). Each Pi is encoded (607) with monotonically non-increasing reliability level. Control information for a given remote unit can be distributed on one or several partitions, from P1 to Pk, where Pk is encoded with the lowest reliability level that can be decodable by the remote unit at an acceptable error rate.