Courses
Below, you'll find a list of all the
courses we teach, along with a brief description of the content of the
course.
Communication
Studies 101. Public Speaking. Introduces students to the basic concepts of human
communication, with special emphasis placed on competencies in public
speaking. 3 credits.
Communication Studies 200. Communication Theory. Introduces students to communication
as an academic discipline by exploring how meaning is created and shared
in multiple contexts such as: intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group,
organizational, public, mass mediated, and intercultural. Fundamental
theories from each context are covered. Prerequisite: COMM 101 (with a
grade of C- or better) 3 credits.
Communication Studies 210. Media & Society. This course examines the economic and social
organization of mass media, the content of media messages, the
relationship between media and the public, the growth of new media
technologies, and current dilemmas facing media policy makers.
Prerequisite: COMM 101 (with grade of “C” or better). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 241. Basic Media Reporting and Writing. Introduction
to basic reporting and writing skills for use in print, broadcast, and
online media. Includes news and feature reporting and writing, as well as
writing for promotional and public relations purposes. Prerequisite: COMM
101 (with grade of “C” or better). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 280. Fundamentals of Public Relations. This
course is an introduction to public relations principles and concepts.
Students are introduced to the history and development of public relations
as a profession, to the range of responsibilities and functions that
public relations practitioners assume in a variety of organizations, and
to the significant issues and trends that influence the practice of public
relations. Prerequisite: COMM 101 & 200 (with grades of “C” or
better). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 292. Internship in Communication Studies. A semester-long,
on-the-job learning experience designed to apply the principles of
communication studies. 1-18 credits.
Communication
Studies 295. Special Topics in Communication Studies. Selected topics
in communication studies. The topics may vary from semester to semester.
May be repeated for credit when topics change. 1-3 credits.
Communication
Studies 310. Interpersonal Communication. This course will examine
various communication patterns including nonverbal and intercultural
communication. Students will study theories and concepts through text
readings, class activities, and lectures. Students will understand that
people, even if witnessing similar sights, may have different
perspectives. 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 311, 312. Studies Abroad. Primarily intended for transfer of credit
earned abroad in courses in communications studies. 1-18 credits.
Communication
Studies 322. Media Law. This course examines the impact of law on public
communication, with emphasis on ethics and law regarding broadcast, print,
and online media. Prerequisite: COMM 101 & 210 (with grades of “C”
or better). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 325. Media Criticism. A critical examination of the influence of mass media
through reading, viewing and discussion to build awareness of the
influence of media in personal life and develop media literacy skills.
Prerequisite: COMM 101 & 200 (with grades of “C” or better). 3
credits.
Communication
Studies 330. Small Group Communication. Examines the complex personal
and communication dynamics of small groups. Topics include leadership,
influence, conflict, task management, organization, interdependence, and
others. Students actively participate in group projects and meetings to
demonstrate successful small group techniques. 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 340. Nonverbal and Visual Communication. Theory, research, and
practice into the realm of intentional and unintentional nonverbal
communication. Study of unspoken communication genres includes kinesic,
affective, ocular, haptic, paralinguistic, proximic, environmental,
chronemic, and artifactual. Exploration of semiotics and other visual
communication areas. 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 341. Advanced Media Reporting and Writing.
Advanced
practices of the news gathering process with an emphasis on examining
records, interviewing news sources, evaluating credibility of Internet
sources and analyzing newsworthiness of information. Students will
write news stories for print and broadcast media. Prerequisite: COMM 241
(with grade of “C” or better). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 343. Broadcast Production. The purpose of this course is to
introduce students to the world of broadcasting, providing both hands-on
experience in front and behind the microphone and camera, and a working
knowledge of the important theoretical and practical issues related to a
broadcasting career. 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 350. Persuasion Theory. This course is designed to promote the understanding of the
fundamental principles and theories of persuasive communication. Theories
are considered for application in producing and consuming persuasive
discourse. Prerequisite: COMM 101 & 200 (with grade of “C” or
better). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 362. Organization Communication. Explores the communication processes humans use to
organize themselves to accomplish goals. Theoretical
approaches to organizing are considered, including classical, systems,
cultural, critical, and postmodern approaches. Organizational
communication processes such as entry, learning, planning, and evaluation
are examined in their relation to common organizational outcomes such as
satisfaction, productivity and commitment. COMM 101 & 200 (with
grades of “C” or better). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 364. Applied
Organizational Communication.
Development
of advanced communication skills with a special focus on business and
professional life. Students will learn advanced public speaking skills
including business report presentations, persuasive speaking,
collaborative meeting management, team presentations, and speech writing.
Prerequisite: COMM 101 & 200 (with grades of “C” or better). 3
credits.
Communication
Studies 366. Conflict
Resolution.
This course
introduces students to the origins of the field of conflict and to current
communication-oriented perspectives in a wide range of arenas – from
intimate relationships to group, inter-group, organizational and
negotiation settings. Students will understand the opportunities for
conflict management through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
Prerequisite: COMM 101 & 200 (with grades of “C” or better). 3
credits.
Communication
Studies 382.
Public Relations Cases. Provides an in-depth look at a wide variety
of public relations challenges and opportunities that face public
relations practitioners. Students examine actual case studies to evaluate
the context, goals, strategies, and outcomes in each case. Particular
attention is given to whether clients and/or their PR practitioners made
ethical choices. Prerequisite: COMM 280 (with grade of “C” or
better). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 386.
Public Relations Campaigns. Students learn phases and steps
involved in creating a public relations campaign, including research,
planning, budgets, scheduling, implementation and evaluation. Special
attention is paid to primary research methods. Students plan a
campaign for an actual client. Prerequisite: COMM 280 (with grade of
“C” or better). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 390. Directed or Independent Study Must be approved by the head
of the department. Maybe repeated as 391. 1-18 credits.
Communication
Studies 392. Internship in Communication Studies. A semester-long,
on-the-job learning experience designed to apply the principles of
communication studies. 1-18 credits.
Communication
Studies 400.
Communication Ethics. This
course is a survey designed to provide an understanding of the ethical and
philosophical framework of decision-making. We will examine contemporary
and classic case studies from all areas of the communication discipline.
Ethics are relevant in all communication arenas: interpersonal
communication, organizational communication, mass communication, and
related fields, and we shall try and understand the practice and relevance
of ethical behavior in all these areas. Prerequisite: COMM 101 & 200
(with grades of “C” or better). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 410. Computer-mediated Communication. Theory, research, and
practical application of new communication technologies. Explores the
impact of various communication technologies on individuals and society.
Students also are trained in the use of communication technologies in
order to complete an applied project. 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 420. Intercultural Communication. A study of intercultural
communication in the classroom and business worlds, defining and
identifying the different cultures at work in our society, exploring the
problems resulting from poor intercultural communication, and finding ways
to improve communication between differing cultures. 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 443. Advanced Broadcast Production. The
purpose of this course is to explore editorial issues, aesthetic
principles and professional standards and practices of broadcast news,
field producing and reporting. Students will learn advanced skills in
producing, viewing, listening to, and analyzing videotapes and radio
newscasts. Pre-requisites: COMM 220 & COMM 343 (with grade of “C”
or better in each). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 460. Communication Research Methods. Explores communication
research processes including philosophical underpinnings, qualitative and
quantitative methods, and data analysis. Students learn to become
competent researchers and critics of scholarship. 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 461. Senior Seminar. A capstone course designed to help students prepare for
commencement. It is structured as a seminar/tutorial, culminating in
the creation of an undergraduate thesis or equivalent project.
Pre-requisite: COMM 460 (with grade of “C” or better). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 470. Gender and Communication. Study of advanced communication
theories and research focusing on the relationships among gender identity
and communication in the following communication contexts: organizations,
interpersonal relationships, family, mass media and popular culture,
education and health. 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 481. Crisis Communication. Introduces students to the study of crisis communication.
The course addresses key issues including threat assessment, crisis plans,
and strategies for handling crises when they occur. Pre-requisite: COMM
280 (with a grade of “C” or better). 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 490. Directed or Independent Study. Must be approved by the
head of the department. 1-18 credits.
Communication
Studies 492. Communication Internship. Directed practicum of
experiential learning in a professional setting. Students perform relevant
task to the discipline and profession. An internship contract must be
agreed upon by the professional supervisor, faculty advisor, and student.
Prerequisite: Completion of 24 credits in Communication Studies with a
minimum GPA of 2.5. 3 credits.
Communication
Studies 495. Special Topics in Communication Studies. Selected topics
in communication studies. The topics may vary from semester to semester.
May be repeated for credit when topics change. 1-3 credits.
Communication
Studies 498. Honors Research in Communication Studies. Students conduct
research in communications studies under the direction of a faculty member
and the Senior Honors Research Committee. May be repeated as 499. 3
credits.
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