COM 100 Introduction to Communication
3 credits
This course examines the history of communication including verbal, nonverbal and written forms. The curriculum covers various ways of studying communication processes, including communication models. Students are introduced to the application of basic communication concepts and theory in interpersonal, group, organizational, and mass communication contexts.
COM 101 Fundamentals of Communication
3 credits
This course focuses on the exploration of fundamental principles of effective communication. Skilled communication behaviors are developed through the study and practice of interpersonal communication, public speaking, listening, and group dynamics. Practical applications include class discussion, group activities, listening exercises, and individual presentations.
COM 102 Electronic Student Newspaper
1 credit
Students gain experience working on the publication of a newspaper, with the opportunity to serve in a number of capacities: news writing and reporting, feature writing, sports writing and reporting, layout and design, photojournalism, advertising sales, and management. (Repeatable for credit)
COM 202 Writing for Media
3 credits
This course introduces students to the principles of writing news in text form for web-based publications and as scripts to be used in broadcast-style reports via the web, television, or radio. In addition to news, public relations writing - in the form of news releases and public service announcements (PSAs) - and advertising writing is covered.
COM 204 Special Topics
3 credits
An exploration and analysis of special areas, issues, or problems in communication, chosen because of their special relevance or interest and not specifically examined in other courses.
COM 207 Newspaper Editorship
1 credit
Prerequisite: Permission
(Enrollment restricted to appointed editors)
Students gain experience as editors of a student publication, completing editors' duties: making assignments; managing the staff; planning and organizing; editing copy, photography, and artwork; writing; and helping to manage the budget. The editors reflect with the advisors on their effectiveness in areas of group process, interpersonal communication, public speaking, staff management, ethics, writing, editing, and layout and design.
COM 210 Introduction to Mass Communication
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 100
This course deals with the influence of mass media on people's personal lives, corporate environments and the government. It studies the interrelationship of the mass media with individuals and society. The interaction of media with legal, political, cultural, economic, and social forces and trends is examined. Study of the structure and practices of the media industries includes consideration of regulation, news coverage, advertising and public relations, government, and technology.
COM 212 Introduction to Web-based Communication
3 credits
This course deals with the influence of the Internet and web-based communication on personal lives, corporate environments and the government by emphasizing the inter-relationship of web-based media with individuals and society. Legal, cultural, political, economic, and social forces and trends on the Internet are studied in terms of how they developed and how they relate to communication in everyday life.
COM 215 Introduction to Public Relations
3 credits
Students will be introduced to the profession of public relations - its practice, history, and legal and ethical issues. This includes how to communicate with various publics (community, consumers, employers, government, the media) for various purposes (education, political and social action, community relations, issues, and crisis management). Students will be encouraged to explore how public relations is practiced in their own disciplines.
COM 232 Public Speaking
3 credits
A course applying traditional rhetoric and communication theory to oral presentations. Students study, write, deliver, and evaluate public speeches. Emphasis is placed on the students' ability to speak from an outline in a variety of situations including informative speaking, persuasive speaking and demonstration speaking. All presentations are made in class and videotaped to aid in evaluation.
COM 302 Intercultural Communication
3 credits
This course develops intercultural communication competence through an exploration of cultures. Using a broad definition of culture, which includes norms, values, beliefs, art, music, and literature, students examine the world as a place of dynamic change and cultural interaction, increasing their need for intercultural sensitivity in general. Through both theory and personal experience, students examine how the various components of communication are affected by and interface with the intercultural experience. Service learning is a component of this course.
COM 310 Production for the Web
3 credits
This course emphasizes basic audio and video production techniques as applied to the web. Students will learn to record and post audio news-type stories and to shoot, edit, and post video stories onto a website.
COM 315 Public Relations Writing andPractice
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 202, 215
Students will learn the theories and principles of good public relations writing and practice. This includes how to develop, write and present press releases, reports, speeches, newsletters and brochures, advertisements, papers and letters, and give interviews. Students also will learn theories of persuasion, practical legal and ethical concerns, and how to conduct and evaluate research. (Course may serve as an upper-level journalism writing elective.)
COM 321 Organizational Behavior and Communication
3 credits
(Also MGT 321)
The course provides a broad overview of the theoretical and conceptual issues relevant to organizational communication. The focus is on how communication operates in organizations, the impact of communication on organizational life, and how communication can be made more efficient and effective in meeting personal and organizational goals.
COM 322 Argumentation and Persuasion
3 credits
Prerequisite: ENG 101 or 105 or 230
The course utilizes classical and contemporary methods of logical reasoning, emotional appeal, and ethos as persuasive techniques to teach students problem analysis, research of evidence, and formulation and defense of one's position on an issue. Students write and present position papers on contemporary issues; analyze advertising, mass media techniques of persuasion, and political rhetoric; and explore the ethical issues surrounding the use of persuasion and propaganda in conveying messages. In the process, the course helps students become rational decision-makers who are able to defend and debate their positions on critical issues. Students are assessed on both written and oral skills.
COM 324 Interpersonal Communication
3 credits
The course examines the basic principles and theories of interpersonal communication. Students study and practice basic principles for effective interpersonal communication. Study includes language, perceptions, values, culture, nonverbal communication, and self-concept and listening and their effects on communication.
COM 330 Technical Writing
3 credits
Prerequisite: ENG 101 or 105or 230
This course offers practical, career-oriented instruction in technical writing by emphasizing the importance of the process of creating a technical document, stressing time management, the role of collaboration, visuals and document design. Includes an emphasis on writing within the organization structure and the process of the document in the organization, specific procedures for testing technical documents to ascertain their usability for their intended audience, and strategies for analyzing purpose, task, and audience.
COM 332 Magazine and Feature Writing
3 credits
This course focuses on theoretical aspects and the practice of magazine and feature articles, including leads, titles, structure and analysis, development, audience-interest measurement, and impact techniques. (This course may serve as an upper-level journalism writing elective.)
COM 333 Computer Applications forCommunications
3 credits
The course introduces students to the use of computer programs for desktop publishing. Students design and produce various documents, including brochures, newsletters, etc. A thorough understanding of the elements of good design is stressed in the course through the application of both analytical and hands-on skills.
COM 334 Discussion and Small GroupInteraction
3 credits
With emphasis on practical application, the course focuses on the theories and dynamics of group decision-making. Various processes are explored along with leadership responsibilities and analysis of group effectiveness.
COM 397 Internship
1-3 credits
A learning approach that integrates college studies with paid, practical work experience that is directly related to the communication major. Students earn credit for internship work experience. Opportunities for internships exist in business, industry, government and service agencies.
COM 400 Theories in Communication
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 100
The purpose of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the background, principles and implications of theories of communication both generally and within specific communication contexts. Students compare the ways these differing approaches and theories influence the way people see and interpret behavior; and the ways these approaches and theories make differing predictions about human behavior.
COM 401 Legal Issues in Communication
3 credits
The course examines the development of the complex relationship of communication and the law to the present day, and covers a variety of free expression issues in contemporary society. The U.S. legal system itself is studied. Emphasis is placed on the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and on libel, privacy, and copyright law. The relationship between regulatory agencies and the Internet, journalism, entertainment, political communication, commercial speech, and the mass media in general is explored.
COM 404 Special Topics
3 credits
Prerequisite: Permission
An exploration and analysis of special areas, issues, or problems in communication, chosen because of their special relevance or interest and not specifically examined in other courses.
COM 405 Senior Seminar in Communication
2 credits
A seminar course that assesses communication majors' and minors' general integration of material covered by their course of study. Students demonstrate their competency in the field by completing a critical analysis paper or public relations analysis, or creating an experimental training program. Discussion focuses on current communication research that forms the basis for students' projects and papers. Students also create a professional portfolio, conduct a job search, and make an oral presentation.
COM 406 Organizational Communication Senior Project
3 credits
Prerequisite: Permission
(AGS students only)
A capstone course wherein communication majors apply the theories and concepts of the degree in an assessment project that evaluates the communication process and competencies of their respective organizations or places of employment. The students write a major assessment paper and make a presentation based on the paper.
COM 410 Listening
3 credits
A seminar course which focuses on improving overall communication competence, by honing students' listening skills in a variety of contexts both professional and personal. Attention will be paid to both theory and practice of listening with particular attention to the HURIER model.
COM 412 Digital Communication
3 credits
Students will write, edit and create content for the digital communication world. This course provides an advanced-level opportunity to practice and polish the related skills of reporting, writing and editing for multimedia platforms. Students will learn advanced newswriting with a focus on feature writing and investigative reporting, as well as advanced-level digital production skills for creating websites, social media tools and working with different file formats.
COM 414 Independent Study
1-3 credits
Prerequisite: Permission
A course designed by the student with an instructor's guidance to allow students of superior ability to pursue a topic of interest not available through regular courses.
COM 416 Crisis Communication
3 credits
Taking a service-learning approach, the course will explore approaches to communicating with various publics, legal issues and mandates for public knowledge, ethical issues and extensive understanding of strategies, planning and implementation of crisis communication efforts.
COM 420 Professional Presentations
3 credits
Prerequisite: COM 232
This course focuses on building students' presentation skills in a variety of professional settings, including training, advocacy, and sales. Individuals and teams design professional-length presentations involving the use of visual and audio aids, written materials for the audience, and computer-generated graphic presentations. Students develop proficiency in the critique and analysis of professional presentations.
COM 430 Advertising: Research, Planning and Production
3 credits
Prerequisites: MKT 302, ART 201
Students apply concepts learned in MKT 302 Principles of Advertising to the creation of commercial advertising for all media. In addition to planning and the creation of advertising campaigns, development of a creative strategy includes elements of product and market research, target audience analysis and evaluative research. Media planning includes the evaluation and selection of advertising media to meet specific advertising objectives and budgets. Using the agency concept and working in teams, students plan and develop advertising programs for actual advertisers, with the projects culminating in formal, competitive presentations. (Students are strongly recommended to take ART 201 Design as a prerequisite.)
COM 431 Training and Assessment inCommunication
3 credits
With an emphasis on practical application of communication theory, students use a variety of assessment and experiential training models to enhance organizational communication. Students assess organizations, and plan and deliver experiential training modules in real-world settings. Students learn and apply leadership and facilitation skills. (The course is recommended for juniors and seniors who have completed COM 232 Public Speaking or COM 101 Fundamentals of Communication.)
COM 435 Introduction to Communication Research
3 credits
Students are introduced to the communication inquiry process and methods in order to become knowledgeable and critical readers of research. Emphasis is placed on research applied directly to the study of communication behavior. Students examine communication topics suited for research, and how results are interpreted and presented. Other areas covered include different methodologies of conducting research, measuring validity and reliability, and statistical analysis.
COM 497 Internship
1-3 credits
A learning approach that integrates college studies with paid, practical work experience that is directly related to the communication major. Students earn credit for internship work experience. Opportunities for internships exist in business, industry, government, and service agencies.