Communication (COM)
COM 104 Oral Communication Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Course Description: Principles of speech as applied in meaningful participation in society.
CORE 42: MOTR COMM 110; Fundamentals of Public Speaking (attribute MO22)
COM 195 Applied Debate and Forensics Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: This course introduces the theory of argumentation. Principles of analysis, evidence, reasoning, preparing and evaluating arguments, briefing, refutation, and case construction are prepared and practiced. Students will participate in debate tournaments. May be repeated for a total of 24 credit hours. Graded pass/fail.
COM 205 Introduction to Mass Media Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: Exploration of the history and development of the mass media in the United States and mass communication theory. Also includes discussion of issues currently affecting the media, including newspapers, film, radio, and television as well as advertising and public relations.
CORE 42: MOTR SBSC 100; Introduction to Mass Communications (attribute MO11)
COM 210 Presentational Communication Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: Theory and practice of constructing public presentations including: media use, organization, delivery, means of appeal, and analysis of audience and setting. Prerequisite(s): COM 104.
COM 215 Introduction to Public Relations Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: This introductory course examines the practice of public relations, how public relations operates in organizations, its impact on publics and its functions in society including theory and models, social media usage, current trends, and ethical professional standards. Prerequisite(s): COM 104.
COM 222 Communication Theory Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Introduction to the role theory plays in the study of human communication. Introduces different ways of thinking about communication through academic, cultural and historical perspectives. Prerequisite(s): COM 104.
COM 227 Interviewing Principles and Practices Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Examines the interviewing process in a wide range of contexts, including selection, appraisal, discipline, negotiation, research, and media interviews. Emphasis is placed on the practice of interviewing and applying communication concepts to selected interview settings. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in COM 104.
COM 304 Media and Society Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: This course examines both classic and contemporary studies of mass communication effects. Emphasis is placed on cultural, social, political, and psychological effects of the media. Topics such as media education and literacy, news and campaigns, media portrayals, and theories of audience behavior will be examined. Prerequisite(s): COM 205.
COM 305 Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: Analyzes communication interaction in relatively unstructured, person-to-person settings with application of interpersonal communication concepts to resolving problems emerging from human interactions. Prerequisite(s): COM 104.
COM 311 Crisis and Risk Communication Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: Using a case study approach of recent organizational and individual crisis events, this course examines the strategic communication practices and theories throughout the stages of a crisis event including risk perception and management. Emphasis placed on strategic crisis management planning, preparing crisis message responses and apologies, audience analysis, social media responses, image restoration, and ethical responses.
COM 314 Persuasion Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Persuasion as a process of influencing attitude and behavior; emphasizes the theories of modern persuasion and their use in social, political and advertising campaigns. Prerequisite(s): COM 104.
COM 324 Small Group Communication Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Group roles, leadership styles, group structure, thought processes, and consensus methods; application of concepts to communication interaction in task and social group settings. A Service Learning component of the course requires out of class community service volunteer hours for completion of the assignment. Prerequisite(s): COM 104.
COM 334 Argumentation and Debate Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Philosophical and theoretical foundations of logic and argumentation to the persuasive process; experience in preparation and presentation through debate and discussion formats. Prerequisite(s): COM 104.
COM 338 Survey of Rhetorical Theory Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Survey of the formation and transformation of rhetorical theory from the Classical Age. Prerequisite(s): COM 104.
COM 340 Communication and Aging Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Examines the intrapersonal, interpersonal and public levels of human communication in relationship to the aging process. Prerequisite(s): COM 104 or departmental approval.
COM 342 Intercultural Communication Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: Studies communication between and among people from different cultures. Topics include cultural patterns, value orientations, verbal and nonverbal codes, cultural identity, culture shock, acculturation, perception, and stereotyping. Prerequisite(s): COM 104.
COM 345 Nonverbal Communication Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Nonverbal aspects of communication; factors which affect and modulate verbal messages; interpretation of nonverbal information; kinesics (body motion), proxemics (social/personal space), and paralanguage (vocal cues accompanying words). Prerequisite(s): COM 104.
COM 350 Selected Topics in Communication Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Specialized course work in the field of speech communication and theatre/video. Course may be repeated for up to six credit hours maximum with different topics. Prerequisite(s): COM 104 or departmental approval.
COM 359 Workplace Analysis Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: The application of communication concepts and theories to the analysis of profit or nonprofit organizations. Requires prior approval of the internship director and the organization. This course is one of the options that satisfies the applied learning requirement for the BA or BS Communication. May not be repeated. Graded pass/fail. Prerequisite(s): Senior standing, declared departmental major, minimum overall GPA of 2.0, and approval of the internship director.
COM 385 Communicating Intimacy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: This course examines the role of intimacy in close personal relationships. Emphasis is placed on intimacy as a communication construct and providing students with a practical application of various communication theories. Prerequisite(s): COM 104.
COM 410 Organizational Communication Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: Theories and problems of human communication within a variety of organizational settings; the relationship of communication to motivation, organizational structure, nonverbal behavior, surroundings, leadership style, and information accuracy. Prerequisite(s): COM 104
COM 412 Health Communication Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Introduces students to the practice and theoretical foundations of communication in healthcare and the promotion of public and individual health within the healthcare and health risk contexts by examining provider-patient interaction, public health campaigns, media messages, health promotion and the cultural influences on health. Prerequisite(s): COM 104 and 3 credit hours numbered 300 or higher in COM, EXS, NUR, or PSY.
COM 414 Health Campaigns Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: This course provides students the understanding and practice of both the theoretical and applied components of a health promotion campaign including message design, planning, implementation and evaluation. Students will gain applied experience in creating an actual health promotion campaign for a local or regional health organization. This course would be of interest for student majors in Strategic Communication, Population Health, Communication, Nursing and other health or communication related programs. Prerequisite(s): COM 412.
COM 415 Public Relations Campaigns Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring (even-numbered years).
Course Description: Development of the processes and strategies of strategic communication campaigns including research, organization, programming and evaluation. A service learning component requires student pairing with a local client for completion of actual strategic communication campaign plan. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in COM 215, JOU 227, and COM 420.
COM 416 Special Topics in Strategic Communication Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: This is an applied strategic communication course that focuses on various topics, theoretical principles, and applied practices within the larger field of Strategic Communication. Due to the vast changes and new trends within the field of strategic communication, this class aims to include those topics both relevant to the field and student needs. Prerequisite(s): COM 215.
COM 420 Research Methods in Communication Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall (odd-numbered years).
Course Description: The course covers a variety of qualitative and quantitative communication research methods. Students will be involved in critical analysis of previous research, and conceptualization and implementation of future research. Prerequisite(s): COM 104.
COM 444 Strategic Communication Practices Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Application of strategic communication principles and techniques to corporations and nonprofit agencies. Emphasis given to applied strategic communication campaign applications and case studies. Students gain hands-on training while implementing all or specific components of a strategic communication campaign for on and off-campus groups and organizations. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in COM 482 and COM 415.
COM 450 Independent Research/Project Credits: 1-5
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Investigation of a research problem, project, or topic on an individual conference basis. May be repeated for credit.
COM 460 Internship Credits: 1-6
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Course Description: The student will develop objectives related to the discipline and carry out those responsibilities through an internship as approved by the director. Applies theory and skills to actual work situations. Professionally supervised work experiences related to the student's area of interest. (Forty hours of work for one credit hour.) Graded pass/fail. May be repeated for a total of 12 credit hours. Prerequisite(s): Declared departmental major, minimum overall GPA of 2.5, one COM or JOU course 200 or above, and approval of the internship director.
COM 465 Methods of Teaching Speech and Drama Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Philosophies, issues, and problems in contemporary speech education; content, structure, ethical issues, presentation and evaluation of curriculum and teaching in speech and theatre. Prerequisite(s): EDU 202 and EDU 203.
COM 481 Senior Portfolio Credits: 1
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: This is a workshop course for graduating seniors which includes resume and job search preparation in addition to compiling a passing graduation portfolio consisting of a resume, cover letter, reflective self-analysis, and a collection of writings and projects from major courses. COM 481 must be completed during the semester of graduation, except for summer graduates who must complete the course in the spring semester prior to graduation. Graded pass/fail.
COM 482 Public Relations Writing Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall (odd-numbered years).
Course Description: This workshop course emphasizes audience analysis, writing, and editing. Students will engage in writing for press releases, brochures, newsletters, blogs, social media, and feature stories. Prerequisite(s): A grade of C or higher in COM 215.
COM 488 International Public Relations Credits: 1
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: International study abroad experiences and applications for public relations majors.