140 Photography (3)
Instruction in the basics of photographic arts, including the operation of the camera and photo lab. Emphasis on photojournalism.
160s Fundamentals of Human Communication (3)
Introduces students to basic skills necessary for communicating effectively across a variety of social and professional contexts, including interpersonal, small group, public, and mass mediated. Emphasis is placed on the development of an analytical and critical approach to planning, implementing and assessing effectiveness when communicating with others. Limited to freshmen and sophomores.
180 Introduction to Communication Theory (3)
Surveys and analyzes significant theories of the Communication Studies discipline. Topics include the self and messages, relationship development, groups and organizations, public communication, the media, and culture and diversity. Critical thinking and writing skills are cultivated through brief theory application papers. Theories are also explored through in-class exercises. This course is a requirement for students who intend to major or minor in Communication Studies.
242 Introduction to Journalism (3)
Provides experience in the fundamentals of gathering, writing, and reporting the news. Research skills, interview strategies, Associated Press style, and journalistic ethics are emphasized. Requires concurrent enrollment in laboratory component Comm 295I Practicum in Journalism.
262Ps Interpersonal Communication (3)
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or instructor’s permission. Examines one-to-one communication encounters including friendships, intimates, family, and work relationships. Applies theoretical concepts related to human perception, language, nonverbal communication, conflict resolution, listening, and gender dynamics.
264a Oral Interpretation (3)
Studies aesthetic texts through the solo performance context. Emphasizes the adaptation process used to communicate a textual interpretation through a carefully prepared performance.
266a Readers Theatre (3)
Studies aesthetic texts through a group performance context; emphasizes the adaptation process a director utilizes in communicating a textual interpretation through a carefully prepared group performance. Students direct and perform in a variety of group performances.
268c Intercultural Communication (3)
Explores communication within and across cultural groups. Addresses cultural differences broadly, including not only ethnicity, but also race, age, sexual orientation, gender, and disability. Presents and applies key concepts, skills, and processes of intercultural communication. Provides a forum not only to talk about diversity, but also to interact across difference and develop a better understanding of one's own culture.
270 Public Speaking (3)
Examines principles of effective public discourse while providing the opportunity to improve research skills, develop analytical abilities, increase confidence when giving oral presentations, and acquire proficiency in the use of computer graphics software. Emphasizes the discovery, organization, delivery, and evaluation of information communicated within a public context. Includes both informative and persuasive speeches.
280P Communication Research and Writing (3)
Prerequisites: COMM 180 and sophomore standing or instructor's permission. Introduces basic primary and secondary research methods used in the study of human symbolic activity. Provides working knowledge of resources and research methods used in the communication discipline while refining research and academic writing skills. Primary methods emphasized include survey, ethnography, interviewing, and textual analysis. Requires an in-depth project culminating in a proposal for original research in human communication. Designed for students who are or are planning to be Communication Studies majors.
292I Practicum in Communication Services (Arr)
Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Offers experience working with college communication centers: college relations, alumni, development, admission, and media center. Student must also have the permission of the appropriate college official. May be repeated. Pass/no record basis.
294I Practicum in Broadcasting (Arr)
Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Involves individualized projects in various phases of broadcasting using the campus student radio station (KCUI) as a laboratory. May be repeated. Pass/no record basis
295I Practicum in Journalism (Arr)
Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Offers experience in news writing, reporting, editing, and layout design using the campus print and online student newspapers as laboratory. May be repeated. Pass/no record basis.
296I Practicum in Video Production (Arr)
Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Offers experience in video production and editing, both on and off campus. May be repeated. Pass/no record basis.
330P Media Criticism (3)
Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor’s permission.
Surveys significant theories of mediated communication while investigating the historical, socio-cultural, aesthetic, ethical, legal, and economic dimensions of mass media. Involves reading and writing case studies that examine the influence of newspapers, magazines, radio, television, cinema, and the internet.
332P Advanced Journalism (3)
Prerequisite: junior standing and COMM 242, or instructor’s permission.
Emphasizes in-depth feature writing, analysis and composition of editorials and opinion pieces, and writing and editing for online publication. Requires concurrent enrollment in laboratory component Comm 295I Practicum in Journalism.
340P Public Relations (4)
Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor’s permission. Focuses on the fundamental communication processes involved in public relations. Basic theories of identity formation, persuasion, and social influence are examined. Applied areas of emphasis include planning and implementing campaigns, as well as public relations writing, crisis response, and information management. This course includes a service learning component.
342P Organizational Communication (3)
Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor’s permission. Examines how organizations function through communication. Presents and applies theories of communication and organizing through case studies and an original primary research project. Content areas include organizational systems and cultures, power and difference in organizations, work teams and leadership, and communication technology in organizations.
360P Communication Ethics (3)
Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor’s permission. Explores the pervasive and complex nature of ethical issues embedded in human communication encounters. Analyzes the principles and perspectives underlying ethical judgments, and examines the communication strategies used to relate these judgments to others. A variety of communication contexts is explored, including interpersonal, organizational, public, and mass mediated.
362P Environmental Communication (3)
Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor’s permission. A survey of communication related to environmental issues including: environmental movement persuasion; public participation in environmental decisions; media coverage of the environment; advocacy for environmental justice; green marketing and corporate campaigns; and the use of science for symbolic legitimacy. Involves reading and writing case studies that further understanding of environmental discourse.
364P Argumentation (3)
Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor’s permission. Focuses on theory and practice of argumentation (reason giving) in various contexts, including legal disputes, political policy deliberations, and organizational problem solving. The role of narrative in argumentation receives special attention. Includes participation in formal academic debate.
366P Persuasion (3)
Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor’s permission. Surveys history of the study of rhetoric (persuasion) and how it relates to the development of human thought. Introduces and applies critical methods used for the systematic investigation and explanation of persuasive communication. Involves reading and writing case studies that examine advertising and political discourse as representative types of persuasion.
385P Technology and Human Communication (3)
Prerequiste: senior standing or instructor's permission. A critical investigation of the interplay of technology and communication, especially in terms of its impact on personal, interpersonal, and social communication patterns. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the course incorporates theoretical and methodological perspectives from across the social sciences. The class features a seminar format which emphasizes active student involvement through discussion and group activities. Main assignments include reflective essays, oral presentations, and a case study research project.
497P Internship in Communication (Arr)
Prerequisites: declared major or minor in Communication Studies; completion of a minimum of 12 semester hours in Communication Studies courses; cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher; and departmental approval. An off-campus applied professional experience in communication-related fields. Includes midterm and final evaluations by site supervisor, conferences during and after internship with supervising faculty member, and submission of an acceptable internship analysis paper. May be repeated for a maximum of 10 credit hours applied to the major. Pass/no record basis.
499I Independent Study (Arr)
Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Allows students to probe more deeply into an area that they have been prepared for, but in which there are no further advanced courses offered. Prior to registration a research proposal must be submitted for departmental approval. May be repeated.