300

The course will study communication in the small task group emphasizing communication in decision-making and problem solving. Course instruction will review theories that explain the role of communication in group maintenance, cohesion, conflict management, leadership, socialization, and personality management. Attention will be given to the communication practices for conducting meetings, idea generation, goal setting, project analysis and group discussion formats. The goal of the course is to develop proficiency in assessing group situations by applying communication theory and practices to maximize group effectiveness, productivity, and member satisfaction.

The study of human discourse with a focus on how oral and written language is used to influence audiences in public venues such as politics, advertising, and social movements. The main goal of the course is to develop critical thinking skills using traditional and contemporary rhetorical theories and methods of analysis. Developments in rhetorical and western intellectual thought will be examined for their influence and contributions to rhetorical theory. Students will acquire skills that prepare them to be active consumers of persuasive messages and effective, ethical creators of such messages.

This is a Communication Studies course, and as such its goal is to familiarize students with the broader discipline of Health Communication so that they will gain a greater understanding of health and medical interactions, become more savvy health communication consumers, and be more knowledgeable in providing social support in the care of others. The course will explore the major domains within the discipline and highlight a number of different approaches to studying the subject matter. It will examine health campaigns in the interpersonal, organizational, and mass communication contexts.

This course will take a look at American life in the last six decades through an analysis of the medium of television. From its origins in radio to its future in digital convergence, we will examine television as it both shapes and reflects American society. Discussions will include television genres, history, structure, technological advancements and it's impact on society and democracy.

The course introduces students to the historical development and critical theories of the documentary genre. Students will be exposed to the different modes of documentary representation and the theoretical implications of each style.

A study of contemporary filmmakers' work in feature length films. Particular focus on production elements that create aesthetic values and reflect current times and concerns.

Course concentrates on authoring multimedia projects which integrate graphics, animation, digital video, and audio. It combines both multimedia theory and production. Students will learn how to structure information, anticipate user experience and create transparent interfaces.

This course addresses U.S. politics as a communication process. It examines the communication of campaigns as well as the communication of governance at all levels. The course addresses the evolution of political communication practices throughout history and the critical the analysis of speeches, debates, ads, news, entertainment, social media and other types of political communication. The primary goals of this course are to equip students to become more critical consumers of political communication and to encourage and prepare students to become more civically engaged through the use of effective communication practices.

This course will focus on special areas within the field of journalism such as arts, sports, governmental affairs, investigative journalism, and science. A different topic will be offered each semester. Each student will develop a portfolio or substantial collection of work, which will be included in a class compilation that will be produced digitally for public consumption. Community engagement will be a regular and required aspect of this course.

Extracurricular participation as a manager on the elected board of directors of the university's radio stations, television station, Applied Communication Association, or Public Relations Student Society of America.

Environmental Communication investigates communication about the environment, focusing on ways that organizations, corporations, politicians, advocacy leaders, scientists, citizens, and so on describe, persuade, and shape human interactions with the environment. Students study foundational environmental communication theories, worldviews, and processes, examining how these influence speakers’ & listeners’—producers’ & consumers’—attitudes and actions toward the natural world. In our current cultural setting, it is crucial that citizens are able to assess competing claims and appeals about the environment; consequently, students will learn to become more critical producers and consumers of a broad range of environmental discourses.

Students learn basic research and planning principles associated with public relations writing and how to prepare an assortment of public relations documents. Associated Press (AP) style is reinforced and students learn how to construct news releases, media advisories, fact sheets, position statements, features and fliers. Students will begin portfolio building.

Study of both qualitative and quantitative approaches to inquiry and their applications in theoretical and applied communication research. Emphasis will be effective quantitative survey construction and basic summary statistical analysis, and qualitative interview and coding analysis. These will be applied to evaluating communication practices and assessing communication needs.

The highly practical course focuses on the critical communication skills involved in effective written and oral communication while emphasizing applications of communication concepts in the world of business. Students will be able to engage in application exercises that will prepare them for the job search as well as their first years on the job, build their creative and critical thinking skills, and explore the value of team diversity

This course offers an in-depth understanding of the when, where, why, and how communication affects candidates, media, and voter strategies and outcomes during presidential elections. In an effort to paint a comprehensive picture of presidential campaigns in the modern era, course content asks students to investigate the evolution of a presidential candidate’s communication environment, resources, and strategies. Students apply practitioner and academic literature to understand real time political processes. Students also utilize examples from past presidential elections to illustrate a variety of lessons related to launching candidacies, attacking opponents, cultivating ads, and image creation among other topics. In the process, students create descriptive accounts of campaigns and candidates and their media use and seek to infer campaign strategy

Analysis of classic and contemporary public relations cases in industry, labor, education, government, social welfare and trade associations.

This course will help students develop their broadcast journalism skills with an emphasis on scriptwriting/producing and on-camera presentation. Students will learn to write for broadcast news and also how to do stand-ups, report and anchor for newscasts

This course emphasizes editing skills, including copy editing, content editing, and page design. Students will learn to use professional-level software to create publications (both print and online) from scratch, developing photo editing, graphics creation, and design skills as well as line editing.

This course emphasizes effective use of social media, particularly in journalistic arenas. Students create and design their own content and use social media to engage an audience. Students will learn social media concepts and study analytics, applying them to their work in the class

Examination of the historical, technical, economic and regulatory status of communications technologies such as cable television, satellites, telephone, and computer communications. Discussion of general communication systems theory of video, audio and data communication including analog and digital signal transmission.

Refining skills and techniques acquired in COMM 251; more emphasis on announcing and interviewing; understanding the ethical and legal perspectives of audio material; introduction to the design, scripting, production and promotion of audio content for any application (e.g. radio, TV, film, web).

Electronic news gathering and studio news techniques in the context of a weekly news program. Legal and ethical issues in news gathering.

A 300-level course focusing on a topic not covered in the existing curriculum. Topic(s) announced in online Course Offerings each semester.

Techniques of developing concepts, treatments, outlines and scripts for dramatic fictions in the media of video, film and radio. Emphasis on traditional, modern and post-modern dramatic structure with units on character, dialogue, setting, visual narration, etc.

This course explores the ways we communicate without using words, including our gestures, facial expressions, posture, and even our physical appearance. We will especially focus on how to read nonverbal cues from others and how to become more aware of what you are really saying with your own nonverbal cues. These skills are applicable anywhere from the job interview and work environment to interpersonal relationships.

Communication and Leadership is designed to develop students’ knowledge and communication skills pertaining to leadership. The course presents students with information concerning professional interaction, leadership perspectives, and the role communication, particularly public speaking, plays in effective leadership strategies. Communication and Leadership will help students embark on paths of personal leadership development. Specifically, since effective leaders must be strong communicators, students will be introduced to speaking situations that they may encounter in the workplace, such as the speech of introduction, crisis speeches, technical briefings, and civic appeals. In an effort to develop these skills, students will learn how to tailor messages to different audiences, connect authentically with their audience through their unique leadership style, and create compelling presentations and written pieces.

A balance between editing concepts such as continuity, pacing, dramatic focus, etc. and editing skills such as SMPTE code, signal monitoring, and digitized non-linear techniques. Students will learn the rules and methods by which an editor constructs fiction or a representation of actual events. Applicable to video or digital film. Weekly editing assignments. Lab required.

A course that covers knowledge, methods and techniques essential to the work of a director of photography. Covers concepts of directing the camera, visual techniques, compositional methods and technical aspects of videography and lighting.

Using a variety of theoretical models and critical approaches, students examine everyday communication practices to identify how gender, communication and culture create a complex and dynamic web of meaning with significant implications for individuals and society.

The course will examine the historical context of media theory covering the emergence of United States media technology, economics, cultural implications, and political influences to provide a basis for examining the evolution of media theories. Emphasis will be placed on mass media theories and address their implications to the media industry, the influences on American society and culture, and the evolution of democratic institutions. The course will be taught as a seminar involving readings, group discussions, and a research report.

Examination of a wide body of humanistic, and social scientific literature concerning persuasion and persuasive techniques. Emphasizes evaluation and potential application of persuasion theory in communicative transactions.

An introduction to the study of international and domestic media systems around the world. Students will understand and appreciate how different countries and cultures use the media in unique ways and learn of different systems of ownership, financing, regulation, and programming. Key international media issues will also be discussed. Media examples (primarily films) will be used to show how cultures are portrayed by their media.

Students will view, discuss, and critique a variety of contemporary films from a variety of countries. Emphasis will be placed on examining how contemporary cultures are portrayed through film. Films will be compared and contrasted.

Theory and practice of radio journalism including writing and reporting news and journalism law and ethics. Students produce weekly radio newscasts during the second half of the semester.