In this fundamental course in communication between people, class sessions incorporate lectures with discussion and examples from popular culture and media. The focus of this course is on direct application of basic communication concepts essential to our daily lives. Topics include perception, gender, and culture and their effects on ourselves and others; self-expression and disclosure; friendship, family, and dating; verbal and nonverbal cues and their meanings; listening; and conflict management.

Analyzes platform speaking; includes analysis, preparation and presentation of formal speeches. Includes rhetorical criticism of significant models. Recommended for students planning to major in communication; open to other students as well.

Examines ambiguity, analysis, evidence, observation and inference; applies principles of reasoning to significant issues through extensive practice in public discourse, questioning, response to questions, refutation, and negotiation.

Examines theories of human communication and introduces a range of research methodologies used in investigating and creating those theories. Prerequisite for COM 4142 and 4899.

Introduces students to the work of managing conflict well in a variety of contexts (personal relationships, business settings, disputes between friends, etc.). Explores both the theory and practice of conflict management; trains students in methods of conflict resolution and examines the related skills of negotiation and mediation.

Examines theories of rhetoric from antiquity to the present, with special emphasis on how people in diverse societies make decisions about issues of common concern and create social realities through symbolic action. (Students may not receive credit for this course if they have earned credit for COM 3628 or COM 3629.)

Health Communication is a field within Communication Studies that seeks to investigate the manner in which individuals, campaigns, and healthcare providers deliver and receive messages regarding health related phenomena within a variety of contexts. These contexts can include but are not limited to, the family, healthcare settings, the media, and the self. This course provides an overview of current scholarship focused on health communication with the goal of developing students’ understanding of theories, issues, and methodologies that cover the field. In addition, this course will explore and examine the sociohistorical, interpersonal, narrative, and translational aspects of health in order for students to become more mindful, educated, and effective health communicators.

This course allows students to practice health communication research by participating in a service-learning project. Thus, the project serves to highlight the overarching objective of this course: for students to learn to develop a commitment to social justice.

The goal of this course is to develop students' abilities to view films critically and to deepen their understanding of the film experience. The course first teaches analysis of narrative strategies, shot properties, mise-en-scene, editing, acting, and the use of sound in film, particularly classical Hollywood cinema. The course then focuses on the study of different genres of films and how cinematic elements create meaning.

This course explores a range of international films. We will take a comparative, case-study approach to show how movies variously represent the vision and values of filmmakers around the world. Thus, this course is a grand survey of movies that aims through viewing, discussing, reading, and writing about foreign films to teach critical thinking about and appreciation of film art and international filmmaking. Typically offered: Summer, Spring.

Provides field experience in communication activities with faculty guidance in selection, preparation and review; application to campus ministry teams, speakers' bureau, and other contexts.

This course explores how to productively and sensitively interact with people from cultures that differ from our own. We explore the dimensions across which cultures vary through a variety of in-class activities, lectures, films, and stories. Students will gain an understanding of cultural differences around the world and will gain some skills to communicate competently in a variety of cultural settings.

Examines how communication functions within organizations and explores use of communication to improve employee relationships and organizational effectiveness.

Advances application of speech principles to prepare public address for various contexts; provides individualized instruction in research, organization, composition, style, and presentation.

Focuses on selected communication theories, research and application pertaining to romantic, friendship and family relationships.

Evaluates the role of persuasion in society; the role of symbolic persuasion; production and reception of persuasive messages; the persuasive event and the persuasive campaign; ethical questions in social influence.

This course develops students' abilities to think, write, and express ideas effectively and creatively through the study and practice of film criticism. Film criticism at best is an activity that engages the critic, aesthetically, psychologically, morally, emotionally, and politically. Our study of aesthetic and critical practices will provide valuable tools in our larger exploration of the relationship between knowledge, values, artistic expression, and vocation choices. We will examine reviews by leading U.S. film critics whose work has appeared in wide-circulation periodicals over the past 75 years, as well as associated films.

Focuses on interactive relationships between gender and communication in contemporary American society. Students explore multiple ways communication in families, schools, media, and society in general create and perpetuate gender. They also examine how people enact socially-created gender differences in public and private settings and how this affects success, satisfaction, and self-esteem. Finally, students consider not only what is in terms of gender roles, but what also might be and how they, as change agents, may act to improve their individual and collective lives.

Examines the impact of communication technologies on individuals and societies, with special emphasis on emerging technologies. Typically offered: Winter.

Considers discourse in its rhetorical, historical, political, social, and religious contexts and pays particular attention to women and minority voices. Typically offered: Autumn.

This course explores how to productively and sensitively interact with people from cultures that differ from our own. We explore the dimensions across which cultures vary through a variety of in-class activities, lectures, films, and stories. Students will gain an understanding of cultural differences around the world and will gain some skills to communicate competently in a variety of cultural settings. Typically offered: Autumn, Winter, Spring.

This senior level capstone course uses case studies to explore ethical foundations of communication practices and test methods of moral reasoning.

Individual research and conferences in area of specialization.

Provides selected students with experience as undergraduate teaching assistants in lower-division courses.

Prerequisites: 15 credits of B work in communication; an approved internship plan; and COM 3001. Provides supervised application of interpersonal and public communication skills in the marketplace.

Explores selected topics in communication, with emphasis on theories and research not normally examined in regular curriculum.