Courses
Communication Studies (COMM)
Core Communication
- COMM-C 104 Voice and Diction (3 cr.) Directed primarily toward the improvement of normal speech patterns, with emphasis on normal production, resonation, and articulation.
- COMM-C 108 Listening (3 cr.) Evaluate, assess, and reflect on your competencies as a listener. Understand how context affects listening in personal and professional relationships. Engage in listening application activities designed to increase your proficiency as a listener in each of the six components of the listening process: hearing, understanding, remembering, interpreting, evaluating, and responding.
- COMM-C 180 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.) Discuss verbal and nonverbal communication processes in human relationships. Learn how effective communication improves your personal and professional relationships. Explore how your sense of self, identity, and culture inform your approach to interpersonal communication. Improve your listening skills, navigate interpersonal conflict more effectively, and communicate more competently.
- COMM-C 223 Business and Professional Communication (3 cr.) Through theory, practical exercises, and real-world simulations, you will explore the intricacies of communication within a professional context. Delve into the nuances of nonverbal communication, active listening, and intercultural awareness. Develop strategies for managing conflict, negotiating agreements, and presenting ideas in a team setting.
- COMM-C 228 Introduction to Group Communication (3 cr.) Develop competencies in group and team collaboration and communication. Learn about group formation. Gain knowledge about group cohesiveness, and engage in activitities to develop a supportive group climate. Explore decision-making, problem-solving, leadership, and conflict management within groups.
- COMM-C 282 Communicating Social Identities (3 cr.) Explore communication among people of different genders, races, religions, sexual orientations, and other social identities. Learn to build trust, understand differences in your and others' social identities, engage in meaningful discussion of difficult topics. Build alliances across differences to affect positive change in your communities and our society.
- COMM-C 299 Communicating Queer Identity (3 cr.) Explore the nature of queer identity. Examine the fundamental characteristics of social identity and culture. Learn how queer identity is constructed and communicated through a variety of contexts and processes, such as relationships, coming out, organizations, social media, music, film, and theatre.
- COMM-C 316 Human Communication and the Internet (3 cr.) P: R110, C180 or equivalent. Explore the ways in which human communication is transformed by the internet in a variety of contexts. Examine self-presentation online channels, echo chambers and filter bubbles. Investigate how we gather health information, and more. Learn to evaluate and design impactful campaigns.
- COMM-C 322 Advanced Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.) P: COMM-C 180 or permission of the instructor. This course provides an advanced examination of interpersonal communication theory and research. Communication processes are explored across multiple relational stages including initiation, maintenance, and termination, and within multiple relational contexts (e.g., family, workplace, romantic, friendship, etc.).
- COMM-C 325 Interviewing Principles and Practices (3 cr.) P: COMM-R 110 and if that is not met, specific permission from the instructor is required Emphasizes verbal and nonverbal communication in pre-interview back-ground research preparation, interview schedule design, question construction, and post-interview self-analysis in several interviewing contexts. Course includes significant assignments designed to help the student enhance oral performance competencies.
- COMM-C 328 Advanced Topics in Group Communication (3 cr.) Learn advanced techniques for effective and competent small group communication, apply group communication theory and research to real-life group scenarios. Explore and engage in collaborations for positive social change through applied projects.
- COMM-C 345 Restorative Communication (3 cr.) P: COMM C180 The course focuses on healing communication -- healing individuals and relationships. Specific topics include healing communication basics, family, couple, group (e.g. support groups) and community healing (restorative justice; peace building). There is a strong focus on research theory and practice. Some assignments involve community participation.
- COMM-C 375 Nonverbal Communication (3 cr.) Explore the aspects of communication that are not words. Discover how the environment shapes communication processes and relationship development. Examine the role of individual nonverbal behaviors including gestures, posture, facial expressions, eye contact, touch, and voice qualities. Develop the skills to decode meaning to nonverbal behaviors in various contexts.
- COMM-C 380 Organizational Communication (3 cr.) Discuss relevant communication issues of organizations such as corporations (e.g., manufacturing, services, and technology) and nonprofit organizations (e.g. sororities, schools, etc.). Gain ability to analyze conflict, information, and networks. Create the ability to assess and improve motivation, satisfaction, and performance of organizations and colleagues for collaboration and decision-making.
- COMM-C 382 Dialogue Facilitator Training (3 cr.) P: COMM C290 or permission of the instructor; Learn about social justice topics such as oppression, privilege, and alliance building in order to apply your understanding to facilitating intergroup dialogues. Learn about and practice the communication skills (e.g. active listening) necessary to effectively facilitate intergroup dialogues. Embody the attributes of successful leaders in our global community.
- COMM-C 383 Female Leadership: Yeah, Right! (3 cr.) Women, although still behind in the number of leadership positions held as compared to men, do become leaders. One of the central questions of this course is whether or not the many theories of leadership that were developed based on a patriarchal model offer real insight into the leadership of women. In this advanced seminar, students will examine and apply several seminal and contemporary theories of leadership to current female leaders' communication behavior. Along with an examination of current research about female leadership, students will assess the degree to which leadership theories apply and the potential for developing new, more inclusive and accurate theories of leadership.
- COMM-C 392 Health Communication (3 cr.) P: 3 credit hours of communication or consent of instructor. Explore how health is communicated and meanings are created around health. Analyze how communication processes and research can improve the health of people and communities. Apply concepts to practical situations in interpersonal, group, organizational, intercultural, social media/online, and mass communication contexts.
- COMM-C 393 Family Communication (3 cr.) P: COMM-C 180 or permission of instructor. Investigate the evolving definition of family and how communication patterns affect relational outcomes. Examine the roles of communication and social structures in shaping families throughout the lifespan. Explore ways family members interact in healthy and unhealthy ways to meet life's challenges. Gain practical skills and strategies to solve family problems.
- COMM-C 394 Communication and Conflict (3 cr.) Explore conflict by focusing on interaction. Examine what people actually say and do in a variety of contexts (relationships, groups, and organizations). Learn how culture and identity influence how people work through conflict. Explore important topics, including face-saving, power, and mediation.
- COMM-C 395 Gender and Communication (3 cr.) Examine how communication reflects, creates, and recreates gender and gender identity in culture. Apply course concepts to practical issues and experiences, such as gender socialization, organizations and gender, gender differences in interpersonal communication, and gendered media representations. Obtain and apply the skills necessary to question assumptions about gender.
- COMM-C 400 Patient-Provider Health Communication (3 cr.) Develop the skills needed to build and maintain positive relationships in health care environments. Explore the principles of interpersonal dialogue between patients and health care providers. Learn how to create and choose effective communication strategies to solve complex health issues among patients, providers, caregivers, and health care teams.
- COMM-C 481 Current Issues in Organizational Communication (3 cr.) P: COMM-C 380 or permission of instructor. In-depth exploration of topics and issues at the forefront of research and theory in organizational communication. Topics may include gender issues in organizational communication, sexual harassment, crisis management, organizational culture. Seminar format with research papers and class discussion/presentations.
- COMM-C 482 Intercultural Communication (3 cr.) P: COMM-C 180 or permission of instructor. Explore how culture impacts human communication and how communication shapes culture. Understand how history, religion, and family influence communication and meaning. Learn about cultural differences in communication in contexts such as health, education, and business. Develop intercultural communication competencies to apply in a variety of personal and professional settings.
