Effective advocacy is essential in contemporary society. When discussing social issues, critical thinking and speaking are needed to effect change. This is certainly true in the field of environmental science and policy. Bountiful research and scientific evidence demonstrate various environmental impacts of humans on the environment—deforestation, water pollution, climate change, species extinction, and many more. The context of the course is environmental advocacy and students will examine movements (social and environmental), scientific research, public policy, and other topics to gain understanding. This course develops basic skill in advocacy—critical thinking, research, evidence, and argument construction. By the end of the course, students will integrate advocacy skills with knowledge of environmental policy to debate public policy and engage in advocacy.
Occasionally
Effective advocacy is essential in contemporary society. When discussing social issues, critical thinking and speaking are needed to effect change. These statements are particularly true in public health. Whether it is COVID-19, cancer or the common cold, the health care system suffers from inadequate, inconsistent, and often incorrect communication. Consequently, students will critically analyze the current state of public health communication to develop compelling arguments. Students will also develop critical messaging skills to inform, persuade, and motivate people with better public health communication. Topics covered in this class will include the nature of public health advocacy, audience analysis and adaptation focused on public health concerns, translating scientific information in the public sphere, effective language/persuasive strategies, visual persuasion, effective rhetorical/oral form and style. We will analyze public health communication in a variety of contexts, from the standard “beside manner, take 2 of these and call me in the morning” doctor’s office to social media memes and classic public health communication campaigns.
Every Spring
Special Topics in Communication Studies.
Individual work under the direction of departmental faculty. This option is designed for Communication majors who seek an opportunity for in-depth study beyond the scope and/or depth of departmental course offerings. This option is considered additive to-not substitutive of-required departmental course offerings.
Permission of the Instructor and Department Chair
An introduction to the theory and practice of rhetorical criticism. The student will learn to effectively critique both historical and contemporary public discourse. Students will be exposed to significant discourse in such areas as women's rights rhetoric, presidential rhetoric, civil rights rhetoric, and others. Emphasis will be on developing the student's ability to critically think and create coherent defenses of his/her conclusions. This course is offered as a Gender Studies section every other year.
Every Fall
An introduction to the theory and research findings involving interpersonal and nonverbal communication. Emphasis will be on the principles for effective communication in dyadic settings. Course content will be supplemented by a variety of exercises designed to enhance communication competence.
Every Fall
This course is an introduction to the theory and practices of persuasion. Students will study both the production and critical evaluation of contemporary social influence. Motivation and attitudinal theories will be examined as they relate message, source, and receiver strategies. Students will learn to be effective producers and consumers of persuasive messages.
Every Spring
The student will be introduced to the skills and techniques of argumentation and will learn to effectively utilize the principles and techniques of advocacy and argumentation by applying them to both written and oral discourse. The course consists of three phases: theoretical, practicum, and evaluative.
Every Fall
An introduction to the principles of communication research design and execution. This course will focus on qualitative methods which feature participant observation and on both descriptive and experimental quantitative methods. During this course, students will design, execute and report the results of a research project in communication. As a part of this effort, students will receive instruction, and will utilize computers, in the following areas: word processing, literature search, and statistical analysis.
Every Fall
Individual work under the direction of departmental faculty. This option is designed for Communication majors who seek an opportunity for in-depth study beyond the scope and/or depth of departmental course offerings. This option is considered additive to-not substitutive of-required departmental course offerings.
Permission of the Instructor and Department Chair
This course will help students build knowledge of some of the theories, processes and practices of international/intercultural communication. It will examine the role of communication in the creation and negotiation of shared identities between and across cultures. The course will place particular emphasis on the role of media, public relations, and other public communication strategies that nation-states, corporations and non-profit organizations use to create shared meaning within and between countries.
This course examines the evolution of communication theories from the classical Greeks to modern times. However, the primary emphasis of the course will be on contemporary theories and theorists. This course seeks to promote both an understanding of, and a critical perspective concerning, communication theories.
200-Level COMM course
Every other Spring, odd years
A study of American elections, of how the electorate votes and why they vote the way they do. The course examines attitude formation and change, the impact of public opinion on public policy, the media's influence on the political opinions of US citizens and lawmakers, the media's ability to determine which political issues get placed on the public agenda, and the degree to which these issues are presented in an unbiased and objective manner. Presidential elections since 1952 are covered in detail.
Every other Fall, even years
A study of the structure and function of communication in organizations. The focus of the course will involve the concepts and principles needed for effective management of organizational communication processes. Attention will be paid to the way organizations behave and communicate, the problems that individuals encounter in organizations, effective management of organizational communication processes, and the special role of communication as the central, binding force which allows for organized behavior.
Every Spring
A study of the application of the theory and techniques of coactive persuasion in sustained settings (campaigns). This course will examine the theory and techniques used in planning, implementing, and evaluating product/service (advertising), political, and social action campaigns. In addition, under the close supervision of the instructor, students will participate in the design and execution of a research project which examines a legitimate question of interest and importance to practitioners and analysts of contemporary campaigns.
Every other Spring, odd years
The principles and practice of public relations. Lectures, reading, and discussion will introduce students to the theories, techniques, and application of public relations. In addition, case studies and group and individual projects will be used to refine and apply course concepts.
Every Fall
Internship in Communication Studies. Additional fees may apply.
Department Chair Approval.
Special Topics in Communication Studies.
Communication Studies majors may independently develop and complete a research project under the supervision of a Communication Studies faculty member.
Permission of the Instructor and Department Chair
Individual work under the direction of departmental faculty. This option is designed for Communication majors who seek an opportunity for in-depth study beyond the scope and/or depth of departmental course offerings. This option is considered additive to-not substitutive of-required departmental course offerings.
Permission of the Instructor and Department Chair