Communication Studies Courses Offered

COMMUNICATION STUDIES C1000: INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC SPEAKING (FORMERLY COMM 130)

In this course, students learn and apply foundational rhetorical theories and techniques of public speaking in a multicultural democratic society. Students discover, develop, and critically analyze ideas in public discourse through research, reasoning, organization, composition, delivery to a live audience, and evaluation of various types of speeches, including informative and persuasive speeches.

Communication Studies 60: Basics of SPeech Communication

This course is designed for students who need an introductory course in oral communication. It will aid them in conversation, small group interaction, identification of speaking purposes, supporting ideas, and listening skills. Videotape is used as an evaluation tool.

Communication Studies 100: Introduction to communication studies

An interactive course introducing the foundational theories and practices of human communication, rhetoric, and public speaking. Students will develop and deliver informative and persuasive speeches while critically examining messaging, listening, verbal and nonverbal communication, and message evaluation across various contexts. The course emphasizes communication in a democratic society, rhetorical theory, intercultural and interpersonal communication, and small group collaboration.

Communication Studies 103: Argumentation, Persuasion, and Critical thinking

This course focuses on argument and persuasion in the context of speech communication. This course examines the formation of arguments, the quality and types of evidence used to support claims, the use of language, and the analysis of fallacies. In addition, the course covers the role of the speaker/author, audience and message in argument. Emphasis is on the integration of critical thinking principles with techniques of effective argument, with focus on critiques, essays, debate, and speech writing and delivery.

Communication Studies 110: Intercultural Communication

This course presents theories and principles of communication with an emphasis on application of concepts relevant to intercultural communication. It has a culture general approach focusing on variables which influence the communication process. Assignments and activities involve students in the analysis of different communication patterns across cultures and the exploration and practice of methods, skills and techniques for improving intercultural communication.

Communication Studies 115: Gender, Communication and the Digital Revolution

This course considers digital technology as an active agent in gender creation, maintenance, change, and expression through communication. Explores communication competency in contemporary gendered relationships. Examines the multiple ways communication across media cultural, digitally mediated, and face-to-face contexts creates and perpetuates gender roles and expectations in society. Investigates a wide range of issues related to the contemporary representation of gender in society. Conceptualizes how digital technology offers possibilities for new social relations and new definitions of the gendered self. This course is not open to students who are enrolled in WGS115 or have received credit in WGS115.

Communication Studies 120: Interpersonal Communication

The interpersonal communication course is an overview of theory and research on human communication. The course is designed with the opportunity to improve students communication skills in a variety of communication contexts. This course includes skill practices, oral presentations, and videotaping as instructional tools.

Communication Studies 125: Organizational Communication

This course presents theories and principles of communication with an emphasis on application of concepts relevant to organizational communication. This course focuses on variables that influence the communication process within the context of business and organizations. The combined application of speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills in business and professional settings will be emphasized. Assignments and activities involve students in the analysis of different communication patterns within organizations and the exploration and practice of methods, skills and techniques for improving communication within the professional setting.

Communication Studies 132: Small Group Communication

As an introduction to the fundamentals of group discussion, this course focuses on the individual's communication in a small group setting; leadership in groups; group communication norms and processes with emphasis on problem solving and conflict reduction techniques. Recording is used as an evaluative tool.

Communication Studies 140: Oral Interpretation of Literature

This course focuses on the analysis and interpretation of both prose and verse literature, including study of voice production, structure and content of literature and techniques of effective oral communication of meaning from the printed page.

Communication Studies 145: Storytelling

This course is an introduction to the history of storytelling and the techniques of listening, preparation, and the presentation of stories to various age groups and in various settings. Students acquaint themselves with various literary genres--folk tales, sagas, epics, legends, myths, poetry, and drama. Videotape is used as an evaluative tool.

Communication Studies 148: Readers' Theatre

This course focuses on the analysis, appreciation, and application of communication theory and the arts to historical political, and socio-cultural issues using various forms of literature including classic and contemporary works of philosophical and cultural importance across genre, including poetry, prose, and drama (scripts, plays, and screenplays). Focus on group communication performances (literature performed by multiple individuals) that provide cultural critique of past and present social inequities and injustices.

Communication Studies 200: Contemporary Communication Topics

This is a specialized course designed to present and acquaint students with communication theories and principles relevant to improving communication effectiveness. It focuses on those issues that reflect the evolutionary nature of communication in a variety of contemporary communication areas. The special topic will be decided by the course instructor and announced in the Schedule of Classes.

Communication Studies 231, 232, & 233: Forensics Activity (Competitive Speech and DEbate)

This class provides training and supervised preparation for participating in collegiate competitive and non-competitive speech activities, such as debate, public speaking, and oral performance of literature. This class requires coaching hours outside of the classroom and participation in interscholastic competition as a competitor at one or more forensics tournaments (held on weekends). This course is open entry/open exit.