Communication Studies (BS)

A course blending theory and practice to help individuals build effective relationships through improved communication.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-02

A course in communication principles to develop skills in the analysis and presentation of speeches.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-1B

The course explores communication with people from other cultures, why misunderstandings occur and how to build clearer and more productive cross-cultural relationships.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-07, GE-08

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course is designed to develop the skills to complete the artistic process of studying literature through performance and sharing that study with an audience.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-11

Designed to help students improve oral communication skills in the workplace. The emphasis is on the preparation and presentation of public messages in formats commonly used in business and professional settings. Listening as an oral communication skill in the workplace will be explored, as will the role of intercultural communication in the workplace. Individual speeches, group presentations, and interviews are the major presentations.

Prerequisites: none

Interpersonal communication skills are applied to psychological, social, and cultural theories of leadership to investigate how to successfully achieve goals through the establishment of relationships with others. Strategies of social influence, relational competence, equity and inclusion are discussed relative to the roles formal and informal leaders play across society.

Prerequisites: none

This is an advanced course in public presentation focused on improving presentational skills of speech delivery and language choice.

Prerequisites: none

Development of communication skills for working with others in small group situations.

Prerequisites: none

Investigation of the concepts and theories of nonverbal communication. Designed to assist students in increasing their awareness and understanding of their nonverbal communication and in analyzing and understanding the nonverbal communication of others.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to provide students with skills of effective listening, and the ability to apply that knowledge in a variety of educational and professional settings.

Prerequisites: none

A course designed to help students learn effective communication using a variety of contemporary technologies. Students will be better equipped to use communication technologies to communicate personal, professional, and public messages.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to develop the skills to complete the artistic process of studying literature through performance and sharing that study with an audience.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-11

Designed to help students improve oral communication skills in the workplace. The emphasis is on the preparation and presentation of public messages in formats commonly used in business and professional settings. Listening as an oral communication skill in the workplace will be explored, as will the role of intercultural communication in the workplace. Individual speeches, group presentations, and interviews are the major presentations.

Prerequisites: none

Interpersonal communication skills are applied to psychological, social, and cultural theories of leadership to investigate how to successfully achieve goals through the establishment of relationships with others. Strategies of social influence, relational competence, equity and inclusion are discussed relative to the roles formal and informal leaders play across society.

Prerequisites: none

This is an advanced course in public presentation focused on improving presentational skills of speech delivery and language choice.

Prerequisites: none

Students examine everyday communication practices (rituals, stories, symbols) analyzing what discursive practices turn individuals into a community. Students explore the meaning of community through experiential learning by experiencing and reflecting upon the way communication creates, maintains, transforms, and repairs community.

Prerequisites: none

Special interest courses devoted to specific topics within the field of communication studies. Topics vary, and course may be retaken for credit under different topic headings.

Prerequisites: none

The course focuses on theoretical and applied aspects of persuasion. The aim is to apply theories and research findings in the area of persuasion to the development of social and political campaigns.

Prerequisites: none

Grassroots campaigning is a proven strategy of civic discourse, engagement, and advocacy. Grassroots organizing works from the bottom up and is uniquely suited to engage historically marginalized constituencies and to amplify the voiced of traditionally excluded populations. This course emphasizes a practical, skills-based approach grassroots advocacy using communication strategies and tactics.

Prerequisites: none

This theory and research-oriented course examines the relationship between communication and conflict, and is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills in dealing with conflict situations.

Prerequisites: none

Provides first-hand experience in applying communication theories in the workplace under the direction of an on-site supervisor.

Prerequisites: none

Course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the history, scholarly writing, and academic journals in the communication discipline, thus preparing the student for more advanced courses in the Department of Communication Studies.

Prerequisites: none

An exploration of the field of argument, addressing structure, types and critical analysis. Students will learn to identify types of reasoning, argument fallacies and pseudo-reasoning. Students will apply concepts in the construction and refutation of argument positions.

Prerequisites: none

This course is divided into two sections. First, the class explores ethical parameters involved in communication from a variety of social and cultural perspectives. Second, the class investigates current standards and issues involving freedom of speech.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to develop an understanding of how gender and communication interact. Students learn the basic theories and principles of communication as it applies to gender and develop skills to enhance communication between and among gender groups.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course is an overview of key performance studies concepts, including cultural performance, performance of everyday life, theories of play, social influence, and identity performance. Students will develop and present performances as a means to understand theoretical concepts.

Prerequisites: none

Special interest courses devoted to specific topics within relationship communication. Topics vary, and course may be retaken for credit under different topic headings.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to develop an understanding of communication studies in the organizational context. The course will aid each individual in working more effectively within any type of organization through exposure to major theories and works in the area of organizational communication.

Prerequisites: none

Special interest courses devoted to specific topics within the intersecting fields of rhetoric and culture. Topics vary, and course may be retaken for credit under different topic headings.

Prerequisites: none

Special interest courses devoted to specific topics within field of American Public Address. Topics vary, and course may be retaken for credit under different topic headings.

Prerequisites: none

This course interrogates difference as a communicative production. Students will examine social identities--in the form of race, social class, sex/gender/sexuality, age, and ability--as socially constructed communication phenomena used to understand the self and others. The course will involve both historical and contemporary investigations of how social identities have been produced through time, and how they continue to affect--and be affected by--everyday communication practices. In short, this course will investigate the dynamic relationship between culture and identity, and how communication facilitates that relationship.

Prerequisites: none

A critical analysis of contemporary social movement discourse and the means for advocacy by a movement. We examine communication theories, issues, trends, social movement processes, advocacy strategies, and how it all ties back into the field of contemporary communication studies.

Prerequisites: none

A course designed for students who have a general interest in communication studies. Content of each special topics course will be different. May be retaken for credit.

Prerequisites: none

An introduction to the theory and practice of research in communication studies, including the critical evaluation of contemporary communication research.

Prerequisites: CMST 301

This is a required capstone course of all Communication Studies majors and involves the completion and presentation of a senior level research project. Teaching majors are excluded from this requirement.

Prerequisites: CMST 301, CMST 302, CMST 306

Prerequisites: none