1001 Freshman Topics in Communication
(1-1) 1 hour credit.
Required for entering freshmen in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts with
less than 15 hours of coursework and who are interested in majoring in Communication.
Critical study of topics in Communication. Innovative classroom and learning
techniques are used to introduce students to these topics and to help strengthen
critical thinking, problem solving, and writing skills. Enrichment activities
may include film, television programs, web resources, field trips, and guest
lectures by other faculty. Content varies with each instructor. A maximum of
3 semester credit hours of freshman topics courses may apply to a bachelor's
degree, although this specific topic may be taken only once.
1043 Introduction to Communication
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: ENG 1013.
Introduction to the fundamental processes of human communication, with emphasis
on interpersonal, group, and mass communication. Emphasis is given to those
skills that promote oral proficiency. [TCCN: SPCH 1311.]
1053 Business and Professional Speech
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: ENG 1013.
Examination of the basic communication process through oral channels with practical
applications for business. Emphasis is on techniques of business and professional
presentation, including components of message strategies, nonverbal communication,
multimedia support, and persuasive speaking. Oral presentations with written
components required. [TCCN SPCH 1321.]
2113 Public Speaking
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 1043 or COM 1053 or consent of instructor.
Theory and practice of speaking in formal settings. Emphasis on preparation,
adaptation, and delivery of oral presentations. [TCCN: SPCH 1315.]
2123 Oral Interpretation
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Completion of Core Curriculum rhetoric requirement.
Study of verbal and nonverbal communication, especially for aesthetic purposes,
and of the dramaturgical skills that relate to the performing arts. Emphasis
is given to those skills that promote oral proficiency. [TCCN: SPCH 2341.]
2213 Foundations of Communication
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Completion of Core Curriculum rhetoric requirement.
Introduction to fundamental concepts in Speech Communication, Technical Communication,
Electronic Media, and Public Relations. Addresses basic strategies and technologies
used for information access, retrieval, and processing. Required of and restricted
to students majoring or minoring in Communication.
2343 Introduction to Mass Communication
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Completion of Core Curriculum rhetoric requirement.
Critical examination of how the mass media interact with individuals and social
groups. Exploration of media industries, products, and processes from various
disciplinary perspectives. Comparative analysis of media products from different
cultural and national contexts. [TCCN: COMM 1307.]
2433 Editing
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: ENG 2413.
Principles and applications of production editing and technical editing, including
evaluation and revision of style, tone, and organization of documents. Practice
in use of editing symbols and copy marking. (Same as ENG 2433. Credit cannot
be earned for both COM 2433 and ENG 2433.)
2733 Introduction to Communication Technologies
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Completion of the Core Curriculum rhetoric
requirement.
Overview of media and networks used for entertainment and information distribution,
storage, and retrieval. Emphasis on the interrelationships among technology,
economics, policy, society, and culture.
2801 Forensic Activities
(1-0) 1 hour credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Opportunity to study the preparation and presentation of oral argument or speaking
in competitive situations. May be repeated for credit. [TCCN: SPCH 2144.]
3073 Conduct of Communication Inquiry
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in
COM 2213.
Introduction to basic research methods as they apply to communication inquiry.
Issues include applications of quantitative and qualitative research designs,
descriptive and inferential statistics, and interpretation and critical evaluation
of findings.
3083 Language and Communication Theory
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in
COM 2213.
Overview of theories of language and communication. Focuses on understanding
how language and communication affect individual and social action.
3113 Argumentation and Debate
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: COM 1043, COM 1053, or COM 2213.
Offers the opportunity to train in the preparation, construction, and critical
analysis of argumentation. Exercises in oral communication in adversarial situations.
3243 Persuasion
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 3073 and COM 3083.
Theory and practice of influencing attitudes, beliefs, opinions, and actions.
Emphasis on critical evaluation of persuasive messages and design of persuasive
campaigns.
3253 Rhetorical Communication Analysis
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 2113 or consent of instructor.
Study of classical and contemporary rhetorical theory. Critical evaluation of
communication messages and techniques of delivery.
3343 Theories of Mass Communication
3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 2343.
Overview of theories of mass communication. Includes exploration of the processes
and effects of the media in public entertainment and information programming.
3383 Interpersonal Communication
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 1043, COM 1053, or COM 2213.
Theory and research of communication in personal and professional settings.
The course stresses the social context of communication and emphasizes skills,
knowledge, and motivation of verbal and nonverbal interaction. (Same as MGT
3253. Credit cannot be earned for both COM 3383 and MGT 3253.)
3413 Writing for New Media
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: ENG 2413.
Introduction to issues and practices in the design of on-line information. Emphasis
on writing and design practices in the context of various on-line information
genres, including writing for the World Wide Web. Other topics may include hypertext
theory and interactive design.
3513 Writing for Public Relations
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: COM 3523 and ENG 2413.
Exposure to techniques and skills associated with writing for public relations
to create internal and external documents, such as news releases, reports, newsletters,
feature stories, and brochures. Designed to enable students to become competent
and versatile writers for a variety of publics.
3523 Public Relations
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in
COM 2213.
Introduction to principles and practices of public relations, with emphasis
on strategies and execution of campaigns. Some attention to public relations
within multicultural communities.
3543 Multicultural Public Communication Practices
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: COM 2213 and COM 3553 or COM 3563.
Strategic planning and execution of public information campaigns targeting ethnic
markets; emphasis on techniques of audience analysis, construction of messages,
and use of specific communication channels.
3553 Intercultural Communication
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 3083.
Examination of differences in communication that arise from cultural and/or
ethnic diversity. Emphasis on the verbal and nonverbal communicative patterns,
conflict management, and decision-making processes of diverse cultures. Credit
cannot be earned for both COM 3553 and COM 3573.
3563 International Communication
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 3083.
Examination of issues, conditions, and processes relating to world media systems.
Consideration of theoretical and practical perspectives in key domains of interaction
such as political economy, social development, and technology.
3623 Commercial Publications
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: ENG 2413.
Theory and practice of commercial writing and desktop publishing. Includes discussion
of document design, principles of layout, and typography.
3633 Professional Presentation
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: COM 1043 or COM 1053 or COM 2213.
Fundamentals of professional presentations including information exchange, problem
solving, and persuasive proposals. Emphasis on the integration of oral presentation
with written, graphic, and other media materials.
3663 Urban Reporting/Writing
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
News coverage of politics, law, education, social services, and government institutions
as they relate to specific urban economics and social problems.
3673 Multicultural Reporting/Writing
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Critical examination of diversity and the media. Exposure to journalistic tools
for the coverage of diverse ethnic, gender, ability, and ideological groups
inside and outside the United States. Discussion of the critical role of diverse
voices in a democracy.
3733 Fundamentals of Communications Media
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: COM 2213, COM 2733, and completion of or
concurrent enrollment in COM 3073.
Examination of basic technical concepts and their application to telecommunications
technologies, including principles of analog and digital transmission, and integrated
networks. Introduction to organizational processes of telecommunications development.
3883 Small Group Communication
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: COM 3073 and completion of or concurrent
enrollment in COM 3383.
Theory and research in the communication processes of small groups. Emphasis
on analysis of transactions in social and task-oriented groups.
3893 Organizational Communication
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: COM 1043 or COM 1053 or COM 2213.
Theory and research in organizational communication. Examination of the barriers
to effective organizational communication; group communication and decision
making; information flows through the formal and informal networks of organizations,
and the means of evaluating organizational communication effectiveness. (Same
as MGT 3123. Credit cannot be earned for both COM 3893 and MGT 3123).
4383 Relational Communication
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: COM 3073 and COM 3383.
Examination of the transactional processes involved in the creation, maintenance,
and termination of personal relationships. Analysis of current research and
theories concerning the role and effects of communicating in friendship, marriage,
and family relationships.
4413 Topics in Speech Communication
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 3083 or consent of instructor.
Intensive study of one or more specific issues in Speech Communication (including
contexts, theoretical perspectives, and research methods). May be repeated once
for credit when topics vary.
4423 Topics in Technical Communication
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 3083 or consent of instructor.
Intensive study of one or more specific issues in Technical Communication (including
contexts, theoretical perspectives, research methods, and production processes).
May be repeated once for credit when topics vary.
4433 Topics in Electronic Media
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 3083 or consent of instructor.
Intensive study of one or more specific issues in Electronic Media (including
contexts, theoretical perspectives, and individual technologies). May be repeated
once for credit when topics vary.
4443 Topics in Public Relations
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 3083 or consent of instructor.
Intensive study of one or more specific issues in Public Relations (including
media relations, special events planning, and use of technologies). May be repeated
once for credit when topics vary.
4523 Case Studies in Public Relations
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: COM 3513, COM 3523, and completion of or
concurrent enrollment in COM 3073.
Advanced study of public relations functions, principles, and practices using
local, regional, and national organizations as examples.
4533 Public Relations Planning and Campaigns
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 4523.
Application of public relations principles to the planning and production of
messages and campaigns. Students will be expected to produce and carry out a
public relations campaign within the community.
4733 Communications Design and Innovation
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: COM 3733.
Application and design of communications systems for professional organizations.
Focus is on formal and informal communication involved in effective implementation
and use of technology. Procedures for needs assessment, budgetary analysis,
design, implementation, evaluation, and modification of communication technology.
4911-3 Independent Study in Communication
1-3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Permission in writing (form available) from
the instructor, the student's advisor, the Department Chair, and the Dean of
the college in which the course is offered.
Independent reading, research, discussion, and/or writing under the direction
of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit, but not more than 6 semester
credit hours of independent study, regardless of discipline, will apply to a
bachelor's degree.
4933 Internship in Communication
3 hours credit. Prerequisites: COM 2213, junior standing, and consent of instructor.
Supervised field experience in Communication. May be repeated once for credit,
but only 3 semester credit hours may be counted toward major requirements.
4973 Seminar for Communication Majors
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: 12 upper-division semester credit hours
in Communication and consent of instructor.
This undergraduate seminar, limited to Communication majors in their final year,
offers the opportunity to study practical application of principles and practices
of communication. Students are required to engage in critical thinking, strategic
planning, and problem-solving activities in implementing a creative program
in a social or organizational setting. Content varies with each instructor.
May be repeated once for credit when topics vary.
4993 Honors Thesis
3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Enrollment limited to candidates for graduation
with University Honors.
Supervised research and preparation of an honors thesis. May be repeated once
with advisor approval.