Interpersonal communication is perhaps the most fundamental aspect of the human experience. By communicating with the people around us, we develop a sense of self and establish a network of relationships that is critical for our survival, success, and emotional well-being. This course will introduce you to the key theories, concepts, and research findings in the field of interpersonal communication. We will work diligently to connect theory with practical applications in view of developing your own competencies as an interpersonal communicator. By the end of the course, you should acquire a deep understanding of the psychology of human relations, and you should be better equipped to evaluate and respond to everyday communication challenges.
Mass communication plays a significant role in each of our lives and in our society. In this course, you will be introduced to basic principles for understanding and critically using mass media. The history of and current trends in print, film, radio and sound recording, television, video games, the internet, advertising, and public relations will be explored. By the end of the course, you will be better able to interact with mass media personally and professionally.
This course explores the process of asking and answering questions about human communication behaviors. It provides a basic foundation for reading, observing, evaluating, and writing about communication from a variety of perspectives, serving as a platform for students to better understand connections between theory and research and to develop their own questions about communication and the world around them.
Human beings are often expected to work together to accomplish tasks and make critical decisions without any training or tools to facilitate effective group processes. This course explores the factors that impact group experiences and provides students with opportunities to observe and evaluate groups, use theory to understand group functioning, and develop skills that can be applied to the groups they will encounter in the classroom, at work, and in their personal lives. Prerequisite: COME 122. Fall semester, alternate years.
An intensive writing course designed to introduce styles and conventions for advertising, public relations, journalism, screenwriting, and social media. This course covers style rules, editing, lead writing, libel law, story construction, interviewing, rewriting and other topics.
Our identification with social groups, such as our racial/ethnic group, religious affiliation, or social class, is central to our self-concept. We have to talk and relate across these social group differences on a daily basis. The purpose of this course is to help you cultivate an awareness of your own social identities as well as how social identity influences communication across difference, such as race, ethnicity, religion, age, or social class. To that end, you will learn about social identity and intergroup communication theorizing, language and bias, intergroup contact, and intergroup dialogue. Fall semester.
How are individuals of different racial and ethnic groups represented in media? What impacts do these representations have on media viewers? This course explores these questions and more from multiple scholarly perspectives. Various forms of media, such as advertising, television, movies, video games and news are considered. Summer sessions.
Communication is integrally connected with mental health. In this course, students will learn about enhancing their own mental health through intrapersonal and interpersonal communication. Students will also learn to interpret and apply empirical communication research and to be a critical consumer of information relating to communication and mental health. Prerequisite: COME 122. Spring Semester.
This course examines the forces that generate and influence conflicts and the techniques that can be used to direct these forces toward productive outcomes. This course discusses constructive and destructive conflict, and review a variety of topics relating to conflict in our interpersonal relationships and in our world including gender violence and power. Several premises guide this class. The first premise is that conflict can be positive; constructive management is central to development and growth in interpersonal relationships. The second premise is that people must understand conflicts before they can successfully manage or resolve them. We will analyze conflict as a form of interaction which is developed and managed through communication. Students will develop an understanding of conflict that will enable them to make more strategic choices about their communication in conflict episodes as well as help them assist other societal members to manage their conflicts more productively through creation of a conflict module. Prerequisite: COME 122. Spring semester, alternate years.
This course will explore the ways that Netflix is (and is not) disruptive across three major components of media: content, production, and consumption. One of the primary topics will be Netflix and groups that are typically underrepresented in entertainment media both behind the scenes and on screen. J-Term and summer sessions.
This course considers how human beings use communication to repair reputations and keep us safe in times of crisis. It considers several perspectives on apologetic rhetoric, including Benoit’s theory of image repair discourse and Koesten and Rowland’s writings about the rhetoric of atonement. The course also examines the role of crisis communication plans and social media in response to crises such as natural disasters and national security concerns. J-term and summer sessions.
This course focuses on building professional presentation skills in the context of impromptu, informative speaking, and persuasion. In addition, students build professional life skills - such as negotiation, resume building, and interviewing – to help them succeed in the business and professional world. Fall semester.
Nonverbal communication encompasses a wide range of human behavior that often occurs outside our conscious awareness. In this course, we will be studying the various categories of nonverbal communication: environmental, territory and personal space, physical characteristics of people, gestures, posture, movement, touch, expressions of emotion, eye gaze behavior, and vocal cues. We will observe and analyze the many functions of nonverbal communication, such as managing interaction, expressing feelings, and expressing our social identities. By bringing nonverbal communication into your conscious awareness and by studying its many functions, you can become a more effective and sensitive communicator. Prerequisite: COME 122. Spring semester, alternate years.
Persuasive attempts bombard us daily during interpersonal interactions, in professional and academic spaces, and through mass media and advertising. Students will analyze the types of persuasive messages that are sent through a variety of communication channels including podcasts, film, and social media. Foundational concepts and theories of persuasion will be used as a guide for becoming more effective communicators, leaders, and consumers.
How do businesses manage their employees, connect with consumers, and promote their brand and identity in a fast-paced, digital world? Students will examine the increasing presence of communication technology in the workplace and explore their own future career plans by mapping and tracking workplace trends in their chosen area of study. Summer sessions.
The field of health care can be a confusing and complex space to navigate. Students will explore the evolution of the health care system and gain insight into the experiences of health care providers. As they learn how to be advocates in their own health journey, students will also become better equipped to identify ways to provide support for others, and to recognize how intersections of identity can create unique health care experiences.
Family relationships are some of the most consequential relationships we have in life. In this course, students will learn about different definitions of family and how we communicatively manage the boundaries around who is considered family. Students will also learn about diverse family forms, different family relationships, and important transitions in the development of the family. The course investigates the ways that family communication affects and reflects individual and relational well-being, as well as practical strategies for functional communication within the family. Prerequisite: COME 122. Fall semester.
This course uses rhetorical theory and criticism, as well as empirical evidence concerning the content and effects of political messages, to aid citizens in becoming better consumers and critics of political communication. Political speeches, political advertisements, political debates and political media are explored in the context of both primary and general election campaigns. Fall semester.
Why are some genres of media labeled as feminine or masculine? How are men and women represented in media? What impacts do these representations have on media viewers? This course explores these questions and more from multiple scholarly perspectives. Various forms of media, such as advertising, television, movies, video games and news, are considered. Fall semester.
This course focuses on the intersections of intimate relationships and media. We will explore theories and research that describe how relationships, especially romantic ones, develop, thrive, or deteriorate over time. Then we will examine the role of media such as online dating platforms, social media, television, and movies in these processes. Prerequisite: COME 124. Fall semester.
This course will explore the field of media psychology including theories and research on a variety of subjects. Topics include audience involvement, effects of media stereotypes, influence of advertising, psychology of gaming, the social nature of media, effects of media violence, and more.
This course examines the origins and background principles of media law with a focus on Supreme Court cases and agency regulations that govern media action and consequences. Operation of the media within the law and guiding principles will be examined as well as the consequences that result when laws or principles are violated. Highlighted will be ethical dilemmas that can occur even when laws are obeyed or when laws come into conflict with other laws. Fall semester.
Students in this course consider how news and social media influence culture, politics, commerce, identity and relationships. The course uses both old and new theories of communication and media studies to understand how power and influence are asserted and resisted in digital spaces. The course adopts a digital storytelling perspective for developing expertise about new media campaigns. Spring semester.
This course concentrates on a topic pertaining to the current needs and interests of faculty and students. The topics covered vary from semester to semester and are announced in the timetable of courses whenever the course is offered.
A study of organizational communication theory and research. The course traces the development of current organizational communication perspectives, examines potential constraints and barriers to effective communication in organizations, and studies communication processes both within and between organizational components. Prerequisites: COME 122 and senior standing. Fall semester.
The Communication Studies Capstone course explores influential theories and research methods commonly used in the field of Communication, and provides opportunities to reflect on how these theories and methods are applicable in professional and personal contexts outside of the classroom. In this course, students will develop and complete a semester-long signature Capstone project that synthesizes empirical research and Communication Studies theories informed by the social scientific perspective. Prerequisites: COME 122 and senior standing. Spring semester.
Applies classical critical approaches to the study of media content. In addition to approaches such as genre studies, ideological criticism and feminist studies, the course considers economic and cultural factors that affect content. The ultimate goal of the course is to generate alternative perspectives about dominant media texts. Prerequisites: COME 124. Fall semester.
The Media Studies Capstone explores influential social scientific theories and research methods commonly used in the field and provides opportunities to reflect on how these theories and methods are applicable outside of the classroom. In this course, students will develop and complete a semester-long capstone project that applies media studies theories and empirical research findings. Prerequisites: COME 124 and senior standing. Spring semester.
A course allowing students and faculty to explore topics of special interest together. Prerequisites: instructor’s consent and approval of the associate dean of humanities.
Qualified students may perform research projects under the supervision of a Communication and Media Studies faculty member. Prerequisite: instructor consent and approval of dean of social sciences.
This internship experience allows students to apply their studies in a supervised work situation. Students benefit from an inside look at different kinds of organizations and a chance to work in their field of study, and they gain experience with state-of-the-art equipment and practices. Prerequisite: Junior/senior standing. Does not fulfill a 400-level requirement for the major.
All Communication and Media Studies majors are required to complete a major portfolio in order to fulfill the COME 499 graduation requirement. Details regarding portfolio requirements and evaluations are provided to all majors. Senior Communication and Media Studies majors enroll in COME 499 during their final semester, and completed portfolios will be reviewed according to the schedule provided. Prerequisite: Senior standing.
The best places to work are often those that offer a positive climate, inclusive culture, and opportunities for growth. This course uses theory and research to trace the evolution of the workplace and identifies how organizational processes can impact the experiences of organizational members. Students will use practical application to explore and understand what it means to organize at work and within the community. Fall semester, alternate years.
This course concentrates on a topic pertaining to the current needs and interests of faculty and students. The topics covered will vary from semester to semester and will be announced in the timetable of courses whenever the course is offered.
This course presents a broad overview of how sports reflect and perpetuate ideas, values, and meanings in our culture. Attention will be paid to the role sports play in shaping community and addressing exigent socio-political issues. Students will be introduced to the fields of sports media, strategic sports communication, and crisis communication in sports. Additional topics include sports gaming, identity in sports, and sports fan culture. This course is considered a Media Special Topics course and therefore will not be offered every semester. See your faculty advisor for help in planning your classes for each semester.
