Skip Navigation

Department of Communication Studies

Communication, Collaboration, Community

Undergraduate Course Descriptions

109 Fundamentals of Human Communication. (3 cr) Freshman-sophomore level; juniors and seniors by permission only. This course provides instruction in a variety of communication situations including public speaking, interpersonal, small group, and interviewing. In addition, units on nonverbal, language self-concept, and listening are also presented. Communication Studies 109 is taught using the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) which is self-paced and individualized.

109H Honors Fundamentals of Human Communication. (3 cr) Prereq: Good standing in the University Honors Program or by invitation. Focus on the theory and practice of varying human communication forms. Includes discussions and practical experiences in communication process, language, self-concept, perception, interviewing, group communication, audience analysis, public speaking, feedback, and listening. Students will conduct evaluative critiques, engage in mock interviews and maintain process journals.

189H University Honors Seminar. (3 cr) Prereq: Admission to the University Honors Program. Must also take Recitation.

198 Special Topics. (3 cr) This course will be used for a wide variety of topics. Topic for the semester will be announced prior to early registration.

199 Independent Study. (1-3 cr) Prereq: permission. Independent study is a research project directed by a faculty member in the Department of Communication Studies. Before registering students must consult and secure the permission of a member of the professional staff willing to direct their study. Instructor«s permission required for pass/no pass. No textbook is required.

200 Intro to Communication Studies. (3 cr) This course provides an introduction to human communication theory. Theories are surveyed that explain communication generally across multiple contexts as well as those that explain communication more specifically in interpersonal/small group, intercultural, organizational, public or instructional settings. (was 159)

201 Intro to Research Methods in Communication Studies. (3 cr) This course provides an overview of major research traditions in communication studies. Students will study major theories of human communication and the methods of research utilized in the discipline. This course must be completed before a student can enroll in a 400-level course. (was 301)

205 Performance of Literature. (3 cr) Prereq: Sophomore standing or permission. Interpretative reading is a course in the oral performance of works of literature. The objective is the students' mastery of techniques of preparation and performance which will result in effective communication of the sound and sense of literature. Analysis of the literature is stressed.

209 Public Speaking. (3 cr) Prereq: Sophomore standing or permission. This is a practical course in the preparation and presentation of original speeches before an audience. The course will cover such topics as gathering materials, speech organization, use of supporting materials, style, delivery techniques, and techniques of persuasion. Students will also learn theories about speech making.

209H Honors Public Speaking. (3 cr) Prereq: Good standing in the University Honors Program or by invitation. Detailed practice in composition and delivery of speeches leading to effective extemporaneous speaking. Critical analysis of contemporary speeches on vital public issues will culminate in a major research paper.

210 Small Group Problem Solving. (3 cr) Prereq: Sophomore standing. This is an introductory course in small group communication theory and small group problem solving. Students do not have to have previous coursework in small groups or human communication theory. The goals of this course are to facilitate critical thinking about how small groups work and to help improve small group problem-solving skills. Students will work in small groups and will identify and attempt to solve community problems. Course activities will include readings, discussions over the readings, and individual and small group paper assignments.

211 Intercultural Communication. (3 cr) This class will focus on communication between cultures in interpersonal and societal contexts. Intrapersonal communication as a foundation for effective interpersonal and intercultural communication will also be emphasized. Differences in communication behaviors due to nationality, ethical expectations, and social and class status will be explored. Deconstructing ideological constructs that create barriers in intercultural interactions will also be of focus. Course content includes a basic introduction to terms, concepts, theories, and models of communication and culture. Requirements for the course include active participation in class discussions, responding to critical incidents, a group project and presentation, short papers, midterm and final exams over textbook and course material. Instructor«s permission required for pass/no pass.

212 Debate. (3 cr) Prereq: Sophomore standing or permission of instructor. Pass/no pass option not allowed. Students will gain insight into the process of debating issues of social, political, economic, and foreign policies. This understanding will be gained through insight into the nature of argumentation and policy debate in democratic society.

220 Intro to Public Discourse. (3 cr) An introduction to the historical and critical examination of significant persuasive efforts in modern American history. Emphasis is placed on the study of speakers who engaged in advocacy of sociopolitical importance. These may include representatives of important social movements, demagogues, elected officials, and others who defined our rhetorical legacy.

226 Intro to Broadcasting. (3 cr) Crosslisted as Journalism 226. Operation and function of radio and television society. Emphasis on broadcast program preparation, design, and performance. Not open to Broadcasting majors.

280 Communication and Popular Culture. (3 cr) An introduction to communication and popular culture, i.e., television, music, film, popular literature, self help literature, etc. Students will use rhetorical and critical methods of analysis to understand the communicative dimension of these cultural forms to explore the complex relationship of language, visual images, mediated communication, and cultural values.

283 Interpersonal Communication. (3 cr) This course is an introduction to interpersonal communication. The course objectives are: (1) to learn the theories, models, and vocabulary of the field of study known as interpersonal communication; (2) to recognize the role of interpersonal communication in various communication settings; and (3) to improve interpersonal communication skills. Instructor«s permission required for pass/no pass.

286 Business and Professional Communication. (3 cr) Prereq: Sophomore standing. This course is designed for any student planning a career in any career/organizational setting. The course provides each student with a series of oral and applied communication situations that will aid the student in his/her day-to-day relations with "people at work." Students will learn (1) the principles of communication; (2) the principles of informative and persuasive oral presentations; (3) to develop an awareness of the importance of communication in business and professional activities; (4) to improve communication skills in questioning, answering and responding in interviews, leading and participating in group meetings, and interpersonal competence (listening, assertiveness, feedback, etc.). Instructors work with each student's own verbal communication skills and career through formal assignments and classroom exercises emphasizing classroom discussions over formal lectures. Requirements for this class include one outside-of-class interview (student is to interview someone who has an organizational position he/she hopes to have upon graduation); four oral presentations; workbook questions, midterm exam; and a comprehensive final exam.

295 University Speech and Debate. (1-2 cr) Prereq: Permission. This practicum provides an opportunity to participate in University debate and speech activities. Students will gain an understanding of tournament operation by assisting at University sponsored events. Two tracts are available: (1) Intercollegiate Debate (1-2 cr) requires extensive time commitment researching and debating on the current intercollegiate debate resolution, involving active participation in intercollegiate tournaments; (2) Intercollegiate Speech (1-2 cr) requires participation in individual speaking events at intercollegiate forensics tournaments. No textbook is required.

300 Nonverbal Communication. (3 cr) Introduction to the concepts of nonverbal communication including the study of space, touch, body movements, as well as visual interaction, facial, and vocal expression. The lecture and readings integrate theory, research and practical knowledge about nonverbal communication. Pass/no pass by permission.

312 Argumentation. (3 cr) This course will study special forms of debate and public discussion such as personal situations, the law, the legislature, the courts, the media, and academia. Students will learn to adapt argumentation to various types of audiences. Principles of argumentation in great historical debate will be analyzed.

325 Interviewing. (3 cr) Prereq: one of the following: Comm Studies 109, 209, 210, 283, 286 or permission. This course is designed to enhance the communication knowledge and skill of students as interviewers and interviewees. Research on communication and interviewing is used to guide student participation in simulated employment, informational, persuasive, or counseling interviews. Lectures, discussions, readings and assignments integrate research, practical knowledge and communication skill development. Pass/no pass option permitted for nonmajors only.

334 Introduction to Public Opinion. (3 cr) Crosslisted with Political Science 334. Opinion formation; the impact of psychological and social factors, the communication media on the development of opinion; the importance of public opinion in the policy process; the methods of linkage between opinion and decision makers; measurement of public opinion; manipulation of public opinion.

354 Health Communication. (3 cr) Prereq: Junior standing or permission. An overview of communication research and practice in various care contexts; client/provider interactions, provider/provider communication, communication in health care organizations, mediated messages in the marketing and promotion of health information, consumer advocacy, politics of health care.

370 Family Communication. (3 cr) Prereq: Comm Studies 109 or permission. Examination of major variables affecting communication patterns within the family unit. Emphasis directed toward the impact of technology and changes in family life-styles upon communicative practices within the family.

371 Communication in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. (3 cr) Introductory account of the role of conflict in relational development, focusing on the manifestation of conflict through conversation, the alternative perspectives on strategizing conflict, and the current theoretical orientations to understanding relational conflict.

375 Theories of Persuasion. (3 cr) An upper-division course in the theories and perspectives of persuasion, including an examination of the dimensions, scope, and role of persuasion in our society. Critical analysis of persuasive messages, becoming familiar with persuasive research, and applying to practical situations.

380 Gender and Communication. (3 cr) Introduction to theory and research in gender and communication and a survey of research on similarities and differences between male and female verbal and nonverbal communication. Emphasis on examining the relationships among gender, language, social reality, and cultural values.

386 Organizational Communication: Diagnosis and Change. (3 cr) Examination of organizational communication systems and the design of communication audit procedures. Emphasis is on practical experience in applied communication, including supervised fieldwork in which students use their theoretical knowledge in actual organizational communication settings.

390 Instructional Internship. (1-6 cr) Prereq: permission. This course is designed to offer students a structured professional experience in the field of speech communication outside of the traditional academic setting. Communication problems are confronted not as abstractions but as specific occurrences with which the student must cope. The nature and location of this experience is arranged in cooperation with a faculty member of the Department of Communication Studies. Instructor's permission required for pass/no pass. No textbook is required.

398 Special Topics. (3 cr) This course will be used for a wide variety of topics. Topic for the semester will be announced prior to early registration.

399 Independent Study. (1-3 cr) Prereq: permission. Independent study is a research project directed by a faculty member in the Department of Communication Studies. Before registering students must consult and secure the permission of a member of the professional staff willing to direct their study. Instructor«s permission required for pass/no pass. No textbook is required.

399H Honors Course. (1 cr) Prereq: permission. Open to juniors who are candidates for degrees with distinction, with high distinction, and with highest distinction in the College of Arts & Sciences. No textbook is required.

400 Rhetorical Theory. Prereq: Comm Studies 200 and 201 or permission. Introduction to the major writers, works, and concepts involved in the rhetorical approach to the study of human communication.

412 Directing Forensics. (3 cr) Prereq: Comm Studies 200, 201, 212, junior/senior standing or permission. This course is designed for students interested in teaching debate and speech activities at the secondary or collegiate level. Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between theory in speech communication and practice in the debate and speech contest situation. Some out-of-class activity is required.

430 Political Communication. (POLS 430) Prereq: Junior Standing; Comm 200, 201; or political science major or minor; or permission. A study of the role of communication in the political process, with an emphasis on communication strategies in political campaigns. The course includes a study of the communication variables important in the political process, an application of communication theory and principles to political communication events.

452 Communication and Culture. Prereq: Junior standing; Comm Studies 200 and 201 or permission. Theories of communications and culture serve as the basis for investigation of human communication in a variety of cultural contexts and activities. Class will require group work as a practicum approach to the analysis and discovery of culture, its origins and how those origins manifest for cultural groups. Ethnographic and interpretive methods of analysis of communication expectations, behaviors, and outcomes will be highlighted. There will be an expanded focus on application of cultural theory to real world communication phenomena. Requirements for the course include reports, an individual project and presentation, midterm and final exams over course materials.

470 Interpersonal Communication Theory. Prereq: Junior standing; Comm Studies 200 and 201; or permission. Introduction to the central concerns of interpersonal communication theory and research, and to the various approaches to issues in the interpersonal communication context. Intended for students who have had two or more previous courses in communication and who want to pursue indepth theory, research, and pedagogy in interpersonal communication.

485 Small Group Communication Theory. (3 cr) Prereq: Junior standing; Comm Studies 200, 201 and 210; or permission. This course is designed to sketch out the conceptual territory of small group communication via a review of the small group communication literature. The course will focus on small group communication as displayed in the family, friendship, and organizational networks. Students with little or no theoretical background in the small group communication area can develop an integrative picture of how small groups operate in various interpersonal settings.

487 Global Organizational Communication. Prereq: Junior Standing; Comm Studies 200, 201, and 286; or permission. This course introduces traditional and contemporary theories of organizational communication that can be used to understand changing patterns in leader-member relationships, resistance/control, and power/influence. Major emphasis is placed on the role of communication as a source of both constraint and opportunity in organizational settings. Lectures, discussions, readings and course assignments are designed to integrate theory, research and practical knowledge about organizational communication.

488 Senior Workshop and Assessment. (1cr) Prereq: Senior standing; (24 hrs communication studies); communication studies major. Pass/No Pass only.
Integrate theory and skills learned in a communication studies major with a focus on scholarly trends and career opportunities.

490 Internship. (1-6 cr) Prereq: Junior Standing and 12 to 15 hours communication studies courses. Permission and call number must be obtained from the faculty member. This course is designed to offer students a structured professional experience in the field of speech communication outside of the traditional academic setting. Communication problems are confronted not as abstractions but as specific occurrences with which a student must cope.

498 Special Topics. Prereq: Junior standing; Comm Studies 200 and 201; or permission. This course will be used for a wide variety of topics. Topic for the semester will be announced prior to early registration.

499H Honors Course. (2 cr) Prereq: Permission and call number must be obtained from faculty member. Open to seniors who are candidates for degrees with distinction, with high distinction, and with highest distinction in the College of Arts and Sciences.


Back to Course List