No 100 or 200 level language class may be used to satisfy the General Education CUL (culture) requirement.
CHI101 Mandarin Chinese 1 ... 3 hours
The purpose of this course is to enable students to begin to acquire proficiency in Mandarin Chinese through a linguistic, communicative, and cultural approach to language learning. Emphasis is placed on the development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills and on the acquisition of the fundamentals of applied Chinese grammar. Students will also begin the acquisition of the fundamentals of Pinyin, the Phonological System of Chinese sounds and the basic grammar. Cross-cultural understanding is focused and real-life applications are emphasized throughout the
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CHI102 Mandarin Chinese 2 ... 3 hours
Chinese 102 builds on Chinese 101 to help students continue to consolidate their Pinyin knowledge and to learn more vocabulary words and phrases. They will also learn more sentence patterns, grammar, and develop better listening and speaking skills. Students will improve both of their oral communication and reading comprehension skills. Students will continue to explore Chinese culture, customs and history along the way. Lab fee $25.
Prerequisite: CHI101 or permission
Offered Spring
COMMUNICATION (COM)
COM130 Oral Communication and Presentation ... 3 hours
Oral Communication and Presentation Is a course in spoken communication that emphasizes public speaking and small group communication. Two speeches, a group presentation, a series of practical exercises and tests are required of all students.
Offered Fall, Spring
COM134 Digital Photography ... 3 hours
Introduction to black and white and color photography in its applications as fine art and visual communication. Introduction to computer editing software. Lab fee at the discretion of the instructor, not to exceed $50.
Prerequisite: Quality digital camera required (3.0 megapixels or more, 4.0 or above
recommended).
Offered Fall, Spring
COM190, 290, 390, 490 Special Topics ... 3 hours
Topics will vary. May or may not be writing intensive.
Prerequisite: None, unless listed in the schedule of courses.
COM204 visual Communication, Graphics and Presentational Strategies .... 3 hours
This course explores visual design, graphics and presentational strategies by introducing students to digital photography and layout and design skills. Students will learn digital and graphic design techniques using the leading industry software applications for desktop publishing and graphics illustration. Students will incorporate visual expression techniques and presentational strategies to produce brochures and newsletters.
Prerequisite: COM130
Offered Spring odd
COM212 Introduction to Public Relations (w) ... 3 hours
Survey of the theory, philosophy, and function of public relations practices and programs in American institutions with special attention given to public relations in various fields. This is a writing intensive course.
Prerequisite: ENG141
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COM218 News Writing (w) ... 3 hours
This course covers methods of gathering and evaluating news and writing typical news stories. Practice work covering assignments and preparing copy. This is a writing intensive course.
Prerequisite: ENG141
Offered Fall
COM241 Introduction to Mass Communication ... 3 hours
A survey course examining the various media (i.e., newspaper, radio, television, film, etc.) comprising the mass media in contemporary American society. Emphasis is given to the history, structure, and potential effects of each medium.
Prerequisite: ENG141 or concurrent
Offered Fall odd numbered years
COM300 Communications Research Methods and Information Sources (w) 3 hours
This is an introductory research methods course for all Communication majors. It is designed to teach students search strategies in mass communication that will help them identify primary and secondary sources that match information needs and to use this information for responsible media decision making. Students will learn how to gain access to these sources and retrieve information through a variety of approaches, including using electronic data bases. Students will design a final project that emphasizes the computer-assisted research methods learned throughout the course. This is a writing intensive course.
Prerequisite: COM130 and MAT273
Offered Spring
COM310 Human, Interpersonal and Small Group Communications ... 3 hours
This course explores three related disciplines of communication as they pertain to the basic process of human interaction, both interpersonally and in small groups. Students will survey some of the main theories of human communication, including those that explain the processes involved in dyadic relationships, self-disclosure and listening. These principles will be integrated into larger communication contexts in order to understand how decision-making and problem solving occurs in small groups.
Prerequisite: COM130
Offered Fall odd numbered years
COM318 Feature Writing ... 3 hours
This course prepares the student for newspaper features and special articles for general circulation magazines, business, and trade journal sources, materials, markets, and other factors pertinent to nonfiction writing. Students will analyze and write a variety of types of feature stories.
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COM320 Argument/Persuasion Theory and Practice ... 3 hours
The course develops understanding of theories of and critical attitudes toward argument and persuasion in formal and informal situations. Exercises include preparation, analysis, and criticism of arguments and oral argumentation and persuasive messages, persuasive campaigns, and media persuasion.
Prerequisite: COM130
Offered Fall even
COM324 Communicating Across Cultures (w) ... 3 hours
Introduction to the study of cultural and intercultural theory and behavior, discussion of various culturally specific patterns of communication. This is a writing intensive course.
Offered Fall even numbered years
COM329 Writing for Electronic Media (w) ... 3 hours
Introduction to writing styles and techniques used in electronic media. Includes creating copy for advertising, promotion, and news, and scripts for media programs. This is a writing intensive course.
Prerequisite: ENG141
Offered Spring even numbered years
COM330 video Production ... 3 hours
Finding, producing, directing, scripting, and editing magazine style/documentary short stories. Interviewing techniques will be stressed. Pre-production, production, and post- production processes will be covered. All students will be required to produce their own story.
Offered Spring
COM340 Law and Communications ... 3 hours
Survey of laws and regulations concerning mass media. Includes material on First Amendment, libel, invasion of privacy, freedom of information, copyright, obscenity, advertising and broadcast regulation.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing
Offered Fall even numbered years
COM341 Political Communication (w) ... 3 hours
Examination of how interpersonal, group, and mass communication processes intersect political processes. A focus on the ways communication constructs political expectations and practice. This is a writing intensive course.
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COM350 Elements of News Production ... 3 hours
This course introduces students to news production techniques through participation as a staff member of the student newspaper. Students will explore reporting and writing news stories, photojournalism, copy editing, and layout and design of the newspaper in a multimedia format, using print and electronic platforms. Students will have the opportunity to create a portfolio of their work as well as learn transferable skills for a variety of employment settings. In addition, this course gives students the opportunity to learn problem-solving skills individually and in a group setting.
Prerequisites: ENG141 and COM218 or COM329
Offered Fall
COM410 Advanced Reporting (w) ... 3 hours
The purpose of this course is to give students training in news reporting and gathering methods. Course is a continuation of 218 and will give students further instruction in news story development and writing, as well as interviewing and note taking skills, as students pursue their own news stories. Students will be required to produce several, in-depth news stories and will explore Computer-Assisted Reporting methods. This is a writing intensive course.
Prerequisite: COM218
Offered Spring even numbered years
COM414 Crisis and Risk Communication ... 3 hours
This course explores crisis and risk communication in the context of recent national and global events and through case studies of corporate, organizational and individual crises. Students will learn how to communicate with the public prior to a potential event and how to react to crisis situations. From natural disasters to intentional tragedies, public health emergencies, accidents, product recalls and financial crises, different situations and audiences require different approaches for communicating with stakeholders and the public. This course will help students become aware of ways to respond credibly, effectively and ethically.
Prerequisites: Junior or Senior standing.
COM416 Public Relations Cases, Campaigns and Non-Profits ... 3 hours
This course covers the theory and practice of producing the public relations material used in campaigns to promote and interpret personal, institutional and organizational objectives and activities. This will include an exploration of the challenges non-profit organizations face in analyzing and executing public relations strategies to achieve organizational goals and objectives. Students will work with a client in researching and apply problem-solving techniques to an actual case for a major project.
Prerequisite: COM130
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COM438 History and Tradition of American Journalism (w) ... 3 hours
This course explores the cultural, intellectual and social history of journalism in America: the impact of new technologies for gathering and disseminating news; popular expectations about the duties and uses of the press and the business of journalism. Examines the press’ role in war, reform movements, political exercises, and other historic events. This is a writing intensive course.
Prerequisite: ENG141 and Junior standing
Offered Spring even numbered years
COM441 Organizational Communication and Conflict Resolution ... 3 hours
This advanced course examines interpersonal and group relationships and patterns of communication within organizations. This includes the way individuals relate to each other personally, in groups and as leaders and followers. The course is competency based, the material is designed to increase knowledge, create an awareness of values, and build sensitivity to the different situations organizations face in an increasingly complex social, cultural and economic world. Conflict as a communications phenomenon is also explored. By the end of the course students will have an understanding of the challenges of communicating within an organization and possess the skills necessary to analyze and address organizational communication issues.
Prerequisite: COM130 (or COM241 for DCP)
Offered Spring odd numbered years
COM450 Critical Analysis of Mass Media (w) ... 3 hours
This course provides an introduction to and application of media ethics and critical theory approaches to mass media. Issues may include globalization, identity, power, consumerism, ideology and hegemony in contemporary media. This is a writing intensive course.
Prerequisite: ENG141 and COM241
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