Communication
COMM 2100 - Introduction to Human Communication
3 credit hours
Introductory course provides a broad overview of communication processes, theories, research, and career options. Includes foundational terminology and principles associated with the field of human communication as applied in various contexts including interpersonal, organizational, rhetorical, and intercultural settings.
COMM 2150 - Voice and Diction
3 credit hours
Development of professional voice quality through classroom exercises, individual instruction, and recording assignments to achieve accurate pronunciation, articulation, and expression of American English needed to meet required non-regional accent standards in voice-based occupations.
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication
3 credit hours
Principles and processes of effective public oral communication including researching, critical thinking, organizing, presenting, listening, and using appropriate language. Counts as part of the General Education Communication requirement. TBR Common Course: COMM 2025
COMM 2300 - Interpersonal Communication
3 credit hours
Introduces fundamental theories and principles for communicating effectively with others in everyday relationships. Topics include development of self-concept, perception, verbal and nonverbal communication, conflict strategies, romantic relationships, and diversity. TBR Common Course: COMM 2090
COMM 3050 - Listening
3 credit hours
Explores the function and impact of listening in the workplace and other relationships. Includes analysis, interpretation, and application of effective listening skills.
COMM 3100 - Critical Methods in Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: COMM 2100. Explores multiple methods and approaches for analyzing public discourse. Offers opportunity for students to expand their critical thinking skills and improve abilities to develop effective written arguments.
COMM 3210 - Argumentation and Debate
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 2200 with C or better; junior standing. Theory and practice of advocacy with emphasis on organization, refutation, reasoning, and rebuttal. In-class discussions using proper debate and argumentation techniques on various topics.
COMM 3220 - Small Group Communication
3 credit hours
Exploration and application of pertinent concepts and theories of group dynamics, decision-making procedures, problem solving, and leadership.
COMM 3225 - Gender Communication
3 credit hours
Critical discussion of values, issues, and traditions in the field of gender communication. Focuses on the analysis of gender and communication as they relate to language, culture, media, relationships, and organizations.
COMM 3230 - Professional Public Speaking
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: COMM 2200 with C or better. Building upon the concepts learned in COMM 2200, students will create a variety of live and mediated presentations that offer preparation for leadership in professional situations.
COMM 3240 - Introduction to Organizational Communication
3 credit hours
An overview of organizational communication theories and processes examined through a hands-on approach. Includes communication networks, teamwork, leadership and power, information technology, crisis communication, and organizational trends.
COMM 3245 - Women, Leadership, and Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: COMM 2100. Communication behaviors and issues unique to women in leadership positions in gendered organizations. Activities and discussions designed to develop critical-thinking skills, broaden perspectives, adapt decision-making skills to the professional environment, and develop professional relationships.
COMM 3250 - Communication in Nonprofit Organizations
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: COMM 3240. Theories and techniques involving communication between organizations and their constituencies. Identification and analysis of communication involving corporate philanthropy and fundraising, fundraising events, volunteers, image, and grant writing. Possible topics include health organizations, art organizations, and nonprofits.
COMM 3300 - Communication Theory
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: COMM 2100. Explores traditional and contemporary approaches to human communication. Topics include an overview and understanding of interpersonal, intercultural, organizational, and rhetorical theories. Students increase their critical analysis skills by applying the theories to their lives.
COMM 3340 - Interviewing
3 credit hours
A critical study of professional interviewing techniques for employment, recruiting, counseling, persuasion, and appraisal.
COMM 3350 - Diversity in Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: COMM 2100. The study of communication and intergroup relationships among people of different ethnic/racial backgrounds in the United States. Goal is to expand a student's perspective of issues, values, and communication styles that vary among groups in the U.S. in order to facilitate the development of positive interethnic relationships.
COMM 3400 - Romantic Relationship Communication
3 credit hours
Provides a general overview of contemporary research on relationship communication with a particular emphasis on romantic relationship development. Theories about the role of communication in initiating, maintaining, and disengaging from romantic relationships.
COMM 3500 - Communication for Organizational Effectiveness
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 2100 and COMM 3240. Organizational communication and its relationship to employees, leadership, corporate culture, diversity, change, and innovation. Possible topics include work-life balance and organizational identity.
COMM 3560 - Intercultural Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: COMM 2100. Examines how perceptions, values, norms of behavior, and communication patterns can vary among people of different cultures. Focuses on increasing understanding of other cultures as well as improving abilities to facilitate cross-cultural interactions.
COMM 3580 - Political Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: COMM 2200. Examines the nature and functions of communication with political institutions and groups, including campaign communication, decision-making strategies, deliberative discourse, lobbying, and interest groups.
COMM 3650 - Conflict in Communication
3 credit hours
The role of communication in conflict management/resolution between or among individuals and groups. Also examines third party interventions (such as mediation and negotiation) and workplace policies (such as theft and employee assistance programs).
COMM 3680 - Dark Side of Interpersonal Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 2300 and COMM 3300. Students will use interpersonal theories to analyze, examine, and understand destructive communication strategies that may occur in interpersonal relationships. Covers communication topics such as lying, gossiping, bullying, abuse, and narcissism.
COMM 3750 - Quantitative Research Methods in Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 2300 and COMM 3300. Explores how quantitative methodologies used to study human communication. Students focus on basic principles and design concepts of communication research while developing a broad understanding of the role of statistics and other analytical techniques in the research process.
COMM 4100 - Rhetoric, Identity, and Difference
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 3650; junior status. Explores the topic of identity and identity formation as it relates to communication processes. Examines how race, sex, gender, class, disability, and other aspects of identity rhetorically constructed, negotiated, and performed.
COMM 4200 - Multinational Organizations
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: COMM 3240. A critical study of multinational organizations and the expatriate experience, including analysis of organizational preparation and employee training.
COMM 4260 - Independent Study
1 to 3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing and permission of department. Intensive study of a specific area of communication; topic chosen in an instructor-student conference. May include a major research project, applied communication project, or applied debate practicum. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
COMM 4320 - Persuasion
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 3300; junior status. Examines theories and concepts that explain key variables in the persuasion process. Emphasis on becoming more aware as consumers as well as users of persuasive techniques.
COMM 4350 - Nonverbal Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: COMM 3300 or permission of department. Examines the individual and social factors affecting the production and interpretation of nonverbal communication behaviors. Focuses on channels of nonverbal communication, functions of nonverbal communication, and applied topics in nonverbal communication.
COMM 4400 - Sexual Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 2300; junior standing. Overview of contemporary research on sexual communication with an emphasis on how people communicate about sex in varying relationships and throughout varying stages of life. Includes the role of communication in parent/child communication about sex, in dating and married relationships, and in varying contexts such as the media.
COMM 4500 - Senior Capstone in Organizational Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 3240, senior standing, and 15 hours of COMM courses. Practical application of tools and theories prevalent in the field of organizational communication involving an audit of organizational communication and culture and a consulting project.
COMM 4650 - History and Theory of Rhetoric
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing. Explores the foundations and development of rhetorical theories from classical to the contemporary era.
COMM 4700 - Senior Seminar in Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 2100, COMM 2300, COMM 3100, COMM 3300, and COMM 3750; senior standing. Research and presentation of projects that demonstrate students' integrative thinking in communication theories and application. A synthesis of the Communication discipline.
COMM 4800 - Topics in Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing. Rotating topics in Communication discipline perspectives. May be repeated for a maximum of six credit hours.
COMM 4900 - Internship in Communication Studies
1 to 3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department, at least junior status, minimum overall grade point average of 2.5, written consent from a supervising agency within which the internship will take place; departmental approval of a contract between the intern and the supervising agency. Practical experience in applying coursework to actual situations and projects in organizations, both on and off campus, in a supervised internship program. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits. Pass/Fail.
