Return to Communication | Courses Index
[1] Courses in Communication (COMM)
NOTE: All courses at the 2000-level or above require successful completion of prerequisites or consent of instructor before enrollment in the course will be permitted.
1300 PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION Study, application, and evaluation of principles of organization, evidence, reasoning, critical thinking, verbal and nonverbal behavior, interpersonal communication, public speaking, and small group interaction in the oral communication setting. The emphasis will be on meeting the individual needs of students through individualized instruction using communication experiences. [ACTS: SPCH1003]
1305 COMMUNICATION, CULTURE, AND THE ARTS This first-year seminar explores how communication constructs social, political, religious, educational, and civic dimensions of our culture. Through an understanding of communication theories, and by applying a variety of methods of communication criticism to artistic creations, students will come to understand how the arts exert powerful influences that shape our worldviews and our society. Participation at varied campus and area arts events as audience members provides students with examples and activities illustrating course content and developing an appreciation of the persuasive dimensions of the arts.
1306 COMMUNICATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT This first-year seminar surveys a variety of communicative approaches needed to participate effectively in civic culture, including political, organizational, and community contexts. Emphasizes the fundamental place public communication has in a democracy through group deliberation, public speaking, questioning and responding, petitioning, and letter writing. Provides students opportunities to meet with local civic leaders and to find engagement opportunities on campus and in the surrounding community.
1310 PUBLIC SPEAKING An introduction to effective presentational speaking in informative, persuasive, and special occasion contexts.
2308 PERSPECTIVES IN COMMUNICATION A required course that examines the many perspectives from which communication may be studied. This course serves as an introduction to the discipline of communication. Prerequisite: COMM 1300.
2311 BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING Elective course focused on effective communication in professional settings. Emphasizes verbal and nonverbal communication in a variety of organizational contexts. Prerequisite: COMM 1300.
2313 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION RESEARCH Required course that guides students through the research process, which includes selecting a topic, developing research questions, and writing and organizing a review of scholarly literature in an area of communication. Prerequisite: COMM 1300.
3V21 COMMUNICATION INTERNSHIP (Variable credit: 1-4 credit hours.) Elective course for communication majors and minors that ranges from one to four credit hours. Requires working a minimum of 40 to 160 hours under the supervision of an external communication professional and faculty coordinator, depending on the number of credit hours. Emphasizes gaining practical experience and developing a portfolio of work produced at the internship site. Prerequisites: COMM 2308, 2313, and nine (9) hours of COMM electives.
3103 COMMUNICATION APPLICATIONS Elective course that provides practical experience in communication (e.g., forensics, case studies, event design, portfolio creation, public communication lab, etc.). May be repeated (up to three total hours for minors; up to six total hours for majors). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
3301 ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION Explores communication within organizations, how this communication affects individuals, and the communication between organizations and their stakeholders using an applied theoretical framework and a focus on ethics. Prerequisite: COMM 2308 or consent of the instructor. [UD UCA Core: C, R]
3303 GENDER COMMUNICATION Elective course that explores theoretical perspectives and practical applications regarding gender as examined through the intersection of culture and communication. Prerequisite: COMM 2308 or consent of instructor.
3307 INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION Elective course that investigates major theories and research about communicating with others. Focuses on choices and consequences in communication. Students will develop and improve interpersonal skills as applied to their personal and professional lives. Prerequisite: COMM 2308 or consent of instructor. [UD UCA Core: D]
3308 ARGUMENTATION AND ADVOCACY Focuses on components of arguments, evaluating evidence, reasoning, and refutation. Provides students with opportunities to participate in public advocacy through writing and speaking as well as formal academic debate. Prerequisite: COMM 2308 or consent of instructor.
3310 ADVANCED PUBLIC SPEAKING An applied course focused on the process of developing effective public presentations. Includes analysis of subjects, selection and arrangement of supporting materials, audience adaptation, and advanced delivery. Familiarizes students with academic, organizational, civic, and ceremonial presentations. Prerequisite: COMM 1300. [UD UCA Core: I]
3312 STRATEGIC MESSAGE DESIGN Surveys recent research on and techniques of persuasion in rhetoric, social psychology, advertising, public opinion, and evidence in relation to attitude change. Prerequisite: COMM 2313 or consent of instructor.
3315 PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION This course takes a communication-centered approach to managing professional activities and relationships in organizations. Topics include the job selection process, interviewing, negotiation, relationship management, and professional presentations. Prerequisite: COMM 1300.
3330 EVENT PLANNING Elective course that familiarizes students with key conceptual, communicative, and practical components of the event-planning profession. Students plan and implement a special event applying the five phases of event management: research, design, planning, coordination, and evaluation. Prerequisite: COMM 1300.
3341 SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION Elective course that explores the dynamics of cooperative communication situations and skills associated with interpersonal relations and group goal achievement. Emphasizes critical thinking, decision making, and problem solving. Prerequisites: COMM 2308 and 2313.
3370 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION Elective course that investigates how language, culture, and tradition shape different worldviews. Emphasizes communication’s role in learning how to live, socialize, and work effectively with diverse groups of people. Prerequisite: COMM 2308, or consent of instructor.
4V80 DIRECTED STUDY IN COMMUNICATION (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) Elective course for communication majors and minors that provides opportunities for advanced study of specific topics in communication in a one-on-one or small group context. Students who have completed basic and intermediate courses may apply to work with a specific faculty member to study topics that are not regularly offered in the curriculum. Prerequisites: COMM 2308 and 2313, and consent of department chair.
4130 COMMUNICATION PRACTICUM Second course of the capstone for communication majors. Students complete a research project that culminates in a formal presentation. Students hone their critical-thinking competencies by synthesizing disciplinary knowledge with contemporary scholarly research to develop original ideas. Prerequisite: COMM 4336 or PRLS 4305 or WRTG 4308. [UD UCA Core: Z]
4315 COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP Elective course that investigates leadership theory and research from a communication perspective. Topics include trait, style, situational, and contingency approaches to leadership, as well as integrative approaches. Emphasizes assessing student leadership potential and developing effective leadership skills. Prerequisite: COMM 2308 or consent of instructor.
4316 SPECIAL TOPICS IN COMMUNICATION Elective course that provides opportunities to study specific topics in communication. Students who have completed basic and intermediate courses may study specific topics that are not regularly offered in the curriculum. Prerequisite: COMM 2308 or consent of instructor.
4318 CRISIS COMMUNICATION Elective course that investigates the three stages of crisis communication: pre-crisis planning, crisis planning, and post-crisis recovery. Examines crisis communication practices in organizations with emphasis on planning, emergency communication, image restoration, and organizational learning. Prerequisites: COMM 2308 and 2313, or consent of instructor.
4320 NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION Elective course that surveys the history of nonverbal communication research, contemporary research methods in nonverbal communication, diverse nonverbal codes (space, touch, eye gaze, etc.), and the ways nonverbal communication functions in our personal and public lives. Prerequisites: COMM 2308 and 2313, or consent of instructor.
4325 HEALTH COMMUNICATION Elective course that explores issues such as provider-client communication, provider-provider communication and education, intercultural health communication, public health communication, health ethics, and mass media health images. Prerequisite: COMM 2308 or consent of instructor.
4328 COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION This course explores the impact of technologies on interpersonal, organizational, and societal communication. Students investigate the opportunities and limitations of digital technologies across a variety of real-world environments. Prerequisites: COMM 2308 and COMM 2313.
4330 FAMILY COMMUNICATION Elective course that helps students understand how, through communication, they develop, maintain, enhance, or disturb family relationships. Emphasizes verbal and nonverbal skills that help promote healthy family communication. Prerequisite: COMM 2308, or consent of instructor.
4334 POLITICAL COMMUNICATION Elective course that focuses on communication related to the American political system. Examines the communicative behavior of politicians, candidates, and strategists as they engage various constituencies, opponents, and the media. Prerequisites: COMM 2308 and 2313, or consent of instructor.
4336 ADVANCED COMMUNICATION THEORY First course of the capstone for communication majors. Examines major concepts, approaches, and issues tied to the study of human communication in preparation for a career. Students begin an original research project that combines disciplinary knowledge with contemporary scholarly research. Prerequisite: COMM 2308 or consent of instructor.