2. Communication (COMM) Courses
1301 Public Speaking (3-0)
(Common Course Number SPCH 1315)
Introduction to the theory and practice of public speaking; the inventing, arranging, phrasing, and presenting of ideas to an audience. The complementary skills of speaking and listening are developed through criticism of speeches presented in class. Prerequisite: ENGL 0311 or ESOL 1309 or ENGL 1310 or ENGL 1311 or placement into ESOL 1311.
1302 Business and Professional Communication (3-0)
(Common Course Number SPCH 1321)
A course in communication covering both informative and persuasive presentations as these occur in business and professional activities. Instruction and guided practice in informal and semi-formal speaking situations. Prerequisite: ENGL 0311 or ESOL 1309 or placement test into ENGL 1311 or ESOL 1311.
1370 Introduction to Communication Studies (3-0)
An introduction to the field of communication. A survey of theories and issues associated with the communication process from intrapersonal communication to mass communication.
1611 Written and Oral Communication (6-0)
Integrated study of and practice in oral and written communication, with emphasis on the process leading to the creation of effective essays and speeches. Students are offered the opportunity to develop complementary skills of reading and listening through extensive response to others' written and spoken work. Counts for both ENGL 1311 and COMM 1301. Prerequisite: ENGL 0311 with a grade of "C" or better or placement by exam.
2201 Forensic Practicum: Debate (0-4)
Practical laboratory experience in all phases of research, case preparation, argumentation, and analysis of the current National Debate topic and/or the current Cross-Examination Debate Association topic; may include preparation for Lincoln-Douglas and parliamentary debate formats. Offers preparation for intercollegiate competition and for participation in on-campus public debate program that may include topics of local/current interest. May be repeated for credit.
2202 Forensic Practicum: Individual Events (0-4)
Practical laboratory experience in all phases of public speaking and oral interpretation of literature, including extemporaneous, impromptu, informative, and persuasive public speaking, as well as prose, poetry, dramatic and dramatic duo interpretation of literature. Emphasis on conception, design, research, composition, and delivery of speeches and oral interpretation presentations. Offers preparation for intercollegiate competition and for performances in on-campus public program. May be repeated for credit.
2300 Beginning Media Writing (3-0)
(Common Course Number COMM 2311)
An introduction to writing techniques used in media. Emphasis on media style and story construction, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing; ENGL 1311, ENGL 1611, or COMM 1611; ENGL 1312.
2330 Principles of Advertising (3-0)
(Common Course Number COMM 2327)
An overview of advertising principles and practices including media characteristics, rates and budgeting, introduction to campaigns, and social and economic criticism of advertising. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing and COMM 1370.
2342 Introduction to Video Systems (3-0)
An introduction to the history, theory, technology, and production of visual communication from cameras to computers. Prerequisite: COMM 1370.
Course fee required.
2343 Audio in Media (3-0)
The history, theory, and production of audio communication. Development and review of audio techniques from analogue to digital formats. Prerequisite: COMM 1370.
Course fee required.
2350 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3-0)
(Common Course Number SPCH 1318)
The study of contemporary interpersonal communication theory and research. Both theory and skills are emphasized. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing and ENGL 1312.
2352 Persuasion and Social Influence (3-0)
An introduction to theories of persuasion. Analysis of the communication process as social influence in various contexts of communication. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or instructor approval.
2371 Writing for the Mass Media (3-0)
Fundamentals of newswriting and story structures with emphasis on development of information-gathering skills as well as journalistic style. Concentration on print media. Prerequisites: ENGL 1311, ENGL 1611, or COMM 1611; ENGL 1312; COMM 1370; COMM 2300; sophomore standing. Course fee required.
2372 Mass Media and Society (3-0)
(Common Course Number COMM 1307)
An introduction to the mass communication media in the United States, their history, their roles, and issues within these media. Print, electronic, and digital systems are surveyed.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.
2390 Introduction to Art of the Motion Picture (3-0)
Understanding and appreciating film as a unique medium for communication and artistic expression. Introduces students to a broad range of types of films. Basic theory presented in class. Films viewed in class and on campus are discussed in class. Course fee required.
3311 Public Affairs Reporting (3-0)
An intensive reporting course that examines public institutions, their structures and operations and provides student practice for publication in reporting on city, county, state, and federal offices. Prerequisites: Junior standing, COMM 1370, and COMM 2371. Course fee required.
3313 News Gathering and Investigation (3-0)
Emphasis on developing and writing news stories of substance and depth for publication. Emphasis on more complex issues and story structures with development of journalistic writing style. Includes news features, interpretive and investigative reporting, and news gathering. Prerequisites: Junior standing, COMM 1370, COMM 2371 with a grade of "C" or better, and COMM 3311. Course fee required.
3317 Photography (3-0)
Basic instruction in photographic media. Camera lighting and development of techniques. Principles of composition. Development and printing techniques. Prerequisites: Junior standing. Course fee required.
3321 Public Relations (3-0)
Principles, techniques, and methods used in public relations. Prerequisites: Junior standing and COMM 2371 with a grade of "C" or better.
3331 Graphics of Print Media (3-0)
Use of graphics for effective communication including typography, color, photography, design in advertising, newspaper and magazine, computer-based pagemaker, and printing methods. Prerequisites: Junior standing, COMM 1370, COMM 2330, and COMM 2371. Course fee required.
3333 Ad Layout and Copy (3-0)
Basic course in production of newspaper, magazine, and television advertising from conceptualization to comprehensives. Prerequisites: Junior standing and COMM 3331. Course fee required.
3335 Advertising Campaigns (3-0)
Research planning, designing, client presentation, and execution of an advertising campaign. Offered in fall semester only. Prerequisites: Junior standing for majors or instructor approval for non-majors; COMM 3333 with a grade of "C" or better. Course fee required.
3341 Writing for Electronic Media (3-0)
The techniques of writing for broadcast news, advertising for radio and television, and public programs for radio, television, and video. Prerequisites: Junior standing and COMM 2371.
3342 Advanced Electronic Media Systems (3-0)
Advanced techniques of video production and technology. Prerequisites: Junior standing, COMM 2342, and COMM 3341. Course fee required.
3344 Media Programming for Radio and TV (3-0)
History and development of techniques for media programming in radio and television. Specific program formats will be analyzed and developed. Prerequisites: Junior standing, COMM 2343, and COMM 3342.
3351 General Semantics (3-0)
A survey of problems in language use, concentrating on theories of meaning. Review of semantics principles from general semantics to general systems theory. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
3353 Intercultural Communication (3-0)
The process of communication in culture, verbal, nonverbal cues, values and person perception in cross and intercultural interaction. Prerequisite: Junior standing, COMM 1370, or instructor approval.
3354 Small Group Communication (3-0)
An examination of theories, research, and principles to small group communication. Both theory and skill development are stressed. Prerequisite: Junior standing or instructor approval.
3355 Organizational Communication (3-0)
An examination of the theory and research on the communication process in organizations. Functional and interpretive theories and applications are explored. Prerequisite: Junior standing or instructor approval.
3357 New Communication Technologies (3-0)
The theory and research of the effects of technology on human communication. Surveys the impact of the effects on human interaction mediated by various technologies. Prerequisite: Junior standing, COMM 1370, or instructor approval.
3371 Communication Theory and Analysis (3-0)
Survey of significant communication theories, providing a history of similarities and differences among theories and theorists. Theories will range from intrapersonal processes to mass communication. Prerequisites: Junior standing and COMM 1370.
4300 Communication Internship (1-15)
Students in this program are provided an opportunity to gain practical experience through unremunerated professional participation in the activities of professional firms, agencies, or departments in their major emphasis areas. Prerequisites: GPA 2.5, Junior standing, COMM 1370, and COMM 2371.
4311 News Editing (3-0)
Instruction and practice in basic story editing and production with focus on practical experience in editing and copy preparation for publication. Emphasis on development of news judgement, accuracy, and fairness, while exposing students to legal problems confronting the media. Prerequisites: Junior standing, COMM 3311, and COMM 3313. Course fee required.
4312 Feature Writing (3-0)
Methods of gathering materials for feature stories through interviews, research and observation; study of feature story form and style; discussion of markets for literary material practice in writing feature stories. Prerequisites: Senior standing, COMM 3313 with a grade of "C" or better, COMM 1370, COMM 2371, and COMM 3311.
4323 Case Studies-Public Relations (3-0)
Advanced theory and application of principles of public relations. Significant case studies are reviewed and analyzed. Prerequisites: Junior standing and COMM 3321.
4330 Media Planning (3-0)
Planning media strategies to evaluate and select media vehicles for advertising. Integrates theories of marketing communication and database marketing. Prerequisite: Senior standing, COMM 3335, or instructor approval.
4335 Advanced Advertising Campaigns (3-3)
Advanced research, planning, design, client presentation, and execution of major advertisement campaigns. Designed for student competition for American Advertising Federation. Offered spring semester only. Prerequisites: COMM 3335 and instructor approval for non-majors. Course fee required.
4341 Advanced Writing-Electronic Media (3-0)
Advanced techniques of writing for broadcast news, corporate instructional and promotional video. Prerequisites: Junior standing and COMM 3341.
4350 Selected Topics (3-0)
Instruction of students individually and in groups in significant areas of communication which are not covered by regular catalog offerings. May be repeated for credit when content varies. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
4352 Contemporary Rhetoric (3-0)
Study of modern humanistic contributions to theories of communication and persuasion. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
4355 Advanced Organizational Communication (3-0)
In-depth study of organizational communication. Theory and research emphasis given to the exploration of issues with appropriate communication methodologies employed. Prerequisites: Junior standing and COMM 3355 or instructor approval.
4359 Seminar in Communication (3-0)
Seminar for systematic discussion and research of topics in the field of communication. Specific content is determined by participating faculty and students. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
4371 Communication Law and Society (3-0)
A study of the rights and responsibilities imposed upon and exercised by the mass media under the American system of law. Ethical considerations in exercising responsibilities vested in the media are highlighted. Prerequisite: Junior standing, COMM 1370, COMM 2371, or instructor approval.
4372 Methods of Research in Communication (3-0)
An overview of the various social science methodologies used in conducting research in the communication discipline. Includes problems of formulation, measurement of concepts, design, collecting, and analyzing data. Prerequisites: Senior standing and STAT 2380 or SOCI 2312 or PSYC 1303.
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