Career Pathways

Argumentation & Debate

An introduction to theories, techniques, and styles of debate with a focus on understanding the role of ethics in argumentation. Includes opportunities to analyze and perform argumentation and debates in a variety of contexts including interpersonal, community, and political. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102) and 140.

Communication, Leadership, & Society

Analysis of leadership and followership as communication phenomena. Application of leadership principles in a variety of contemporary social and business contexts.

Crisis Communication

This course prepares communication practitioners to anticipate and respond effectively to organizational crises. We will review causes and solutions for organizational crises, with specific focus on public perceptions. Students will review case studies and learn best practices for the ethical use of communication strategies to manage and respond to organizational crises. Students will write a Crisis Communication Plan in which they will demonstrate understanding of key principles and theories guiding crisis communication practice.

Environmental Communication

Effect of communication on how the natural world is perceived. Contexts, styles, and strategies of communication about the environment examined from a rhetorical perspective. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102).

Gender Communication

Development, usage, and effects of gendered communication interpersonally and in organizational settings.

Health Communication

Intercultural Communication

An introduction to human communication as it reflects and shapes culture. Emphasizes communication’s role in living, socializing, and working effectively in a culturally and co-culturally diverse world. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102).

Introduction to Public Relations

Introduction to the strategic management function of communication in public relations. Includes an overview of public relations planning and ethics for the contemporary corporate communicator.

Rhetorical Criticism

A survey and practice of rhetorical methods and criticism through analysis of speeches, campaigns, and other rhetorical artifacts. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102), and ENG 102 (or 104).

Social Movement Rhetoric

Survey and criticism of the rhetoric of social movements throughout U.S. history including abolition and 20th century civil rights; women’s suffrage and the waves of feminism; and the contemporary LGBT rights movement. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102), and ENG 102 (or 104).

Argumentation & Debate

An introduction to theories, techniques, and styles of debate with a focus on understanding the role of ethics in argumentation. Includes opportunities to analyze and perform argumentation and debates in a variety of contexts including interpersonal, community, and political. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102) and 140.

Communication, Leadership, & Society

Analysis of leadership and followership as communication phenomena. Application of leadership principles in a variety of contemporary social and business contexts.

Family Communication

Effect of communication in family relationships. Functional and dysfunctional family systems across a wide range of structures and cultural backgrounds are examined.

Crisis Communication

This course prepares communication practitioners to anticipate and respond effectively to organizational crises. We will review causes and solutions for organizational crises, with specific focus on public perceptions. Students will review case studies and learn best practices for the ethical use of communication strategies to manage and respond to organizational crises. Students will write a Crisis Communication Plan in which they will demonstrate understanding of key principles and theories guiding crisis communication practice.

Interpersonal Conflict Management

Principles of effective communication and conflict engagement. Conflict strategies employed in interaction and techniques to increase awareness of power and emotion in conflict.

Intercultural Communication

An introduction to human communication as it reflects and shapes culture. Emphasizes communication’s role in living, socializing, and working effectively in a culturally and co-culturally diverse world. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102).

Organizational Communication

Examines communication patterns in businesses and organizations. Applies management and communication theories to workplace topics such as conflict, decision-making, diversity, leadership, and power.

Rhetorical Criticism

A survey and practice of rhetorical methods and criticism through analysis of speeches, campaigns, and other rhetorical artifacts. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102), and ENG 102 (or 104).

Small Group Communication

Nature, uses, and types of group discussion, including leadership, group problem solving, and the individual’s role in a group.

Social Movement Rhetoric

Survey and criticism of the rhetoric of social movements throughout U.S. history including abolition and 20th century civil rights; women’s suffrage and the waves of feminism; and the contemporary LGBT rights movement. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102), and ENG 102 (or 104).

Communication, Leadership, & Society

Analysis of leadership and followership as communication phenomena. Application of leadership principles in a variety of contemporary social and business contexts.

Communication Theory

Effect of communication theories on interpersonal, group, public, and other communication contexts. Formulation and evaluation of communication theories.

Family Communication

Effect of communication in family relationships. Functional and dysfunctional family systems across a wide range of structures and cultural backgrounds are examined.

Gender Communication

Development, usage, and effects of gendered communication interpersonally and in organizational settings.

Health Communication

Intercultural Communication

An introduction to human communication as it reflects and shapes culture. Emphasizes communication’s role in living, socializing, and working effectively in a culturally and co-culturally diverse world. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102).

Interpersonal Conflict Management

Principles of effective communication and conflict engagement. Conflict strategies employed in interaction and techniques to increase awareness of power and emotion in conflict.

Nonverbal Communication

Communication beyond the spoken or written word, including personal appearance, touch, space, eye contact, gestures, chronemics, olfaction, body adornment, and body language.

Organizational Communication

Examines communication patterns in businesses and organizations. Applies management and communication theories to workplace topics such as conflict, decision-making, diversity, leadership, and power.

Small Group Communication

Nature, uses, and types of group discussion, including leadership, group problem solving, and the individual’s role in a group.

Communication, Leadership, & Society

Analysis of leadership and followership as communication phenomena. Application of leadership principles in a variety of contemporary social and business contexts.

Communication Training & Development

Strategies and techniques for improving communication skills of business personnel, students, and clients.

Crisis Communication

This course prepares communication practitioners to anticipate and respond effectively to organizational crises. We will review causes and solutions for organizational crises, with specific focus on public perceptions. Students will review case studies and learn best practices for the ethical use of communication strategies to manage and respond to organizational crises. Students will write a Crisis Communication Plan in which they will demonstrate understanding of key principles and theories guiding crisis communication practice.

Environmental Communication

Effect of communication on how the natural world is perceived. Contexts, styles, and strategies of communication about the environment examined from a rhetorical perspective. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102).

Intercultural Communication

An introduction to human communication as it reflects and shapes culture. Emphasizes communication’s role in living, socializing, and working effectively in a culturally and co-culturally diverse world. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102).

Interpersonal Conflict Management

Principles of effective communication and conflict engagement. Conflict strategies employed in interaction and techniques to increase awareness of power and emotion in conflict.

Introduction to Public Relations

Introduction to the strategic management function of communication in public relations. Includes an overview of public relations planning and ethics for the contemporary corporate communicator.

Gender Communication

Development, usage, and effects of gendered communication interpersonally and in organizational settings.

Organizational Communication

Examines communication patterns in businesses and organizations. Applies management and communication theories to workplace topics such as conflict, decision-making, diversity, leadership, and power.

Small Group Communication

Nature, uses, and types of group discussion, including leadership, group problem solving, and the individual’s role in a group.

Communication, Leadership, & Society

Analysis of leadership and followership as communication phenomena. Application of leadership principles in a variety of contemporary social and business contexts.

Communication Theory

Effect of communication theories on interpersonal, group, public, and other communication contexts. Formulation and evaluation of communication theories.

Family Communication

Effect of communication in family relationships. Functional and dysfunctional family systems across a wide range of structures and cultural backgrounds are examined.

Gender Communication

Development, usage, and effects of gendered communication interpersonally and in organizational settings.

Intercultural Communication

An introduction to human communication as it reflects and shapes culture. Emphasizes communication’s role in living, socializing, and working effectively in a culturally and co-culturally diverse world. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102).

Interpersonal Conflict Management

Principles of effective communication and conflict engagement. Conflict strategies employed in interaction and techniques to increase awareness of power and emotion in conflict.

Nonverbal Communication

Communication beyond the spoken or written word, including personal appearance, touch, space, eye contact, gestures, chronemics, olfaction, body adornment, and body language.

Organizational Communication

Examines communication patterns in businesses and organizations. Applies management and communication theories to workplace topics such as conflict, decision-making, diversity, leadership, and power.

Rhetorical Criticism

A survey and practice of rhetorical methods and criticism through analysis of speeches, campaigns, and other rhetorical artifacts. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102), and ENG 102 (or 104).

Social Movement Rhetoric

Survey and criticism of the rhetoric of social movements throughout U.S. history including abolition and 20th century civil rights; women’s suffrage and the waves of feminism; and the contemporary LGBT rights movement. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102), and ENG 102 (or 104).

Argumentation & Debate

An introduction to theories, techniques, and styles of debate with a focus on understanding the role of ethics in argumentation. Includes opportunities to analyze and perform argumentation and debates in a variety of contexts including interpersonal, community, and political. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102) and 140.

Communication Theory

Effect of communication theories on interpersonal, group, public, and other communication contexts. Formulation and evaluation of communication theories.

Crisis Communication

This course prepares communication practitioners to anticipate and respond effectively to organizational crises. We will review causes and solutions for organizational crises, with specific focus on public perceptions. Students will review case studies and learn best practices for the ethical use of communication strategies to manage and respond to organizational crises. Students will write a Crisis Communication Plan in which they will demonstrate understanding of key principles and theories guiding crisis communication practice.

Intercultural Communication

An introduction to human communication as it reflects and shapes culture. Emphasizes communication’s role in living, socializing, and working effectively in a culturally and co-culturally diverse world. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102).

Interpersonal Conflict Management

Principles of effective communication and conflict engagement. Conflict strategies employed in interaction and techniques to increase awareness of power and emotion in conflict.

Introduction to Public Relations

Introduction to the strategic management function of communication in public relations. Includes an overview of public relations planning and ethics for the contemporary corporate communicator.

Organizational Communication

Examines communication patterns in businesses and organizations. Applies management and communication theories to workplace topics such as conflict, decision-making, diversity, leadership, and power.

Public Relations Campaign

Review of current strategic communication management practices related to planning, proposing, implementing, and analyzing public relations campaigns. Application of theory and research strategies to current problems and needs of organizations. Class format is primarily discussion and team projects, including case study analyses and service learning projects. Prerequisite(s): COMS 220 or instructor consent.

Social Media & Public Relations

Communication techniques to build personal/corporate brands and use of social media and web tools to engage customers. Application of social media strategies to organizational needs. Class format includes lecture, discussion, case study analysis, and team projects. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102) and 220.

Social Movement Rhetoric

Survey and criticism of the rhetoric of social movements throughout U.S. history including abolition and 20th century civil rights; women’s suffrage and the waves of feminism; and the contemporary LGBT rights movement. Prerequisite(s): COMS 101 (or 102), and ENG 102 (or 104).