An introduction to the theory and practice of rhetorical criticism. The student will learn to effectively critique both historical and contemporary public discourse. Students will be exposed to significant discourse in such areas as women's rights rhetoric, presidential rhetoric, civil rights rhetoric, and others. Emphasis will be on developing the student's ability to critically think and create coherent defenses of his/her conclusions. This course is offered as a Gender Studies section every other year.
An introduction to the theory and research findings involving interpersonal and nonverbal communication. Emphasis will be on the principles for effective communication in dyadic settings. Course content will be supplemented by a variety of exercises designed to enhance communication competence.
This course is an introduction to the theory and practices of persuasion. Students will study both the production and critical evaluation of contemporary social influence. Motivation and attitudinal theories will be examined as they relate message, source, and receiver strategies. Students will learn to be effective producers and consumers of persuasive messages.
The student will be introduced to the skills and techniques of argumentation and will learn to effectively utilize the principles and techniques of advocacy and argumentation by applying them to both written and oral discourse. The course consists of three phases: theoretical, practicum, and evaluative.
This course employs a chronological approach to examine the history and evolution of media in the United States. By exploring a variety of mediums, such as radio, television, film, newspapers, magazines, and more, students will learn about media’s roles at different periods of U.S. history and how historical factors have shaped and influenced these roles. A large focus will be on the shift from the broadcast to the narrowcast model and what this means for the media industry today. This course provides a foundation for further media and journalism studies.
An introduction to the principles of communication research design and execution. This course will focus on qualitative methods which feature participant observation and on both descriptive and experimental quantitative methods. During this course, students will design, execute and report the results of a research project in communication. As a part of this effort, students will receive instruction, and will utilize computers, in the following areas: word processing, literature search, and statistical analysis.
Individual work under the direction of departmental faculty. This option is designed for Communication majors who seek an opportunity for in-depth study beyond the scope and/or depth of departmental course offerings. This option is considered additive to-not substitutive of-required departmental course offerings.
Permission of the Instructor and Department Chair