CST - Communication Studies

This course introduces theories of communication, builds academic writing and research strategies, and considers various academic and career options.

Theory and practice of oral communication, with special emphasis on issue analysis and argumentation in public communication.

Students study theories and pragmatics of interpersonal communication. Topics include perception, culture, language, self-concept, nonverbal messages, conflict, and the formation and maintenance of relationships.

Students examine the ways people communicate in organizations and the ways in which communication creates and sustains organizations. An underlying theme is organizational responsibility and ethics. Students develop knowledge of major organizational communication theories and explore the intersections among organizations, society, environment and other global impacts. The course also explores how organizations are often influential leaders at these intersections.

Credit arranged.

One to three credit hours.

Introduces students to quantitative research methods used to study human communication. Designed to prepare students to be critical consumers of research reports.

Provides students theory and analysis necessary to understand mass media processes and messages as they shape personal, cultural, political, economic and civic life. History and contemporary development of media forms and processes are investigated.

Students attain advanced public speaking abilities through study of pertinent rhetorical theories and advanced practice of persuasive speaking.

Introduces students to rhetorical theories and analysis vital to understanding and evaluating key public messages. Students analyze cultural persuasion created in ever-changing forms of mediated messages.

This course examines how to scrutinize, assess and create arguments. Students will learn the nature, uses and limits of argumentation and study arguments in political, religious and social rhetorical contexts, exploring fallacies in argument, the nature of causal reasoning, formal argument analysis and argumentative chains and clusters. Attention is given to cultural standards of reasoning, evidence and refutation.

The course teaches small group theory and improves skills of collaboration and consensus-based decision making.  Students are prepared to lead and facilitate groups, especially groups that interact intra and/or inter-organizationally.  Students learn how and when to use and share power among diverse group members.

In an organizational simulation, students design and develop oral and written communication skills. Critical thinking, web page design, job descriptions, mission statements, employment and performance appraisal interviews, group decision-making and a variety of business writing formats are developed.

Instruction in news gathering, evaluating news, and writing typical news stories. Includes a variety of assignments such as hard news, cultural events, speeches, sports, and interviews. Practice work includes covering local assignments and preparing copy.

Study of theory and practice of creating ad messages as an advertising creative. Course includes case studies and work on a dynamic set of projects replicating ad industry creative practices. Key focus of course is also on advertising ethics and a cultural critique of advertising.

Survey course provides understanding of the role of public relations in the profit-making and non-profit sectors, and specific working knowledge of the various facets of the public relations process, including social media. Planning and implementing public campaigns will be discussed.

Study of effective communication of visual messages in the mass media. Students will learn design, concept, and composition strategies for visual media by learning and using visual crafting and formatting software.

This course emphasizes critical thinking through the creation of multiple media projects focusing on a singular theme. These projects ask students to address contemporary concerns within multimedia practice and utilize digital tools from flatbed scanners to book publishing software for their production and final output.

Credit arranged.

Students study how we use messages (Written, oral, and visual) to create and maintain political and social movements. The course examines how messages influence and constrain these movements. All study public messages created and used by rhetors within American social movements, as well as the political campaigns and programs of U.S. Republican, Democratic, and third parties.

This course overviews relationships between computer-mediated communication (CMC) and several forms and functions of human activity. It explores how humans use computers to construct knowledge, relationships, and specific realities. Utilizing different social media applications and tools will help identify, explain, and understand interrelationships among CMC, language, and identities.

Survey course designed to increase student's understanding of First Amendment law as it relates to individual citizens, mass media, and corporate communication. Ethical considerations inherent in communication law decisions are emphasized.

This course investigates major explanatory theories of communication, with emphasis on understanding theorizing as a process of constructing visions of reality. Students develop the ability to analyze the assumptions underlying theoretical models of communication.

This course explores barriers to effective communication between members of differing social groups (sexes, races, generations, etc.). Consideration is given to causes of problems and effective strategies for solutions.

An intensive study of orientations toward managing disputes and of specific processes and techniques currently in use. Course includes consideration of both organizational and interpersonal disputes and also focuses on the role of the mediator.

This course explores how people create and use messages that focus on the term “sustainability,” as used in environmental, political, and commercial discourses. Using a rhetorical perspective, the course examines how organizations and businesses have attempted to constitute themselves, promote their products and services, and advocate environmental and social policies using the term sustainability.

Investigates the dynamics of human communication in building, maintaining, or altering interpersonal relationships. Particular emphasis is given to family communication.

Course provides an introduction to the dynamics of intercultural communication. Content includes learning the importance of understanding one’s own culture, navigating cultural similarities and differences through communication, and negotiating skilled, adaptive identities within and across cultures.

The course examines alternative perspectives on international development, especially gender analysis in intercultural relationships, cross-cultural communication, peace and security, and nation building.  Focusing on dignity and social justice, students learn to analyze, reflect on, and deconstruct narratives about gender and culture in ways that demystify the interplay among individuals, political leaders, non-profits, and the nation in international development.

This course investigates major topics in organizational communication theory, such as culture and identity, gendered work, work/family life balance, organizational power and decision making, and organizational and interorganizational leadership. An underlying theme of this course is to explore the possibilities for meaningful work in various work contexts, such as for-profit, nonprofit, and global organizations.

This course focuses on qualitative research methods in various organizational settings. Students explore designing and implementing qualitative research projects.

Students study theory and analysis of visual public messages to understand the means of visual persuasion by rhetors who create important images, pictures, and designs. Students investigate ethical and effectual dynamics of visual message design.

Students study and write televisual criticism which closely analyzes messages as cultural repositories of meaning or which investigates the interaction between television and culture. Emphasis is on the method, stance, and purpose of broadcast critics.

Explores the influence of movies on American culture. Students explore theories and ideas concerning film, society, conflict, visual persuasion, and narrative. Students view popular American movies as focal points for lecture and discussion.

Provides instruction about news reporting of public affairs. Students learn to research, report, and write in-depth, interpretive, and analytical stories on public affairs in areas such as crime and police, courts, government, politics, and education. Students learn common problems and techniques for covering public affairs agencies.

Prepares students to work in an online news environment where emerging devices, technologies, and social media are innovatively changing and challenging journalism practices.  Students learn how to report, write, and produce stories for online news audiences. Students will produce and edit original content with audio, photographs, video, maps, info graphics, and text, and evaluate and critique current online journalism practices.

Surveys various forms of opinion writing. past and present, with extensive writing of various kinds of opinion writing and critiqued written assignments.

Instruction in writing feature stories. Students study, write, and critique a number of kinds of stories, including recollections, profiles, issue stories, travel and leisure features, and trend articles.

Under faculty supervision, each student works independently on a comprehensive project designed to display advanced skills.

This course explores conflict through a biblical, theological, and social scientific lens. Using the biblical text, topical readings, and conflict theory, the course examines intrapersonal and interpersonal conflict, and provides opportunities to explore a variety of conflict mediation and negotiation skills aimed at developing just and transformative relationships for life in a complex world.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Academic internships are available for certified students. Communication or organizational communication majors may undertake on-the-job training positions with professional organizations. May be taken twice. Only 3 credits can apply to the major.

Research, study, or original work under the direction of a faculty mentor, leading to a scholarly thesis document with a public presentation of results. Requires approval of thesis director, department chair, dean, and the director of the honors program, when appropriate.

Registration for any graduate student who has received the grade of IP in CST 599 is required while the thesis is in progress. Fee: $50.

Introduction to methods and findings of critical, analytical, qualitative, and quantitative research and techniques of preparing graduate-level research papers.

Students study how we use messages (Written, oral, and visual) to create and maintain political and social movements. The course examines how messages influence and constrain these movements. All study public messages created and used by rhetors within American social movements, as well as the political campaigns and programs of U.S. Republican, Democratic, and third parties.

This course overviews relationships between computer-mediated communication (CMC) and several forms and functions of human activity. It explores how humans use computers to construct knowledge, relationships, and specific realities. Utilizing different social media applications and tools will help identify, explain, and understand interrelationships among CMC, culture, language, and identities.

This graduate-level survey course is designed to develop an advanced understanding of First Amendment law as it relates to citizens, mass media, and democratic practice. The course examines core questions about how communities function and how civil society can be constructed and maintained through free and robust public discussion from diverse and antagonistic sources.

This course investigates major explanatory theories of communication, with emphasis on understanding theorizing as a process of constructing visions of reality. Students develop the ability to analyze and critique the assumptions underlying theoretical models of communication.

This course explores and critiques barriers to effective communication between members of differing social groups (sexes, races, generations, etc.). Consideration is given to problems' causes and effective strategies for solutions.

An intensive study of orientations toward managing disputes and of specific processes and techniques currently in use. Course includes consideration of both organizational and interpersonal disputes and also focuses on the role of the mediator.

Introduces students to rhetorical theories and analysis vital to understanding and evaluating key public messages. Students analyze cultural persuasion created in ever-changing forms of mediated messages.

Students in this course analyze rhetorical artifacts from the environmental, business, and sociocultural realms that employ and exemplify the rhetoric of sustainability. Applying rhetorical theories to the environment and sustainability, this course explains mechanisms regarding how organizations and others have constituted their work, promoted their products and services, and advocated environmental and social policies using the term sustainability.

Investigates the dynamics of human communication in building, maintaining, or altering interpersonal relationships. Particular emphasis is given to family communication.

Course provides an introduction to the dynamics of intercultural communication. Content includes learning the importance of understanding one's own culture, navigating culture similarities and differences through communication, and negotiating skilled, adaptive identities within and across cultures.

The course examines alternative perspectives on international development, especially gender analysis in intercultural relationships, cross-cultural communication, peace and security, and nation building.  Focusing on dignity and social justice, students review the research literature to analyze narratives about gender and culture pertaining to several aspects of international development, and to understand best models and practices for such development.

This course investigates major topics in organizational communication theory, such as culture and identity, gendered work, work/family life balance, organizational power and decision making, and organizational and interorganizational leadership. An underlying theme of this course is to explore the possibilities for meaningful work in various work contexts, such as for-profit, nonprofit, and global organizations.

This course focuses on qualitative research methods in various organizational settings. Students explore designing and implementing qualitative research projects.

Students study theory and analysis of visual public messages to understand the means of visual persuasion by rhetors who create important images, pictures, and designs. Students investigate ethical and effectual dynamics of visual message design.

Students study and write televisual criticism which closely analyzes messages as cultural repositories of meaning or which investigates the interaction between television and culture. Emphasis is on the method, stance, and purpose of broadcast critics.

Explores the influence of movies on American culture. Students explore theories and ideas concerning film, society, conflict, visual persuasion, and narrative. Students view popular American movies as focal points for lecture and discussion.

Provides instruction in news reporting of public affairs, including crime and police, courts, governments, politics and education. Students learn about the problems and challenges of serving a watchdog role over the institutions and processes that shape civic life. Includes an advanced investigative reporting component in which graduate students produce a series of investigative stories on an important public issue.

Students evaluate and critique current online journalism practices and gain experience in editing, collaborating, and producing multimedia stories.  Students analyze current digital storytelling practices of big and small news organizations in order to address some of the key ethical and entrepreneurial challenges associated with digital journalism, including commenting capabilities and revenue streams.

Surveys various forms of opinion writing. Includes instruction in writing and critiqued written assignments.

Instruction in writing feature stories. Students study, write, and critique a number of kinds of stories, including recollections, profiles, issue stories, travel and leisure features, and trend articles.

Course designed to help students attain professional-level competence in oral and written business communication. Students learn rhetorical principles and apply them to business communication situations, such as: making formal oral presentations, conducting meetings, and writing business correspondence and reports.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

This course is for students nearing completion of their academic program. It will provide an opportunity for students to explore a research project in more depth and explore areas of special interest in communication.

Credit arranged.

Academic internships are available for qualified students. Graduate students may be assigned to on-the-job training positions with professional organizations. An average of 20 hours of work per week is required.

3-6 cr. hrs., 1 or 2 semesters.