COM-Communications

Students will evaluate the impact of mass communication in a global society from a social and cultural aspect. Throughout the course, students will utilize communication technologies and understand personal and professional virtual spaces as places to develop, foster, maintain connections and engage with others. The interrelationship between various forms of communications including digital, interpersonal, professional, verbal, and visual will be explored and discussed. Students will analyze the legal aspects of ethical communication, evaluate the history, interpret theory, critique media and apply communication technologies to practice. This curriculum develops students’ communication competencies and builds essential skills for virtual and face-to-face interactions. Pre-requisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

In this course, students explore key components of applied communications, such as social media, communications planning, multicultural communications, multigenerational communications, conflict management communications, writing press releases, and more. Students build their foundational skills in writing and synthesizing assigned materials into discussions—written and verbal. This course promotes engaging conversations as well as challenging, applicable writing tasks and papers, including a final research project. Students exercise their critical thinking skills as they explore communications in its many forms. This is a gateway course into the B.A. in Applied Communications program and Applied Communications minor, offering students a snapshot of the subjects they will study in their upcoming courses. Pre- requisite(s): ENG 101 and ENG 201 with a grade of a C or better or equivalent as determined by advisor. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

This course provides a framework from which students can discover how culture, cultural identity, and societal patterns are related to communication practices. Students learn the role of cultural patterns and coding in interpersonal relationships. Students further develop the critical tools to consider the process, role, and application of communication in a diverse society. They evaluate diversity in mass communication, analyze strategies for workplace communication, and explore and critique various media messages through reading, viewing, and discussion. Pre-requisite(s): COM 104 and COM 105; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

In this course students discover the similarities and differences that connect each of the many generations in our society today. Students examine the hypothetical questions that these similarities and differences play in our everyday interactions in a digitally connected society. Students discover the value of collaboration between with the various generations, and prepare to use their own emotional intelligence to communicate and connect cross-generationally. Pre-requisite(s): COM 104 and COM 105; or permission of program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

This course will examine social media with a focus on how digital media technology plays a significant role on the construction of social identities, interpersonal, organizational relationships and societal trending. Students will explore the shared ideological principles between social media platforms and usage. Students will examine the commercial and professional use of social media technology and how it enables the formation of digital communities. Students will engage in active debates on ethical problems posed by emerging social media technologies. The course will require students to communicate through social media and to construct a digital presence that positions them for success. Pre-requisite(s): LAE 101 and LAE 102 with a grade of "C" or better or equivalent as determined by advisor and COM 104 COM 105 or permission of academic advisor. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

This course is designed to enhance students’ writing abilities by studying English language fundamentals and mechanics; written tone and business etiquette; communications planning and proposal writing; persuasive presentations; and executive writing support. Students will construct the skills needed to succeed in delivering effective workplace communications with a focus on accuracy, voice, process, and presentation. Pre-requisite(s): COM 104, COM 105 or by permission of chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

This course is an introduction to media and communications themes over the past century. Students will examine the influence that media have on attitudes, trends, and society’s perception of various forms of diversity. Students will research how forms of media impact ethics, patterns in business, social, and political communication across different communities. Students will examine living in the age of media and how the communications landscape has changed society and how individual communication styles evolve. Students will apply this knowledge and examine their own personal communications style through multiple media forms to identify possibilities for personal and professional growth. Pre-requisite(s): LAE 101 and LAE 102 with a grade of "C" or better or equivalent as determined by advisor and COM 104 and COM 105 or permission of academic advisor. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

In this course, students explore and analyze organizational communication theory and the processes that drive cooperation and contribute to the success of a contemporary organization. They examine what makes communication effective, how conflict arises, how to manage conflict productively, and how to use communication in effective negotiations. They further discuss the role of social media and technology in organizational communication. Students also assess the role of the individual in the organization and issues of diversity, emotions, and work-family balance that have influence on organizational culture. Pre-requisite(s): COM 104 and COM 105; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

In this course, students explore the ethics, laws, and issues that affect the media and various communications professions. They review the principles of constitutional law applicable to communications, laws and regulations relevant to intellectual property and media, recent court decisions, and professional codes of ethics. Students further study legal and ethical issues that pertain specifically to public relations and social media in a global environment. Pre-requisite(s): COM 104 and COM 105; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

This course will encourage students to develop their potential to improve, enhance and transform their own public identities, businesses, communities and personal lives. Students will learn to be adaptive, innovative, problem-solvers and how to utilize creative skills for any career in communications. Students will be exposed to various building blocks of innovation, pattern breaking, teaming, risk-taking, cooperative communications and paradigm shifts. This curriculum will build skills that help students learn to adjust to meet the changing needs of the industry. Students will work in teams to solve a real-world problem through innovation and change management. Pre-requisite(s): LAE 101 and LAE 102 with a grade of "C" or better or equivalent as determined by advisor and COM 104 and COM 105 or permission of academic advisor. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

This course addresses essential skills for modern public relations (PR) professionals including the use of social media, crisis communications, event planning, and client communications. In addition, students discuss PR-related issues in ethics, employee relations, technology, and social media impact. They further research risk assessment and crisis management issues. Pre-requisite(s): COM 104 and COM 105; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

This 6-hour, in-person workshop will identify the different components that go into developing an advertising campaign proposal for a real, modern-day client. The elements of an actual advertising pitch will be discussed and explained including defining target audience, advertising strategies, traditional and social media usage and message development. Elements of successful public speaking and persuasion skills will be utilized as students work in teams to construct competing campaigns that will be prepared, presented and then debated and evaluated. A pre-assignment and post- assignment will be included. Pre-requisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 1 quarter hour

This 6-hour, in-person workshop allows students to sample a range of hands-on, exciting communications activities that are modeled from current Public Relations (PR) scenarios. Students will work in tight deadlines to produce press releases and other artifacts that will be critiqued onsite. Through case studies and real-time practitioner samples, students examine contemporary successful public relations programs and campaigns to discover how practitioners function and utilize ethical behaviors within a variety of organizations. In addition, PR in a variety of functions will be explored including community relations, political campaigns, crisis-management and media relations. A pre-assignment and post-assignment will be included. Pre-requisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 1 quarter hour

This 6-hour, in-person workshop allows students to sample a range of hands-on communications activities. Exploration of current innovative models and methods that have proven successful in the communications industry will supply students with new skills to take into their professional lives. For example, students will utilize improvisation techniques to encourage workplace innovation and creativity as a team, as a leader and as an individual. Students build skills and confidence to lead an innovative process within an organizational context. Students will leave with a range of techniques and strategies to drive them to innovation. A pre-assignment and post-assignment will be included. Pre-requisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 1 quarter hour

This 6-hour, in-person workshop allows students to sample a range of hands-on communication activities to enhance knowledge, expertise and application. Students will quickly improve their basic writing, debate and speaking skills by competing against peers in a healthy mock debate. Students will collect and organize ideas, evaluate evidence, speak convincingly and identify logical connections that make an argument convincing. This course will guide students to approach issues from various points of view and to present with a coherent flow of information. Activities are designed to help students improve confidence when delivering a presentation. A pre-assignment and post-assignment will be included. Pre-requisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 1 quarter hour

This is the capstone course in the Applied Communications major, designed to prepare students to make the transition from classroom to professional practice. Students gather and analyze work from their prior courses, curate their best projects and deliverables into a tangible and consistent body of work that fully represents their best set of skills, and compile their achievements in a digital portfolio. Additionally, they integrate their portfolio with other career artifacts and career management strategies, such as résumé, online presence, professional social networking, professional memberships, and long-term career planning. Pre-requisite(s): COM 200, COM 204, COM 205, COM 206, COM 207, COM 306, COM 404, COM 405, COM 406, and MKT 300; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours